NOW that the daylight fills the sky,
We lift our hearts to God on high,
That He, in all we do or say,
Would keep us free from harm to-day ;
Would guard our hearts and tongues from strife;
Would shield from anger's din our life;
From all ill sights would turn our eyes,
And close our ears from vanities.
So we, when this new day is gone
And shades of night are drawing on,
With conscience by the world unstained
Shall praise His name for victory gained.
Translation of the preceding, by JOHN MASON NEALE, 1852.
IN the morning hear my voice;
Let me in Thy light rejoice;
God, my Sun, my strength renew,
Send Thy blessing down like dew.
Through the duties of the day,
Grant me grace to watch and pray,
Live as always seeing Thee,
Knowing "Thou, God, seest me."
When the evening skies display
Richer pomp than noon's array,
Be the shades of death to me
Bright with immortality.
When the round of care is run,
And the stars succeed the sun,
Songs of praise with prayer unite,
Crown the day, and hail the night.
Thus with Thee, my God, my Friend,
Time begin, continue, end,
While life's joys and sorrows pass,
Like the changes of the grass.
JAMES MONTGOMERY, 1884.
CHRIST, whose glory fills the skies,
Christ, the true, the only Light,
Sun of righteousness, arise,
Triumph o'er the shades of night;
Dayspring from on high, be near,
Daystar, in my heart appear.
Dark and cheerless is the morn
Unaccompanied by Thee;
Joyless is the day's return,
Till Thy mercy's beams I see, Till they inward light impart,
Glad my eyes, and warm my heart.
Visit then this soul of mine;
Pierce the gloom of sin and grief; Fill me, Radiancy divine;
Scatter all my unbelief;
More and more Thyself display,
Shining to the perfect day.
LORD, Thy children guide and keep,
As with feeble steps they press
On the pathway rough and steep
Through this weary wilderness.
Holy Jesu, day by day
Lead us in the narrow way.
There are stony paths to tread ;
Give the strength we sorely lack:
There are tangled paths to thread;
Light us, lest we miss the track.
Holy Jesu, day by day
Lead us in the narrow way.
There are sandy wastes that lie
Cold and sunless, vast and drear, Where the feeble faint and die; Grant us grace to persevere. Holy Jesu, day by day
Lead us in the narrow way.
There are soft and flowery glades,
Decked with golden-fruited trees;
Sunny slopes, and scented shades;
Keep us, Lord, from slothful ease.
Holy Jesu, day by day
Lead us in the narrow way.
Upward still to purer heights,
Onward yet to scenes more blest,
Calmer regions, clearer lights,
Till we reach the promised rest.
Holy Jesu, day by day
Lead us in the narrow way.
BISHOP WALSHAM HOW, 1854.
NOW the morn new light is pouring:
Lord, may we our spirits raise,
Through Thy grace our souls restoring;
So, on Thy great day of days,
We with joy its dawn may meet
Fearless at Thy judgment-seat.
Jesu, Thou our steps be guiding
By Thy word's celestial light,
Now and evermore abiding
Our defence, our rock of might.
Nowhere, save alone in Thee,
Can we rest from danger free.
Lo! we yield to Thy direction
Soul and body, heart and mind;
Keep Thou all by Thy protection,
To Thy mighty hand resigned.
Thee our glorious God we own;
Let us, Lord, be Thine alone.
H. J. BUCKOLL, 1842, from the German of
H. ALBERTI, 1643.
|