The Hour of Peaceful Rest Not a brief glance, I beg, a passing word, But, as Thou dwell'st with Thy disciples, Lord, Come not in terrors, as the King of kings; Thou on my head in early youth didst smile, I need Thy presence every passing hour. I fear no foe with Thee at hand to bless: 3553 Hold then Thy cross before my closing eyes; Henry Francis Lyte [1793-1847] THE HOUR OF PEACEFUL REST THERE is an hour of peaceful rest There is a soft, a downy bed, Far from these shades of even- There is a home for weary souls By sin and sorrow driven; When tossed on life's tempestuous shoals, There faith lifts up her cheerful eye, There fragrant flowers immortal bloom, Beyond the confines of the tomb Appears the dawn of heaven. William Bingham Tappan [1794-1849] THE PILLAR OF THE CLOUD LEAD, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom, The night is dark, and I am far from home Lead Thou me on! Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou I loved to choose and see my path; but now Lead Thou me on! I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears, "Nearer to Thee" So long Thy power hath blessed me, sure it still Will lead me on, O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till And with the morn those angel faces smile 3555 Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile. "NEARER TO THEE" NEARER, my God, to Thee, That raiseth me; Still all my song shall be, Nearer to Thee! Though like the wanderer, Yet in my dreams I'd be Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee! There let the way appear All that Thou send'st to me In mercy given; Angels to beckon me Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee! Then, with my waking thoughts Bright with Thy praise, Out of my stony griefs Bethel I'll raise; So by my woes to be Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee! Or if on joyful wing Cleaving the sky, Sun, moon, and stars forgot, Upward I fly, Still all my song shall be, Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee! Sarah Flower Adams [1805-1848] "A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD"* A MIGHTY fortress is our God, Did we in our own strength confide, The man of God's own choosing. Lord Sabaoth His name, From age to age the same, And He must win the battle. And though this world, with devils filled, We will not fear, for God hath willed The Prince of Darkness grim,— We tremble not for him; For lo! his doom is sure: One little word shall fell him. *For the original of this poem, see page 3581. Prayer to the Trinity That word above all earthly powers, No thanks to them, abideth; The body they may kill, God's truth abideth still, His Kingdom is forever. From the German of Martin Luther, by 3557 Frederick Henry Hedge [1805-1890] PRAYER TO THE TRINITY LEAD us, heavenly Father, lead us Every blessing, If our God our Father be. Saviour, breathe forgiveness o'er us; All our weakness Thou dost know; Faint and weary, Through the desert Thou didst go. Spirit of our God, descending, Fill our hearts with heavenly joy, Pardoned, guided, Nothing can our peace destroy. James Edmeston (1791-1867] |