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.
Thy precious time mis-spent, redeem;
Each present day, thy last esteem;
Improve thy talent with due care;
For the great day thyself prepare.
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.
Wake, and lift up thyself, my heart,
And with the angels be.ur thy part;
Who all night long, unw aried sing
High praise to the Eterna King.
Awake, awake, ye heavenly' choir;
May your devotion me inspi e,
That I, like you, my age may spend,
Like you, may on my God: ttend.
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!
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
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.
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.
LORD of my life, O may thy praise
Employ my noblest powers,
Whose goodness lengthens out my days,
And fills the circling hours.
Preserv'd by thy almighty arm,
I pass'd the shades of night,
Serene, and safe from every harm,
And see returning light.
While many spent the night in sighs,
And restless pains and woes;
In gentle sleep I closed my eyes,
And undisturb'd repose.
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.
O let the same almighty care
My waking hours attend;
From every danger, every snaro
My heedless steps defend.
Smile on my minutes as they roll,
And guide my future days;
And let thy goodness fill my soul
With gratitude and praise.
WHAT Secret hand, at morning-light,
By stealth, unseals inine eye,
Draws back the curtain of the night,
And opens earth and sky?
"Tis thine, my God-the same that kept
My resting hours from harm;
No ill came nigh me, for I slept
Beneath the Almighty's arm.
"Tis thine-my daily bread that brings
Like manna scatter'd round,
And clothes me, as the lily springs
In beauty from the ground.
This is the hand that shaped my frame,
And gave my pulse to beat;
That bare me oft through flood and flame,
Through tempest, cold, and heat.
In death's dark valley though I stray,
"Twould there my steps attend.
Guide with the staff my lonely way,
And with the rod defend.
May that dear hand uphold me still,
Through life's uncertain race.
To bring me to thine holy hill,
And to thy dwelling-place.
MORNING.
[HAWKESWORTH.]
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
ALL praise to Thee, my God, this night,
For all the blessings of the light;
Keep me, O keep me, King of kings,
Under thy own Almighty wings.
Forgive me, Lord, for thy dear Son,
The ill that I this day have done;
That with the world, myself, and Thee,
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.
Teach me to live, that I may dread
The grave as little as my bed;
To die, that this vile body may
Rise glorious at the awful day.
O may my soul on Thee repose,
And may sweet sleep mine eye-lids close;
Sleep that may me more vigorous make,
To serve my God when I awake.
When in the night I sleepless lie,
My soul with heavenly thoughts supply;
Let no ill dreams disturò my rest,
powers of darkness me molest.
O may my Guardian, while I sleep,
Close to my bed his vigils keep;
His love angelical instil,
Stop all the avenues of ill.
May He celestial joy rehearse,
And thought to thought with me converse;
Or, in my stead, all the night long,
Sing to my God a grateful song.
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.
IN mercy, Lord, remember me,
This instant passing night;
And grant to me most graciously
The safe-guard of thy might.
With cheerful heart I close my eyes
Since Thou wilt not remove :
O, in the morning let me rise
Rejoicing in thy love!
Or, if this night should prove the fast,
And end my transient days,
Lord, take me to thy promised rest,
Where I may sing thy praise.
Thus I am sure to live or die
To Thee the God of love:
In life and death I do rely
On Thee who reign'st above.
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