16.

ANOTHER day begun!

Lord, grant us grace that we, Before the setting of the sun, Redeem the time for Thee.

Another day of toil!

To Thee we yield our powers; Keep Thou our souls from guilty soil Through all the passing hours.

Another day of fear!

For watchful is our foe;

And sin is strong, and death is near,

And short our time below.

Another day of hope!

For Thou art with us still;

And Thine almighty strength can cope

With all who seek our ill.

Another day of grace

To help us on our way!

One step towards the resting-place,

The eternal Sabbath-day.

JOHN ELLERTON, 1871.

17.

AT Thy feet, O Christ, we lay
Thine own gift of this new day;
Doubt of what it holds in store
Makes us crave Thine aid the more:
Lest it prove a time of loss,

Mark it, Saviour, with Thy cross.

If it flow on calm and bright,
Be Thyself our chief delight;
If it bring unknown distress,
Good is all that Thou canst bless;
Only, while its hours begin,
Pray we, keep them clear of sin.

We in part our weakness know,
And in part discern our foe;
Well for us, before Thine eyes
All our danger open lies;
Turn not from us, while we plead
Thy compassions and our need.

Fain would we Thy word embrace,
Live each moment in Thy grace,
All ourselves to Thee consign,
Fold up all our wills in Thine,
Think, and speak, and do, and be
Simply that which pleases Thee.

Hear us, Lord, and that right soon;
Hear, and grant the choicest boon
That Thy love can e'er impart,
Loyal singleness of heart;

So shall this and all our days,

Christ our God, show forth Thy praise.

WILLIAM BRIGHT, 1867.

18.

MY Father, for another night
Of quiet sleep and rest,

For all the joy of morning light,

Thy holy name be blest.

Now with the new-born day I give

Myself anew to Thee,

That as Thou willest I may live,
And what Thou willest be.

Whate'er I do, things great or small,

Whate'er I speak or frame,

Thy glory may I seek in all,

Do all in Jesus' name.

My Father, for His sake, I pray,
Thy child accept and bless,
And lead me by Thy grace to-day

In paths of righteousness.

SIR HENRY W. BAKER, 1875.

19.

YE that have spent the silent night
In sleep and quiet rest,

And joy to see the cheerful light

That riseth in the east,

Now lift your hearts, your voices raise,
Your morning tribute bring,
And pay a grateful song of praise
To heaven's Almighty King.

And as this gloomy night did last
But for a little space;

As heavenly day, now night is past,
Doth show his pleasant face;
So let us hope, when faith and love
Their work on earth have done,
God's blessèd face to see above,
Heaven's better, brighter Sun.

God grant us grace that height to gain,
That glorious sight to see,
And send us, after worldly pain,

A life from trouble free,

Where cheerful day shall ever shine,

And sorrow never come:

Lord, be a place, a portion mine,

In that bright blissful home.

GEORGE GASCOIGNE, d. 1577.

20.

BEHOLD us, Lord, a little space
From daily tasks set free,
And met within Thy holy place
To rest awhile with Thee.

Yet these are not the only walls
Wherein Thou mayst be sought;
On homeliest work Thy blessing falls,
In truth and patience wrought.

Thine is the loom, the forge, the mart,
The wealth of land and sea,
The worlds of science and of art,
Revealed and ruled by Thee.

Then let us prove our heavenly birth
In all we do and know,

And claim the kingdom of the earth

For Thee, and not Thy foe.

Work shall be prayer, if all be wrought
As Thou wouldst have it done,

And prayer, by Thee inspired and taught,
Itself with work be one.

J. ELLERTON, 1870.