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21.

O FATHER, hear my morning prayer,

Thine aid impart to me,

That I may make my life to-day

Acceptable to Thee.

May this desire my spirit rule,

And, as the moments fly, Something of good be born in me, Something of evil die ;

Some grace, that seeks my heart to win,

With shining victory meet;

Some sin, that strives for mastery,
Find overthrow complete :

That so throughout the coming day
The hours may carry me

A little farther from the world,

A little nearer Thee.

F. A. PERCY.

22.

GLORY to Thee, my God, this night
For all the blessings of the light!
Keep me, O keep me, King of kings,
Beneath Thine own almighty wings.

Forgive me, Lord, for Thy dear Son,
The ill that I this day have done;
That with the world, myself, and Thee,
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.

Teach me to live, that I may dread
The grave as little as my bed;
To die, that this vile body may
Rise glorious at the awful day.

O may my soul on Thee repose,
And may sweet sleep mine eyelids close,
Sleep, that may me more vigorous make
To serve my God when I awake.

When in the night I sleepless lie,

My soul with heavenly thoughts supply:
Let no ill dreams disturb my rest,
No powers of darkness me molest.

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow:

Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

BISHOP KEN, 1692 (recast 1709).

23.

ABIDE with me: fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide :
When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;

O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power ?
Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness:
Where is death's sting? where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes:
Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies;
Heaven's morning breaks and earth's vain shadows flee:
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

HENRY FRANCIS LYTE, 1847.

24.

THE radiant morn hath passed away,
And spent too soon her golden store;
The shadows of departing day

Creep on once more.

Our life is but a fading dawn,
Its glorious noon how quickly past!
Lead us, O Christ, when all is gone,
Safe home at last.

O by Thy soul-inspiring grace
Uplift our hearts to realms on high:

Help us to look to that bright place,

Beyond the sky,

Where light, and love, and joy, and peace

In undivided empire reign,

And thronging angels never cease

Their deathless strain;

Where saints are clothed in spotless white, And evening shadows never fall,

Where Thou, eternal Light of Light,

Art Lord of all.

GODFREY THRING, 1864.

25.

SWEET Saviour, bless us ere we go;
Thy word into our minds instil,
And make our lukewarm hearts to glow
With lowly love and fervent will.
Through life's long day and death's dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our Light.

The day is gone, its hours have run,
And Thou hast taken count of all,
The scanty triumphs grace hath won,
The broken vow, the frequent fall.
Through life's long day and death's dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our Light.

Grant us, dear Lord, from evil ways
True absolution and release,

And bless us, more than in past days,
With purity and inward peace.

Through life's long day and death's dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our Light.

Do more than pardon; give us joy,
Sweet fear, and sober liberty,
And simple hearts without alloy

That only long to be like Thee.

Through life's long day and death's dark night, O gentle Jesus, be our Light.

For all we love, the poor, the sad,
The sinful, unto Thee we call :
O let Thy mercy make us glad:
Thou art our Jesus, and our All.

Through life's long day and death's dark night,

O gentle Jesus, be our Light.

FREDERIC WILLIAM FABER, 1852.

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