ARK! the Vefper Hymn is ftealing
O'er the waters foft and clear;
Nearer yet and nearer pealing,
Now it bursts upon the ear.
Farther now, now farther ftealing,
Soft it fades upon the ear-
Now like moonlight waves retreating,
To the fhore it dies along;
Now like angry furges meeting,
Breaks the mingled tide of song.
Hufh! again like waves retreating,
To the fhore it dies along.
IN the dewy breath of Even,
Thousand odours mingling rife,
Borne like infenfe up to Heaven,
Nature's Evening Sacrifice.
With her balmy offerings blending,
Let our glad thanksgivings be
To Thy throne, O Lord, afcending,
Incense of our hearts to Thee!
Praise we yield, yet ftill while dwelling
On the thanks Thy mercies claim,
Darker thoughts their tale are telling,
Full of grief, and full of shame.
Oft rebellious, oft mistaken,
Sorrowing, at Thy feet we bow;
Yet, 'though Thee we have forsaken,
O our God! Forfake not Thou!
Thou, whofe favours without number,
All our days with gladness bless,
Let Thine eye, which knows not flumber,
Guard our hours of helpleffness:
And, when life is clofing round us,
Dark with anguifh, faint with fear,
Let Thy beams of love furround us,
Let us know and feel Thee near!
EVENING HYMN.
IS gone, that bright and orbed blaze,
Fast fading from our wistful gaze;
Yon mantling cloud has hid from fight
The last faint pulfe of quivering light.
Sun of my foul! Thou Saviour dear,
It is not night if Thou be near:
Oh, may no earth-born cloud arise
To hide Thee from thy fervant's eyes!
When the foft dews of kindly fleep
My wearied eyelids gently steep,
Be
my laft thought, how sweet to reft
For ever on my Saviour's breast.
Abide with me from morn till eve,
For without Thee I cannot live:
Abide with me when night is nigh,
For without Thee I dare not die.
Thou Framer of the light and dark,
Steer through the tempeft thine own ark:
Amid the howling wintry fea,
We are in port if we have Thee.*
Oh by thine own fad burthen, borne
So meekly up the hill of fcorn,
Teach Thou thine own their daily cross
To bear as thine, nor count it loss !
THOU Eternal One! whofe prefence bright
All space doth occupy, all motion guide;
Unchanged through Time's all ever-
lafting flight,
Thou only God: there is no God befide.
Being above all beings! Mighty One!
Whom none can comprehend, and none explore;
Embracing all, fupporting, ruling o'er,
Being whom we call God, and know no more.
In its fublime research, philofophy
May measure out the Ocean deep, may count
The fands, or the fun's rays; but God! for Thee
There is no weight or measure; none can mount
Up to thy myfteries; reafon's brightest spark,
Though kindled by Thy light, in vain would try
To trace Thy counfels, infinite and dark;
And thought is loft ere thought can foar fo high,
Even like past moments in Eternity.
Thou, from primeval nothingness did call,
First chaos, then existence,-Lord, on Thee
Eternity had its foundation; all
Spring forth from Thee; all light, joy, harmony,
Sole origin-all life, all beauty, Thine.
Thy word created all, and doth create;
Thy fplendour fills all space with rays divine;
Thou art and wert; and shall be glorious! great!
Life-giving, life-fustaining, Potentate!
Thy chains th' immeasured universe surround;
Upheld by Thee, by Thee infpired with breath!
Thou the beginning with the end hast bound,
And beautifully mingled life and death!
As fparks mount upwards from the fiery blaze,
So funs are born, so worlds spring forth from Thee,
And as the spangles on the funny rays
Shine round the filver fnow, the pageantry
Of Heaven's bright army glitters in thy praise.
A million torches, lighted by thy hand,
Wander unwearied through the blue abyss;
They own Thy power, accomplish Thy command,
All gay with life, all eloquent with blifs.
What shall we call them? Piles of crystal light?
A glorious company of golden ftreams?
Lamps of celeftial ether burning bright?
Suns lighting fyftems with their joyous beams?
But Thou to these art as the Moon to night.
Yes! As a drop of water in the Sea,
All this magnificence in Thee is loft:-
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