Religion at Home.
1 WHEN quiet in my house I sit,
Thy book be my companion still;
My joy thy sayings to repeat,
Talk o'er the records of thy will,
And search the oracles divine,
Till every heart-felt word be mine.
2 O may the gracious words divine
Subject of all my converse be;
So will the Lord his follower join,
And walk and talk himself with me;
So shall my heart his presence prove,
And burn with everlasting love.
3 Oft as I lay me down to rest,
O may the reconciling word
Sweetly compose my weary breast;
While, on the bosom of my Lord,
I sink in blissful dreams away,
And visions of eternal day.
4 Rising to sing my Saviour's praise,
Thee may I publish all day long;
And let thy precious word of grace
Flow from my heart, and fill my tongue;
Fill all my life with purest love,
And join me to the church above.
Prayer at all Times.
1 Go, when the morning shineth,
Go, when the noon is bright,
Go, when the eve declineth,
Go, in the hush of night;
Go, with pure mind and feeling,
Fling earthly thought away,
And, in thy chamber kneeling,
Do thou in secret pray.
2 Remember all who love thee,
All who are loved by thee;
Pray, too, for those who hate thee,
any such there be;
Then for thyself, in meekness,
A blessing humbly claim,
And join with each petition
Thy great Redeemer's name.
3 Or, if 't is e'er denied thee
In solitude to pray,
Should holy thoughts come o'er thee
When friends are round thy way,
E'en then the silent breathing
Thy spirit lifts above
Will reach His throne of glory,
Who is Mercy, Truth, and Love.
4 O, not a joy nor blessing
With this can we compare,
The power that he hath given us
To pour our souls in prayer!
Whene'er thou pin'st in sadness,
Before his footstool fall;
Remember, in thy gladness,
His love who gave thee all.
1 COME, ye that love the Lord,
And let your joys be known;
Join in a song with sweet accord,
And thus surround the throne.
2 The follies of the mind
Be banished from this place;
Religion never was designed
To make our pleasure less.
3 Let those refuse to sing
Who never knew the Lord;
But children of the heavenly King
Should sound his praise abroad.
4 Then let our songs abound,
And every fear put by ;
We're marching through Emanuel's ground
To fairer worlds on high.
Character of a Happy Life.
1 How happy is he born and taught,
That serveth not another's will,
Whose armor is his honest thought,
And simple truth his utmost skill!
2 Whose passions not his masters are,
Whose soul is still prepared for death,
Untied unto the world by care
Of public fame, or private breath; —
3 Who hath his life from rumors freed;
Whose conscience is his strong retreat;
Whose state can neither flatterers feed,
Nor ruin make oppressors great;
4 Who God doth late and early pray
More of his grace than gifts to lend,
And walks with man from day to day,
As with a brother and a friend.
5 This man is freed from servile bands
Of hope to rise, or fear to fall;
Lord of himself, though not of lands,
And, having nothing, yet hath all.
1 OMNIPRESENT God! whose aid
No one ever asked in vain,
Be this night about my bed,
Every evil thought restrain:
Lay thy hand upon my soul,
God of my unguarded hours!
All my enemies control,
Sin, and earth, and nature's powers.
20 thou holy God! come down,
God of spotless purity!
Claim, and seize me for thy own,
Consecrate my heart to thee:
Under thy protection take;
Songs in the night season give;
Let me sleep to thee, and wake;
Let me die to thee, and live.
3 Loose me from the chains of sense,
Set me from the body free;
Draw with stronger influence
My unfettered soul to thee:
In me, Lord, thyself reveal;
Fill me with a sweet surprise;
Let me thee, when waking, feel,
Let me in thy image rise.
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