1 AWAKE, my soul, and with the sun,
Thy daily stage of duty run;
Shake off dull sloth, and joyful rise,
To pay thy morning sacrifice.
2 Thy precious time mispent, redeem
Each present day, thy last esteem;
Improve thy talent with due care;
For the great day thyself prepare.
3 In conversation be sincere ;
Keep conscience, as the noon-tide, clear; Think how the all-seeing God thy ways, And all thy secret thoughts, surveys. 4 Wake, and lift up thyself, my heart, And with the angels bear thy part; Who all night long, unwearied sing High praise to the Eternal King. 5 Awake, awake, ye heavenly choir; May your devotion me inspire, That I, like you, my age may spend, Like you, may on my God attend.
6 May I, like you, in God delight,
Have all day long my God in sight;
Perform, like you, my Maker's will-
O may I never more do ill!
7 Lord, I my vows to Thee renew;
Scatter my sins as morning dew;
Guard my first springs of thought and will,
And with Thyself my spirit fill.
8 Direct, control, suggest, this day,
All I design, or do, or say;
That all my powers, with all their might,
In thy sole glory may unite.
9 Praise God, from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host,
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
1 LORD of my life, O may thy praise
Employ my noblest powers,
Whose goodness lengthens out my days,
And fills the circling hours.
2 Preserved by thy almighty arm,
I passed the shades of night,
Serene, and safe from every harm,
And see returning light.
3 While many spent the night in sighs,
And restless pains and woes;
In gentle sleep I closed my eyes,
And undisturb'd repose.
4 When sleep, death's semblance, o'er me spread, And I unconscious lay,
Thy watchful care was round my bed,
To guard my feeble clay.
50 let the same almighty care
My waking hours attend;
From every danger, every snare,
My heedless steps defend.
6 Smile on my minutes as they roll,
And guide my future days;
And let thy goodness fill my soul
With gratitude and praise.
TO-MORROW, Lord, is thine,
Lodged in thy sovereign hand;
And, if its sun arise and shine,
It shines by thy command.
2 The present moment flies,
And bears our life away,
O make thy servants truly wise,
That they may live to-day!
3 Since on this winged hour
Eternity is hung,
Waken, by thine almighty power,
The aged and the young.
One thing demands our care,
O be it still pursued!
Lest, slighted once, the season fair
Should never be renew'd.
To Jesus may we fly,
Swift as the morning light,
Lest life's young golden beams should die, In sudden endless night.
1 IN sleep's serene oblivion laid,
I safely pass'd the silent night;
Again I see the breaking shade,
I drink again the morning light.
2 New-born, I bless the waking hour,
Once more, with awe, rejoice to be;
My conscious soul resumes her power,
And springs, my guardian God, to Thee
3 O guide me through the various maze,
My doubtful feet are doom'd to tread;
And spread thy shield's protecting blaze
Where dangers press around my head.
4 A deeper shade shall soon impend,
A deeper sleep mine eyes oppress;
Yet then thy strength shall still defend,
Thy goodness still delight to bless.
5 That deeper shade shall break away,
That deeper sleep shall leave mine eyes;
Thy light shall give eternal day-
Thy love, the rapture of the skies!
Morning or Evening.
1 As every day, thy mercy spares,
Will bring its trials or its cares,
O Saviour, till my life shall end,
Be Thou my counsellor and friend;
Teach me thy precepts all divine,
And be thy great example mine.
2 When each day's scenes and labours close,
And wearied nature seeks repose,
With pardoning mercy, richly blest,
Guard me, my Saviour, while I rest:
And as each morning sun shall rise,
O lead me onward to the skies!
3 And at my life's last setting sun,
My conflicts o'er, my labours done,
Jesus, thine heavenly radiance shed,
To cheer and bless my dying bed-
And from death's gloom my spirit raise,
To see thy face, and sing thy praise.
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