Sexagesima.

"We according to His promise look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”—2 Pet. iii. 13.

39 TO

crown that perfect bliss of Thine,
Creation nought can give;
Yet issuing from Thy secret shrine,

Thou bid'st a world to live.

2. The morning stars together sing,
The sons of God rejoice,

For earth and skies to being spring
At Thy creating Voice.

3. But while so fair to outward view
Arose the earth and skies,

A fairer world Thy will foreknew
Hereafter to arise.

4. Its Maker Christ, our Lord and God,
Its frame His truth and grace,
And, far as foot of man hath trod,
It finds a resting place.

5. And soon, its earthly travail o'er,
"Twill hear His loving call,
And rise to dwell for evermore
With Him the Lord of all.

6. Thy new creation, Lord, direct, 'Till fixed above secure;

O Father, from its foes protect;

O cleanse it, Spirit pure. Amen.

"The seed is the word of God."-S Luke, viii. 11.

40 ALMIGHTY God, Thy word is cast Like seed into the ground:

D

Now let the dew of Heaven descend,
And plenteous fruits abound.

2. Let not the foe of Christ and man
This holy seed remove;
But give it root in every heart,
To bring forth fruits of love.

3. Let not the world's deceitful cares
The rising plant destroy;
But let it yield a hundredfold,
The fruits of peace and joy.

4. Where'er the precious seed is sown,
Thy quick'ning grace bestow;
That all whose souls the truth receive
Its saving power may know.

5. To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
The God Whom we adore,

Be glory; as it was, is now,
And shall be evermore.

Quinquagesima.

Amen.

"And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."-1 Cor. xiii. 13.

41 SUPREME Disposer of the heart,
Thou, since the world began,

With heavenly grace hast sanctified
And cheer'd the heart of man.

2. Here Faith and Hope, and Love, unite
To lift the soul above;

And there where we shall live for aye,
'The chiefest grace is Love!

3. O, holy Love, unfading Light,
O, shall it ever be,

That after all our sorrows here,
Thy Sabbath we shall see?

4. Here yet a while with many a tear
The precious seed we sow;

There hope to see the promis'd fruits,
The harvest of our woe.

5. O holy Three, One God of might,
Thy present gifts increase;

And crown them in the world to come
With endless joy and peace. Amen.

Lent.

"Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar."-Joel, ii. 17.

42 THE solemn season on us calls
A holy fast to keep ;

And now within the temple's walls
Let priest and people weep.

2. But vain all outward sign of grief,
And vain the form of pray'r,
Unless the heart implore relief,
And penitence be there.

3. We smite the breast, we weep in vain,
In vain in ashes mourn,

Unless with penitential pain

The smitten soul be torn.

4. O holy Judge, O God, relent, The sword uplifted stay,

And grant a season to repent,

And teach our hearts to pray.

5 Great Three in One, Thy Name we bless, Thy praises ever sing,

O grant that fruits of righteousness
From Lenten tears may spring!

"Turn ye even to Me, with all your heart, and with fast ing, and with weeping, and with mourning.”—Joel, ii. 12.

43 THOU gracious Author of our days,
O may Thine ears be bent

Unto the mournful prayer we raise
In this our fast of Lent.

2. Thou, Searcher of our hearts, dost know How vile and weak we be;

But, Lord, Thy pard'ning mercy show;
And draw us back to Thee.

3. Much have we sinn'd, but we confess,
And all our faults deplore;

O, for the praise of Thy great Name,
Our fainting souls restore.

4. And grant us, while by care we strive
The body to control,

To fast from all that nurtures sin,
And purify the soul.

5. Great Three in One, Thy Name we bless, Thy praises ever sing,

O grant that fruits of righteousness
From Lenten tears may spring! Amen.

"Enter not into judgment with Thy servant; for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified."-- Ps. cxliii. 2.

44 LORD, turn not Thy face from me Who lie in woeful state,

Lamenting all my sinful life

Before Thy mercy gate:

2. A gate which opens wide to those
That do lament their sin:

Shut not that gate against me, Lord,
But let me enter in.

3. O call me not to strict account
Of all my actions here;

For then I know right well, O Lord!
Most vile I shall appear.

4. O Lord, I need not to repeat
What now I beg and crave;
For Thou dost know before I ask
The boon which I would have.

5. Mercy, good Lord, mercy I ask,
This is my only prayer;
For mercy, Lord, is all my suit,
O, in Thy mercy, spare! Amen.

"I am the Light of the world."-S. John, viii. 12.

45* CHRIST! Thou art our Light! our Day!
Thy beams chase night's dark shades away,
Who art Thyself the very Light
Thou sheddest, ever blest and bright !
2. Most holy Lord! we pray Thy power
May shield us in the midnight hour;
O give us calm repose in Thee,
A quiet night from terrors free.
3. May deadly slumber ne'er oppress,
No secret foes our souls distress,
Nor Satan's wiles the flesh allure,
And make us in Thy sight impure.

*For an Evening Service.