Слике страница
PDF
ePub

BISHOP KEN.

That all my powers, with all their might,
In Thy sole glory may unite.

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him, all creatures here below,
Praise Him above, ye angelic host,
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

For Evening.

Glory to Thee, my God, this night,
For all the blessings of the light;
Keep me, O keep me, King of kings,
Under Thy own Almighty wings.

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

Teach me to live, that I may dread
The grave as little as my bed;
Teach me to die, that so I may
Triumphing rise at the last day.

O may my soul on Thee repose,
And with 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.

Dull sleep of sense me to deprive,

I am but half my days alive;

Thy faithful lovers, Lord, are grieved
To lie so long of Thee bereaved.

But though sleep o'er my frailty reigns,

Let it not hold me long in chains,
And now and then let loose my heart,
Till it an Hallelujah dart.

393

The faster sleep the sense does bind,
The more unfetter'd is the mind;
O may my soul from matter free,
Thy unveil'd goodness waking see!

O when shall I in endless day,
For ever chase dark sleep away,

And endless praise, with th' heavenly choir,
Incessant sing, and never tire?

You, my blest Guardian, whilst I sleep,

Close to my bed your vigils keep,

Divine love into me instil,

Stop all the avenues of ill.*

Thought to thought with my soul converse,

Celestial joys to me rehearse,

And in my stead, all the night long

Sing to my God a grateful song.

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow,

Praise Him, all creatures here below,

Praise Him above, ye angelic host,

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

For Midnight.

Lord, now my sleep does me forsake,

The sole possession of me take;
Let no vain fancy me illude,
No one impure desire intrude.

Bless'd angels, while we silent lie,
Your hallelujahs sing on high;
You, ever wakeful near the throne,
Prostrate adore the Three in One.

I now awake do with you join,
To praise our God in hymns divine;
With you in heaven I hope to dwell,

And bid the night and world farewell.

* It would have been better if this prayer had been addressed to the Divine Spirit Himself. As it is, it is too like the Romish invocation of angels.

BISHOP KEN.

My soul, when I shake off this dust,
Lord, in Thy arms I will intrust:
O make me Thy peculiar care,
Some heavenly mansion me prepare.

Give me a place at Thy saints' feet,
Or some fallen angel's vacant seat;
I'll strive to sing as loud as they,
Who sit above in brighter day.

O may I always ready stand,
With my lamp burning in my hand;
May I in sight of heaven rejoice,
Whene'er I hear the Bridegroom's voice.

Glory to Thee in light array'd,

Who light Thy dwelling-place hast mad
An immense ocean of bright beams
From Thy all-glorious Godhead streams.

The sun, in its meridian height,
Is very darkness in Thy sight:
My soul O lighten and inflame

With thought and love of Thy great name.

Blest Jesu, Thou on heaven intent,
Whole nights hast in devotion spent ;
But I, frail creature, soon am tired,
And all my zeal is soon expired.

My soul, how canst thou weary grow
Of antedating heaven below,
In sacred hymns and divine love,
Which will eternal be above?

Shine on me, Lord, new life impart,
Fresh ardours kindle in my heart;
One ray of Thy all-quickening light
Dispels the sloth and clouds of night.
Lord, lest the tempter me surprise,
Watch over thine own sacrifice;
All loose, all idle thoughts cast out,
And make my very dreams devout.

395

[blocks in formation]

The Traveller's Hymn.

How are Thy servants blest, O Lord!
How sure is their defence!
Eternal Wisdom is their guide,
Their help Omnipotence.

In foreign realms, and lands remote,
Supported by Thy care,

Through burning climes I pass'd unhurt,

And breathed in tainted air.

Thy mercy sweeten'd every soil,
Made every region please ;
The hoary Alpine hills it warm'd,
And smooth'd the Tyrrhene seas.

Think, O my soul! devoutly think,
How, with affrighted eyes,
Thou saw'st the wide-extended deep
In all its horrors rise.

Confusion dwelt on every face,

And fear in every heart,

When waves on waves, and gulfs on gulfs,

O'ercame the pilot's art.

Yet then from all my griefs, O Lord!

Thy mercy set me free;

Whilst in the confidence of prayer

My soul took hold on Thee.

For though in dreadful whirls we hung
High on the broken wave,

* See ante, page 32.

VOL. IV.

ADDISON.

I knew Thou wert not slow to hear,
Nor impotent to save.

The storm was laid, the winds retired,
Obedient to Thy will;

The sea that roar'd at Thy command,
At Thy command was still.

In midst of dangers, fears, and death,
Thy goodness I'll adore;

I'll praise Thee for Thy mercies past,
And humbly hope for more.

My life, it Thou preserv'st my life,
Thy sacrifice shall be ;

And death, if death must be my doom,
Shall join my soul to Thee.

Creation's Testimony.

The spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,

And spangled heavens, a shining frame,

Their great Original proclaim:

Th' unwearied sun, from day to day,
Does his Creator's power display,

And publishes to every land

The work of an Almighty hand.

Soon as the evening shades prevail,

The moon takes up the wondrous tale,
And nightly to the listening earth
Repeats the story of her birth:

Whilst all the stars that round her burn,
And all the planets in their turn,
Confirm the tidings as they roll,
And spread the truth from pole to pole.

What though in solemn silence all
Move round the dark terrestrial ball?
What though nor real voice nor sound
Amid their radiant orbs be found?
2 L

397

« ПретходнаНастави »