536.

The Service of Common Life.

1. FATHER, I pray for power to take

And use the things I have aright;
For strength and wisdom that shall make
My life a profit and delight.

2. I ask not that for me the plan
Of good and ill be set aside;
But that the common lot of man
Be nobly borne and glorified.

3. And though I may not always keep
My steps in places green and sweet,
Nor find the pathway of the deep
A path of safety for my feet;

4. Yet grant that when the tempest's breath
Shall fiercely sweep my way about,
I make not shipwreck of my faith,
In the unbottomed sea of doubt:

5. But rising over sin and strife,

537.

May Thine own peace be shed on me,
Till Thou be found in all my life,

And all my life be given to Thee.

Chastening Love.

L.M.

Phoebe Cary.

1. BENEATH Thine hammer, Lord, I lie

With contrite spirit prone:

Oh, mould me till to self I die,

And live to Thee alone!

2. With frequent disappointments sore
And many a bitter pain,

Thou labourest at my being's core
Till I be formed again.

C.M.

3. Smite, Lord! Thine hammer's needful wound

My baffled hopes confess;

538.

I.

Thine anvil is the sense profound
Of mine own nothingness.

4. Smite, till, from all its idols free,
And filled with love divine,

My heart shall know no good but Thee,
And have no will but Thine.

Frederic H. Hedge.

The Obedience of the Life.

KING of comforts, King of life,

Thou hast cheered me;

And when fears and doubts were rife,
Thou hast cleared me.

2. Not a nook in all my breast
But Thou fill'st it;

Not a thought that breaks my rest
But Thou kill'st it.

3. Wherefore with my utmost strength
I will praise Thee;

And as Thou giv'st line and length
I will raise Thee.

4. Day and night, not once a day,
I will bless Thee;

And my soul in new array
I will dress Thee.

5. Not one minute in the year
But I'll mind Thee;

As my seal and bracelet here

I will bind Thee.

7.4.7.4.

Henry Vaughan (1614-1695).

Abide with us.

I. SINCE without Thee we do no good,

And with Thee do no ill,

C.M.

539.

Abide with us in weal and woe,

In action and in will.

2. In weal,-that while our lips confess
The Lord who gives, we may
Remember, with an humble thought,
The Lord who takes away.

3. In woe, that while to drowning tears
Our hearts their joys resign,

We may remember who can turn
Such water into wine.

4. By hours of day,-that when our feet
O'er hill and valley run,

We still may think the light of truth
More welcome than the sun.

5. By hours of night,-that when the air
Its dew and shadow yields,

We still may hear the voice of God
In silence of the fields.

6. And when sleep comes on us like death,
All soundless, deaf and deep :

Lord! teach us so to watch and pray
That death may come like sleep.

7. Abide with us, abide with us,
While flesh and soul agree;
And when our flesh is only dust,
Abide our souls with Thee.

540.

I.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

Strength in Weakness.

WONDROUS Fatherhood of God!

L.M.

That in our weakness findeth strength,

And in our waywardness, a rod

To fit us for Thy heaven at length;

2. Our souls are precious in Thy sight,

Inspired and kindled by Thy breath :
Lead us through darkness to the light,

And to the greater life through death.
3. Build up our lives; let nought obscure
Their holy purpose, high intent;

From all ignoble motives pure,

Thy service their supreme content.

4. More of Thy thoughts, Lord, make us know;
More of Thy travail make us share;
More like Thyself in spirit grow,
And Thy full superscription bear.

5. Nerve us for duty: let Thy will
Our wills control, our zeal inspire;
Our daily work Thy joy fulfil,

541.

I.

Until Thou bid us Come up higher."

Growth in Grace.

J. B. Greenwood.

10.10.7.7.4.4.

grace,

LORD, grant us grace to mount, by steps of
From grace to grace, nearer, our God, to Thee;
Not tarrying for to-morrow,

Lest we lie down in sorrow,

And never see,

Unveiled, Thy face.

2. Life is a vapour, vanishing in haste;

Life is a day, whose sun grows pale to set;
Life is a stint and sorrow:

One day; and not-the morrow

Precious-while yet

It runs to waste.

3. Lord strengthen us; lest fainting by the way We come not to Thee, we who come from far;

Lord, bring us to that morrow
Which makes an end of sorrow,
Where all saints are

On holy day.

4. Where all the saints rest who have heard Thy call,
Have risen and striven and now rejoice in rest:
Call us too home from sorrow
To rest in Thee to-morrow;

542.

I.

A

In Thee our Best

In Thee our All.

Peace Divine.

Christina G. Rossetti.

BOVE this changeful clime,
And all its strifes and jars,
Untroubled, patient, pure, sublime,

Shine on the steadfast stars.

2. Beyond our life's unrest,

And sorrow's moaning night,
A realm there is, serene and blest,
Where dwells eternal light.

3. Might I that region gain,

So joyous, calm, and fair,

There, surely, would my heart attain
Heaven's healing, perfect air!

4. Vain dream! to seek sweet ease
In things afar, unknown;

Within, O Lord, shines Thy true peace,

Where Thou dost come alone.

5. Transcending time and place,

Thy blessing maketh blest;

Give now, O God, Thine inward grace,
And then I shall find rest.

S.M.

James Bell.