977 L. M. Far from my thoughts, vain world, begone.
Far from my thoughts, vain world! begone, Let my religious hours alone: Fain would mine eyes my Saviour see; I wait a visit, Lord! from thee.
2 My heart grows warm with holy fire, And kindles with a pure desire; Come, my dear Jesus! from above, And feed my soul with heavenly love.
3 Blest Saviour, what delicious fare— How sweet thine entertainments are! Never did angels taste above Redeeming grace and dying love.
4 Hail, great Immanuel, all-divine! In thee thy Father’s glories shine: Thou brightest, sweetest, fairest One, That eyes have seen, or angels known!
978 L. M. Abide with us; for it is toward evening. Luke 24:29.
Sun of my soul! thou Saviour dear, It is not night if thou be near: O, may no earth-born cloud arise To hide thee from thy servant’s eyes!
2 When soft the dews of kindly sleep My wearied eyelids gently steep, Be my last thought—how sweet to rest For ever on my Saviour’s breast!
3 Abide with me from morn till eve, For without thee I can not live; Abide with me when night is nigh, For without thee I dare not die.
4 Be near to bless me when I wake, Ere through the world my way I take; Abide with me till in thy love I lose myself in heaven above.
979 L. M. The fullness of God. Eph. 3:19.
My God, my heart with love inflame, That I may in thy holy name Aloud in songs of praise rejoice, While I have breath to raise my voice.
2 No more let my ungrateful heart One moment from thy praise depart; But live and sing in sweet accord, The glories of my sovereign Lord.
3 Jesus! thou hope of glory, come, And make my heart thy constant home: Through all the remnant of my days, O let me speak and live thy praise!
980 8s & 4s. In the night watches. Psalm 63:6.
In silence of the voiceless night, When chased by dreams, the slumbers flee, Whom, in the darkness, do I seek, O God, but thee?
2 And if there weigh upon my breast, Vague memories of the day foregone, Scarce knowing why, I fly to thee, And lay them down.
3 Or, if it be the gloom that comes, In token of impending ill, My bosom heeds not what it is, Since ’tis thy will.
4 For, O! in spite of constant care, Or aught beside, how joyfully I pass that solitary hour, My God, with thee!
5 More tranquil than the stilly night, More peaceful than that voiceless hour, Supremely blest, my bosom lies Beneath thy power.
6 For what on earth can I desire, Of all it hath to offer me? Or whom in heaven do I seek, O God, but thee?
981 L. M. In the world, but not of it.
O that I could for ever dwell, Delighted, at the Saviour’s feet; Behold the form I love so well, And all his tender words repeat!
2 The world shut out from all my soul, And heaven brought in with all its bliss, O! is there aught from pole to pole, One moment to compare with this?
3 This is the hidden life I prize— A life of penitential love; When I my follies most despise, And raise my highest thoughts above?
4 When all I am I clearly see, And freely own with deepest shame; When the Redeemer’s love to me Kindles within a deathless flame.
5 Thus would I live till nature fail, And all my former sins forsake; Then rise to God within the vail, And of eternal joys partake.
982 L. M. Retirement and meditation. Psalm 4:4.
Return, my roving heart, return, And chase these shadowy forms no more; Seek out some solitude to mourn, And thy forsaken God implore.
2 O thou, great God, whose piercing eye Distinctly marks each deep recess; In these sequestered hours draw nigh, And with thy presence fill the place.
3 Through all the windings of my heart, My search let heavenly wisdom guide; And still its radiant beams impart Till all be searched and purified.
4 Then with the visits of thy love, Vouchsafe my inmost soul to cheer; Till every grace shall join to prove That God has fixed his dwelling there.
983 L. M. D. The gate of heaven.
Our Father God! not face to face May mortal sense commune with thee, Nor lift the curtains of that place Where dwells thy secret Majesty: Yet wheresoe’er our spirits bend In reverent faith and humble prayer, Thy promised blessing will descend, And we shall find thy Spirit there.
2 Lord! be the spot where now we meet An open gateway into heaven; Here may we sit at Jesus’ feet, And feel our deepest sins forgiven. Here may desponding care look up; And sorrow lay its burden down, Or learn of him to drink the cup, To bear the cross and win the crown.