That shadows fall on brightest hours;
That thorns remain ;

So that earth's bliss may be our guide,
And not our chain.

4. For Thou who knowest, Lord, how soon
Our weak heart clings,

Hast given us joys tender and true,
Yet all with wings;

So that we see, gleaming on high,
Diviner things.

5. We thank Thee, Lord, that Thou dost keep
The best in store;

We have enough, yet not too much
To long for more,

A yearning for a deeper peace

Not known before.

6. We thank Thee, Lord, that here our souls, Though amply blest,

Can never find, although they seek,

A perfect rest;

Nor ever shall, until they lean

Upon Thy breast.

287.

God is Light.

A. A. Procter.

IIS.

1. ALL-GRACIOUS, all-loving, great Father of

Light!

Who knowest not shadow nor trouble of night,
In brightness triumphant arise on our heart;
Our languors and coldness, oh bid them depart.

2. Arise on our souls with Thy warm-shining ray, Disperse with Thy beaming our darkness away;

Surmount like the morning our mountains of wrong,
And fill us with new inspirations of song.

3. In deep adoration before Thee we bow,
With succour and radiance appear to us now;
Accept us in mercy, our blindness remove,
And cause us Thy sweet benediction to prove.
4. O Father most tender, Beginning and End!

Our Hope to inspire us, our Strength to defend !
All fearfulness, fainting, and doubting dispel :
For what can harm any whom Thou lovest well?
5. And help us to trust Thee, whate'er may betide,
Should pleasure or painfulness walk by our side;
Both shadow and sunshine are under Thy care,
And daylight and starlight Thy goodness declare.
6. Our sins are as clouds that o'erdarken Thy face,
And hide the pure beauty and charm of Thy grace;
Our selfishness pardon, our evil forgive,

Nor leave us alone in transgression to live.

7. O Light of the world! rise in splendour and shine; These dark hills of time touch with glory divine; The kingdom of Christ and of kindness lead in, And Love's golden reign in all nations begin.

James Bell.

288.

I.

LORD of power, Lord of might;

God and Father of us all ;

Lord of day and Lord of night,

Listen to our solemn call;

Listen, whilst to Thee we raise

Songs of prayer, and songs of praise.

2. Light and love and life are Thine,
Great Creator of all good;

Fill our souls with light divine;
Give us, with our daily food,
Blessings from Thy heavenly store,
Blessings rich for evermore.

3. Graft within our heart of hearts
Love undying for Thy name;
Bid us, ere the day departs,
Spread afar our Maker's fame:
Young and old together bless,
Clothe our souls with righteousness,

4. Full of years and full of peace,
May our life on earth be blest;
When our trials here shall cease,
And at last we sink to rest,
Fountain of eternal love,

Call us to our home above.

G. Thring.

289.

C.M.

All things from God.

1. FATHER, I well may praise Thy name
In sounds of flowing song ;

And in glad words aloud proclaim

That I to Thee belong.

2. I see Thy light, Thy world's wide scope,
I hear Thy wind abroad :

All things that give me life and hope
Are from my Father, God.

3. This living soul, which I call mine,
Doth feel and know and love;

It is an utterance of Thine,

A breathing from above.

4. So I would fill a higher part,
Self-acting, like to Thee;

Therefore I'll stir my inmost heart
To live in action free.

5. This be my action, henceforth now,
Ever to will the good;

And then when strength is failing, Thou
Wilt give my spirit food.

6. And through the grace of Him who willed
To do Thy will on earth,

With truth my spirit shall be filled,

And reach its place of birth.

George Mac Donald.

290.

All Thy mercies.

I. WHEN all Thy mercies, O my God,
My rising soul surveys ;

Transported with the view, I'm lost
In wonder, love, and praise:

2. O how shall words with equal warmth
The gratitude declare,

That glows within my thankful heart!
But Thou canst read it there.

3. To all my weak complaints and cries
Thy mercy lent an ear,

Ere yet my feeble thoughts had learned
To form themselves in prayer.

4. Unnumbered comforts on my soul
Thy tender care bestowed,

Before my infant heart conceived

From whence these comforts flowed.

C.M.

5. When in the slippery paths of youth
With heedless steps I ran,

Thine arm, unseen, convey'd me safe,
And led me up to man.

6. When worn with sickness, oft hast Thou
With health renewed my face;
And when in sins and sorrows sunk,
Revived my soul with grace.

7. Ten thousand thousand precious gifts
My daily thanks employ ;
Nor is the least a cheerful heart,
That tastes those gifts with joy.

8. Through every period of my life
Thy goodness I'll pursue;

And after death, in distant worlds,
The glorious theme renew.

291.

I.

O give Thanks.

J. Addison.

7s. 6 lines.

GIVE thanks to Him who made

Morning light and evening shade;

Source and Giver of all good,

Nightly sleep and daily food;
Quickener of our wearied powers;
Guard of our unconscious hours.

2. O give thanks to nature's King,
Who made every breathing thing:
His, our warm and sentient frame,
His, the mind's immortal flame.
O, how close the ties that bind
Spirits to the Eternal Mind!