1 I LOVE to steal awhile away

From every cumb'ring care,

And spend the hours of setting day,
In humble, grateful prayer.

2 I love in solitude to shed
The penitential tear,

And all His promises to plead,
Where none but God can hear.

3 I love to think on mercies past,
And future good implore,
And all my cares and sorrows cast
On him whom I adore.

4 I love by faith to take a view

Of brighter scenes in heav'n;

The prospect doth my strength renew
While here by tempests driv❜n.

5 Thus, when life's toilsome day is o'er,
May its departing ray

Be calm as this impressive hour,
And lead to endless day.

FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

65

HYMN. L. M.

1 GREAT God, we sing thy mighty hand;
By that supported still we stand:
The opening year thy mercy shows;
Let mercy crown it till it close.

2 By day, by night-at home, abroad,
Still we are guarded by our God;
By his incessant bounty fed-
By his unerring counsels led.

3 With grateful hearts the past we own;
The future-all to us unknown-
We to thy guardian care commit,
And peaceful leave before thy feet.

Then shall my soul new life obtain,
Nor Sabbath be indulg’d in vain.

1 HAIL, happy day! thou day of holy rest,
What heav'nly peace and transport fill our breast!
When Christ, the God of grace, in love descends,
And kindly holds communion with his friends.
2 Let earth and all its vanities be gone,

Move from my sight, and leave my soul alone;
Its flattering, fading glories I despise,
And to immortal beauties turn my eyes.
3 Fain would I mount and penetrate the skies,
And on my Saviour's glories fix my eyes:
Oh! meet my rising soul, thou God of love,
And waft it to the blissful realms above!

51

HYMN. L. M.

The Rest of the Sabbath.

1 ANOTHER six days' work is done;
Another Sabbath is begun:
Return, my soul-enjoy thy rest;
Improve the day thy God has blest.

2 Oh that our thoughts and thanks may rise,
As grateful incense, to the skies;

And draw from heav'n that sweet repose,
Which none but he that feels it knows.
3 This heav'nly calm within the breast!
The dearest pledge of glorious rest,
Which for the church of God remains-
The end of cares-the end of pains.

4 With joy, great God, thy works we view,
In varied scenes, both old and new;
With praise, we think on mercies past;
With hope, we future pleasures taste.

5 In holy duties let the day

In holy pleasures, pass away;
How sweet, a Sabbath thus to spend,
In hope of one that ne'er shall end!

1 COME, let us join with sweet accord
In hymns around the throne;
This is the day our rising Lord

Hath made, and call'd his own.

2 This is the day which God hath blest,
The brightest of the seven;
Type of that everlasting rest,
The saints enjoy in heav'n.

HYMN. L. M.

53 Preparation for the Duties of the Sabbath implored.
1 COME, dearest Lord, and bless this day,
Come, bear our thoughts from earth away;
Now, let our noblest passions rise
With ardour to their native skies.

2 Come, Holy Spirit, all divine,
With rays of light upon us shine;
And let our waiting souls be blest,
On this sweet day of sacred rest.

3 Then, when our Sabbaths here are o'er,
And we arrive on Canaan's shore,
With all the ransom'd, we shall spend
A Sabbath which shall never end.

1 GREAT God! this sacred day of thine
Demands the soul's collected pow'rs;
With joy we now to thee resign

These solemn, consecrated hours:
Oh may our souls adoring own
The grace that calls us to thy throne.
2 All-seeing God! thy piercing eye

Can every secret thought explore;
May worldly cares our bosoms fly,
And where thou art intrude no more:
Oh may thy grace our spirits move,
And fix our minds on things above!
3 Thy Spirit's powerful aid impart,
And bid thy word, with life divine,

Engage the ear-and warm the heart;
Then shall the day indeed be thine:
Our souls shall then adoring own
The grace that calls us to thy throne.

HYMN. P. M.

55 Resurrection of Christ celebrated.

1 AWAKE, our drowsy souls, And burst the slothful band; The wonders of this day

Our noblest songs demand: Auspicious morn! thy blissful rays Bright seraphs hail, in songs of praise. 2 At thy approaching dawn,

Reluctant death resign'd The glorious Prince of life, In dark domains confin'd:

Th' angelic host around him bends, And midst their shouts the God ascends. 3 All hail, triumphant Lord!

Heav'n with hosannas rings; While earth, in humbler strains, Thy praise responsive sings! 66 Worthy art thou, who once wast slain Through endless years to live and reign."

4 Gird on, great God, thy sword,

Ascend thy conquʼring car,

While justice, truth, and love,

Maintain the glorious war:

Victorious, thou thy foes shalt tread,
And sin and hell in triumph lead.

1 AGAIN the Lord of life and light
Awakes the kindling ray;

Dispels the darkness of the night,
And pours increasing day.

2 Oh! what a night was that, which wrapt A sinful world in gloom!

Oh! what a Sun, which broke, this day,
Triumphant from the tomb!

3 This day be grateful homage paid,
And loud hosannas sung;

Let gladness dwell in every heart,
And praise on ev'ry tongue.

4 Ten thousand thousand lips shall join
To hail this welcome morn,

Which scatters blessings from its wings To nations yet unborn.

1 SAFELY through another week,
God has brought us on our way;
Let us now a blessing seek,

Waiting in his courts to-day:
Day of all the week the best,
Einblem of eternal rest.

2 While we seek supplies of grace, Through the dear Redeemer's name; Show thy reconciling face

Take away our sin and shame;
From our worldly cares set free,
May we rest this day in thee.
3 May the gospel's joyful sound

Conquer sinners-comfort saints;
Make the fruits of grace abound,
Bring relief from all complaints:
Thus let all our Sabbaths prove,
Till we join the church above.

1 IN this calm impressive hour,
Let my pray'r ascend on high;
God of mercy, God of pow'r,
Hear me when to thee I cry:
Hear me from thy lofty throne,
For the sake of Christ thy Son.
2 With this morning's early ray,
While the shades of night depart,
Let thy beams of light convey
Joy and gladness to my heart: