101

7s. M. 81.

METHODIST COL.

Before Sleep.

1 OMNIPRESENT God! whose aid
No one ever ask'd 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.

2 O 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.

102

L. M.

PIERPONT.

Morning Hymn. For a Child.

1 O GOD, I thank thee that the night
In peace and rest hath passed away,
And that I see, in this fair light,
My Father's smile, that makes it day.

2 Be thou my Guide, and let me live
As under thine all-seeing eye;
Supply my wants, my sins forgive,
And make me happy when I die.

103

L. M.

PIERPONT.

Evening Hymn. For a Child.

1 ANOTHER day its course hath run,
And still, O God, thy child is blest;
For thou hast been by day my Sun,
And thou wilt be by night my Rest.

2 Sweet sleep descends, my eyes to close;
when all the world is still,

And now,

I give my body to repose,

My spirit to my Father's will.

104

C. M.

BARRY CORNWALL.

For a Sick Child.

1 SEND down thy winged angel, God!

Amidst this night so wild,

And bid him come where now we watch,
And breathe upon our child!

2 She lies upon her pillow, pale,
And moans within her sleep,
Or wakeneth with a patient smile,
And striveth not to weep!

3 How gentle and how good a child
She is, we know too well;
And dearer to her parents' hearts
Than our weak words can tell.

4 We love, we watch throughout the night,

To aid, where need may be;

We hope, and have despaired at times;

But now we turn to Thee!

5 Send down thy sweet-souled angel, God!
Amidst the darkness wild,

⚫ And bid him soothe our souls to-night,
And heal our gentle child!

Baptism, Lord's Supper and Admission of Members.

105

S. M. L. H. SIGOURNEY.

Baptism.

1 SAVIOUR, thy law we love,
Thy pure example bless,

And with a firm, unwavering zeal,
Would in thy footsteps press.

2 Not to the fiery pains

By which the martyrs bled;

Not to the scourge, the thorn, the cross,
Our favored feet are led;-

3 But, at this peaceful tide,
Assembled in thy fear,

The homage of obedient hearts
We humbly offer here.

106

MONTGOMERY.

107

7s. M.

Joined to God's People.

1 PEOPLE of the living God,

I have sought the world around,
Paths of sin and sorrow trod,

Peace and comfort nowhere found.

2 Now to you my spirit turns, –
Turns, a fugitive unblest;
Brethren, where your altar burns,
O, receive me into rest.

3 Lonely I no longer roam,

Like the cloud, the wind, the wave;
Where you dwell shall be my home,
Where you die shall be my grave.

C. M.

MONTGOMERY.

A Welcome to Fellowship.

1 COME in, thou blessed of the Lord:
Stranger nor foe art thou:

We welcome thee with warm accord,
Our friend, our brother now.

2 The hand of fellowship, the heart
Of love, we offer thee:

Leaving the world, thou dost but part
From lies and vanity.