And pluck the holy fruits of love,
That meet us on our road.
TO GOD the FATHER, GOD the SON,
And GOD the HOLY GHOST,
All glory be from saints on earth,
And from the angel-host.
"For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He pondereth all his goings."
115. Lo, the golden light is peering,
Let the dimness fleet away,
Which so long hath kept us veering,
From the narrow path astray.
May the morn, sweet calmness breathing,
Keep us, morn-like, chaste, and pure,
In our lips no falsehood sheathing,
In our hearts no sin obscure.
So the day, all smoothly gliding,
May preserve our tongue from guile,
Eyes from wandering, feet from sliding,
Hands from aught that can defile.
All day long an Eye is o'er us,
Which our every secret knows,
Sees our every step before us,
From first morn till evening's close.
To the FATHER lauds unending,
To the SON and SPIRIT Blest,
Still from aye to aye ascending,
Be throughout all worlds addrest.
"Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light."
116. O, HOW can worthy praises, LORD,
To Thee by man be given ?
From Whom alone true light proceeds,
To show the way to Heaven.
The faith we need to serve Thee well,
Thou dost Thyself supply,
That faith which sanctifies the heart,
And lifts the soul on high.
No pompous rites can e'er atone
For want of grace within:
The secret prayer, the lowly sigh,
Thy favour best can win.
For then the heart and lips can join
To yield Thy meed of praise,
And with a free and cheerful voice,
Salvation's song can raise.
O Thou, Who dost the proud abhor
And humble souls approve,
That we in holy faith may grow,
Our sinful pride remove.
Praise GOD, Who gave His only SON
To be for sinners slain,
And HOLY SPIRIT, by Whose Breath
Our souls are raised again.
"O LORD, how manifold are Thy works: in wisdom hast Thou made them all."
117. LORD of all power! at Whose command
The waters from their teeming womb,
Brought forth the countless tribes of fish,
And birds of every note and plume;
Who didst, for natures linked in birth,
Far different homes of old
prepare;
Sinking the fishes in the sea,
Lifting the birds aloft in air;
Lo! born of Thy Baptismal wave,
We ask of Thee, O LORD Divine !
Keep us, whom Thou hast sanctified
In Thy Own Blood, for ever Thine.
Safe from all pride, as from despair,
Not sunk too low, nor raised too high,
Lest raised by pride, we headlong fall,
Sunk in despair, lie down and die.
FATHER of Mercies! hear our cry,
Hear us, O Sole-begotten SON!
Who, with the HOLY GHOST Most High,
Reignest while endless ages run.
"The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth."
118. O GOD of our salvation, LORD
Of wondrous power and love,
May faith, salvation's holy seed,
Be sent us from above!
"Tis Faith that gives us strength to fight,
That we our foes may quell;
And with the shield of Faith we quench
The fiery darts of hell.
By Faith we make our prayers to Thee,
In that most holy Name,
On Which for mercy and for peace,
Hope rests her steadfast claim.
For that Name's sake assist us, LORD,
To run our heavenward race:
And O, may no unholy life,
Our holy faith disgrace.
TO FATHER, SON, and HOLY GHOST,
Be praise and glory given,
Who pour into the hearts of men
The light of truth from Heaven.
"Hold Thou up my goings in Thy paths, that my footsteps slip not."
119. O THOU, Who dost all nature sway,
Dread TRINITY in Unity!
Accept the trembling praise we pay
To Thy eternal Majesty.
Almighty LORD! whatever guilt
Satan hath wrought in us this night,
May it before Thy Presence melt,
Like mist before the morning light.
Grant us a body pure within,
A wakeful heart, a ready will;
Grant us, by no deep cherished sin,
The fervour of the soul to chill.
Fill Thou our souls, Redeemer true!
With Thy most pure celestial ray!
So may we walk in safety through
All the temptations of the day.
FATHER of mercies! hear our cry,
Hear us, O sole-begotten SoN!
Who, with the HOLY GHOST most high,
Reignest while endless ages run.
"Thou makest him to have dominion of the works of Thy hands and Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet."
120. AND now, O GOD, Thy Mind resolves,
A holier work to frame;
A ruler for Thy new-made world,
A herald of Thy Name.
And man is made: to favoured dust
The breath of life is given;
The likeness of a holy GOD,
The lineaments of heaven.
The wide expanse of earth must own
His delegated sway,
To GOD alone, his rightful LORD,
Due homage he must pay.
Alas for man! corrupt, depraved,
The yoke he will not wear:
Vile dust presumes with GOD above
A rival front to rear.
And, oh! from hence what wretchedness
The world hath overspread;
If JESUS had not succoured us,
E'en hope itself were dead.
O! praise the FATHER, and the SON,
Who saved us by His death,
And HOLY GHOST, Who quickens us
By His celestial Breath.
"O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for Thee: be Thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble."
121. GLORY of the Heavens Supernal,
Blessed Hope of all on earth,
Sole-Begotten of the Eternal,
Spotless Virgin's Virgin Birth!
Thy Right Hand to us extending,
LORD, our soul in calmness raise,
Till to GOD in hymns ascending,
We be kindled all to praise.
Morning's star is risen and shining,
Herald of day's glory bright,
Night's dun shadows are declining;
Shed on us Thine holy Light;
Light, that this world's night dispelling
In our senses may abide,
In our breasts for ever dwelling,
Sanctified till glorified.
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