51.

OUR day of praise is done,
The evening shadows fall;

But pass not from us with the sun,
True Light that lightenest all.

Around the throne on high,
Where night can never be,
The white-robed harpers of the sky
Bring ceaseless hymns to Thee.

Too faint our anthems here,

Too soon of praise we tire;

But oh, the strains how full and clear
Of that eternal choir !

Yet, Lord, to Thy dear will If Thou attune the heart, We in Thy angels' music still May bear our lower part.

'Tis Thine each soul to calm, Each wayward thought reclaim, And make our life a daily psalm Of glory to Thy name.

A little while, and then

Shall come the glorious end,

And songs

of angels and of men

In perfect praise shall blend.

JOHN ELLERTON, 1868 (recast 1869), based on a translation by W. J. BLEW, 1852, of a Latin Hymn by CHARLES COFfin, 1736.

52.

ERE another sabbath's close,
Ere again we seek repose,

Lord, our song ascends to Thee;
At Thy feet we bow the knee.

For the mercies of the day,
For this rest upon our way,
Thanks to Thee alone be given,
Lord of earth and King of heaven.

Cold our services have been,
Mingled every prayer with sin;
But Thou canst and wilt forgive;
By Thy grace alone we live.

Whilst this thorny path we tread,
May Thy love our footsteps lead;
When our journey here is past,
May we rest with Thee at last.

Let these earthly sabbaths prove
Foretastes of our joys above,

While their steps Thy pilgrims bend
To the rest which knows no end.

O. P., 1826.

53.

YESTERDAY with worship blest
Passed our day of hallowed rest :
Lord, to-day we meet once more
Grace and mercy to implore.

Not one day alone shall be
Given, O God of love, to Thee;
Work and rest alike are Thine;
Brighten all with love divine.

Through the passing of the week,
Father, we Thy presence seek:
Midst this world's deceitful maze
Keep us, Lord, in all our ways.

Oh, what snares our path beset!
Oh, what cares our spirits fret!
Let no earthly thing, we pray,
Draw our souls from Thee away.

Thou hast set our daily task;

Grace and strength from Thee we ask:
Thou our joys and griefs dost send;

To Thy will our spirits bend.

Still in duty's lowly round
Be our patient footsteps found:
With Thy counsel guide us here,

Till in glory we appear.

BISHOP WALSHAM HOW, 1871.

54.

ASCENDED Lord, accept our praise,
As with adoring eye

From this dim earth we lift our gaze
To Thy bright home on high.

We may not stay our lingering feet

Upon the sacred hill,

Nor with blest dreams and visions sweet

Stand upward gazing still.

For Thou, Lord, shalt once more appear;
And we would seek Thy grace
To tread our lowly pathway here,
Until we see Thy face.

And week by week we ask this day
Fresh gleams of heavenly light,
To cheer us on our toilsome way,
And brighten all our night.

Then praise to Thee, ascended Lord,
O Father, praise to Thee,
And Thou, O Spirit, be adored,

One God in Trinity.

BISHOP WALSHAM HOW, 1871.

55.

O JESU, crucified for man,

O Lamb, all glorious on Thy throne,

Teach Thou our wondering souls to scan
The mystery of Thy love unknown.

We pray Thee, grant us strength to take
Our daily cross, whate'er it be,

And gladly for Thine own dear sake
In paths of pain to follow Thee.

As on our daily way we go,
Through light or shade, in calm or strife,
O may we bear Thy marks below
In conquered sin and chastened life.

And week by week this day we ask
That holy memories of Thy cross
May sanctify each common task,
And turn to gain each earthly loss.

Grant us, dear Lord, our cross to bear,
Till at Thy feet we lay it down,

Win through Thy blood our pardon there,
And through the cross attain the crown.

BISHOP WALSHAM HOW, 1871.