Now the dreary night is done,
Comes again the glorious sun,
Crimson clouds, and silver white,
Wait upon his breaking light.
Glistening in the garden beds,
Flowers lift up their dewy heads,
And the shrill cock claps his wings,
And the merry lark upsprings.
When the eastern sky is red,
I, too, lift my little head;
When the lark sings loud and gay,
I, too, rise to praise and pray.
SAVIOUR, to Thy cottage home
Once the daylight used to come;
Thou hast ofttimes seen it break
Brightly o'er that eastern lake.
Thou wast meek and undefiled,
Make me holy too, and mild;
Thou didst foil the tempter's power,
Help me in temptation's hour.
Thou didst love Thy mother here,
Make me gentle, kind, and dear;
Thou wast subject to her word,
Teach me to obey, O Lord!
Fretful feelings, passion, pride
Never did with Thee abide :
Make me watch myself to-day,
That they lead me not astray.
With Thee, Lord, I would arise,
To Thee look with opening eyes,
All the day be at Thy side,
Saviour, Pattern, King, and Guide.
My God, who makes the sun to know
His proper hour to rise,
And to give light to all below,
Doth send him round the skies!
When, from the chambers of the east,
His morning race begins,
He never tires, nor stops to rest,
But round the world he shines.
So, like the sun, would I fulfill
The business of the day;
Begin my work betimes, and still
March on my heavenly way.
Give me, O Lord! Thy early grace,
Nor let my soul complain
That the young morning of my days
Has all been spent in vain!
MORNING PRAISE AND PRAYER.
My Father, I thank Thee for sleep
For quiet and peaceable rest;
I thank Thee for stooping to keep
An infant from being distressed;
Oh! how can a poor little creature repay
Thy fatherly kindness by night and by day?
My voice will be lisping Thy praise,
My heart would return Thee its love:
Oh! teach me to walk in Thy ways,
And fit me to see Thee above;
For Jesus has bid little children come nigh,
He will not despise such an infant as I.
As long as Thou deemest it right,
That here on this earth I should stay, I pray Thee to guard me by night,
And help me to serve Thee by day;
And when all the days of my life shall have past, Receive me in heaven to praise Thee at last.
MORNING HYMN.
AWAKE, my soul! and with the sun
Thy daily course of duty run;
Shake off dull sloth, and early rise
To pay thy morning sacrifice.
Redeem thy misspent time that's past ;
Live this day, as if 'twere thy last:
T'improve thy talents take due care;
'Gainst the great day thyself prepare.
Let all thy converse be sincere,
Thy conscience as the noon-day clear;
Think how the all-seeing God thy ways
And all thy secret thoughts surveys.
Wake, and lift up thyself, my heart,
And with the angels bear thy part;
Who all night long unwearied sing,
Glory to Thee, Eternal King!
I wake, I wake, ye heavenly choir!
May your devotion me inspire;
That I like you my age may spend,
Like you may on my God attend.
May I like you in God delight,
Have all day long my God in sight;
Perform like you my Maker's will:
Oh! may I never more do ill.
Glory to Thee, who safe hast kept,
And hast refreshed me while I slept :
Grant, Lord, when I from death shall wake, I may of endless life partake.
Lord, I my vows to Thee renew:
Scatter my sins as morning dew;
Guard my first spring of thought and will,
And with Thyself my spirit fill.
Direct, control, suggest this day,
All I design, or do, or say,
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