OCCASIONS IN PRIVATE AND FAMILY DEVOTION
Family Worship. Ps. 128.
1 BLEST is the man who fears the Lord,
And walks by his unerring word;
Comfort and peace his days attend,
And God will ever prove his friend.
2 To him who condescends to dwell
With saints in their obscurest cell,
Be our domestic altars raised,
And daily let his name be praised.
3 To him may each assembled house
Present their night and morning vows;
Their servants and their rising race
Be taught his precepts and his grace.
4 Then shall the charms of wedded love
Still more delightful blessings prove;
And parents' hearts shall overflow
With joy that parents only know.
5 When nature droops, our aged eyes
Shall see our children's children rise;
Till pleased and thankful we remove,
And join the family above.
Domestic Affection. Ps. 133.
1 How pleasing, Lord! to see,
How pure is the delight,
When mutual love, and love to thee,
A family unite!
2 From these celestial springs
Such streams of comfort flow,
As no increase of riches brings,
Nor honors can bestow.
3 All in their stations move,
And each performs his part
In all the cares of life and love,
With sympathizing heart.
4 Formed for the purest joys,
By one desire possessed,
One aim the zeal of all employs,
To make each other blessed.
5 No bliss can equal theirs,
Where such affections meet; While mingled praise and mingled prayers Make their communion sweet,
6 'Tis the same pleasure fills
The breast in worlds above; Where joy like morning dew distils, And all the air is love.
1 God of the morning! at whose voice The cheerful sun makes haste to rise, And, robed in splendor, doth rejoice To run his journey through the skies;
2 O like the sun may I fulfil
Th' appointed duties of the day;
With steady mind and active will,
March on and keep the heavenly way:
3 For thy commands are right and pure,
Enlightening our beclouded eyes;
Thy threatenings just, thy promise sure,
Thy gospel makes the simple wise.
4 Give me thy counsel for my guide,
And lead me to thy heavenly bliss;
May every wish and hope beside
Be faint and cold compared with this.
Morning or Evening Hymn.
1 BEFORE the rosy dawn of day,
To thee, my God, I'll sing;
Awake, my soft and tuneful lyre,
Awake, each charming string.
2 Awake, and let thy flowing strains
Glide through the midnight air,
While high amidst the silent orbs
The silver moon rolls clear.
3 While all the glittering starry lamps
Are lighted in the sky,
And set their Maker's greatness forth
To thy admiring eye.
4 Thou round the heavenly arch dost draw
A vast and sable veil,
Which all the beauties of the world
From mortal eyes conceal.
5 Again, the sky with golden beams
Thy skilful hands adorn;
And paint, with cheerful splendor gay,
The fair ascending morn.
6 And, as the gloomy night returns,
Or smiling day renews,
Thy constant goodness still my soul
With benefit pursues.
7 For this, I'll midnight vows to thee
With early incense bring;
And, ere the rosy dawn of day,
Thy lofty praises sing.
Morning or Evening Hymn.
1 On thee, each morning, O my God!
My waking thoughts attend;
In whom are founded all my hopes,
In whom my wishes end.
2 My soul, in pleasing wonder lost,
Thy boundless love surveys;
And, fired with grateful zeal, prepares
Her sacrifice of praise.
3 When evening slumbers press my eyes,
With thy protection blest,
In peace and safety I commit
My weary limbs to rest.
4 My spirit in thy hand secure,
Fears no approaching ill;
For, whether waking or asleep,
Thou, Lord, art with me still.
5 Then will I daily to the world
Thy wondrous acts proclaim;
Whilst all with me shall praises sing,
And bless thy sacred name.
6 At morn, at noon, at night, I'll still
The growing work pursue;
And thee alone will praise, to whom
Eternal praise is due.
1 FATHER divine! thy piercing eye
Looks through the shades of night;
In deep retirement thou art nigh,
With heart-discerning sight.
2 There shall that piercing eye survey
My duteous homage, paid
With every morning's dawning ray,
And every evening's shade.
3 I'll leave behind each earthly care;
To thee my soul shall soar;
While grateful praise and fervent prayer
Employ the silent hour.
|
