When storms of life are round me beating,
When rough the path that I have trod,
Within my closet door retreating,
I love to be alone with God.

Refrain

Alone with God, the world forbidden,
Alone with God, O blest retreat!
Alone with God, and in Him hidden,
To hold with Him communion sweet.

What tho’ the clouds have gathered o’er me?
What tho’ I’ve passed beneath the rod?
God’s perfect will there lies before me,
When I am thus alone with God.

Refrain

’Tis there I find new strength for duty,
As o’er the sands of time I plod;
I see the King in all His beauty,
While resting there alone with God.

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And when I see the moment nearing
When I shall sleep beneath the sod,
When time with me is disappearing,
I want to be alone with God.

Refrain

Would you gain the victory over every sin?
Would you in each battle for your Captain win?
Hide away with Jesus, yield not to despair;
Find your secret closet—He will meet you there.

Refrain

He will meet you there, He will meet you there;
Find your secret closet—He will meet you there;
If your heart is burdened, if His grace you’d share,
Find your secret closet—He will meet you there.

Would you spend your lifetime in the Lord’s employ?
And the richest blessings from His hand enjoy?
Hide away with Jesus from the world of care;
Find your secret closet—He will meet you there.

Refrain

Would you walk with Jesus in the narrow way?
Hear His faintest whisper when your feet would stray?
Hide away with Jesus from the tempter’s snare;
Find your secret closet—He will meet you there.

Refrain

Would you be His jewel when He claims His own?
Would you share His glory shining round the throne?
Hide away with Jesus, keep in constant prayer;
Find your secret closet—He will meet you there.

Refrain

’Mid all the traffic of the ways,
Turmoils without, within,
Make in my heart a quiet place,
And come and dwell therein.

A little shrine of quietness,
All sacred to Thyself,
Where Thou shalt all my soul possess,
And I may find myself.

A little shelter from life’s stress,
Where I may lay me prone,
And bare my soul in loneliness,
And know as I am known.

A little place of mystic grace,
Of self and sin swept bare,
Where I may look upon Thy face,
And talk with Thee in prayer.

Pray, pray, when things go wrong,
And gloomy fears around you throng;
The loving God your voice will hear,
Look up to Him, He’s always near.

Refrain

Pray, pray though your eyes grow dim,
Go with your troubles straight to Him;
Pray, pray, for God understands;
Have faith, leaving all in His dear hands.

Pray, pray, be calm and still,
Whatever comes must be His will;
His promises like buds unfold,
Naught that is good will He withhold.

Refrain

Pray, pray till faith grows strong,
And in your heart rings Heaven’s song;
Till self shall die in pure desire,
And every thought to Him aspire.

Refrain

Pray when the morn is breaking,
Pray when the noon is bright,
Pray with the eve’s declining,
Pray in the hush of night:
With mind made pure of passion,
All meaner thoughts away,
Low in thy chamber kneeling,
Do thou in secret pray.

Remember all who love thee,
All who are loved by thee,
And next for those that hate thee
Pray thou, if such there be;
Last for thyself in meekness
A blessing humbly claim,
And link with each petition
Thy great Redeemer’s Name.

But if ’tis e’er denied thee
In solitude to pray,
Should holy thoughts come o’er thee
Upon life’s crowded way,
E’en then the silent breathing
That lifts thy soul above
Shall reach the thronèd presence
Of Mercy, Truth, and Love.

Sweet secret prayer, comfort divine,
There, O my Lord, I know Thou art mine;
Great Master, there in secret with Thee,
Heaven comes nearer and nearer to me.

Refrain

Blessings attend and follow us there;
Heaven comes nearer and nearer in prayer.

Sweet secret prayer, comfort divine,
There do Thine arms, Lord, round me entwine;
Rivers of love and mercy there flow,
Balm for all sorrow that mortal can know.

Refrain

Sweet secret prayer, comfort divine,
There do I feel I truly am Thine;
Heav’n’s windows open, Jesus is near,
Near to my soul, and the Father will hear.

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In the twilight of the morning,
When the shadows steal away,
And we wake from balmy slumber
To behold another day,
Let us go alone in secret,
And unburden all our care
At the feet of our Redeemer,
In the simple, earnest prayer.

Refrain

Let Thy presence, blessèd Savior,
Our protection ever be;
Give us strength for every trial,
Keep, oh, keep us close to Thee.

In the noontide, calm and peaceful,
When we pause awhile to rest,
Ere the sun in all its glory
Is declining towards the west;
In the midst of our temptation,
When the cross is hard to bear,
If we cannot go in secret,
God will hear the silent prayer.

Refrain

When the toils of day are over,
And we seek the hallowed place
Where by faith we meet our Savior,
And adore Him for His grace;
How we feel our burden lighter,
Till we loose our weight of care,
While we lift our hearts together
In the simple, earnest prayer.

Refrain

I know my heav’nly Father knows
The storms that would my way oppose;
But He can drive the clouds away,
And turn the darkness into day.

I know my heav’nly Father knows
The balm I need to soothe my woes;
And with His touch of love divine
He heals this wounded heart of mine.

I know my heav’nly Father knows
How frail I am to meet my foes;
But He my cause will e’er defend,
Uphold and keep me to the end.

I know my heav’nly Father knows
The hour my journey here will close;
And may that hour, O faithful Guide,
Find me safe sheltered by Thy side.

Falling in strength when oppressed by my foes,
Somebody knows, somebody knows,
Waiting for someone to banish my woes,
Somebody knows, ’tis Jesus.

Refrain

Somebody knows, somebody knows,
When I am tempted and tried by my foes;
He is the One Who will keep me—
Somebody knows—’tis Jesus.

Why should I fear when the care billows roll?
Somebody knows, somebody knows;
When the deep shadows sweep over my soul,
Somebody knows, ’tis Jesus.

Refrain

Wounded and helpless and sick with distress,
Somebody knows, somebody knows,
Longing for home and a mother’s caress,
Somebody knows, ’tis Jesus.

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Eternal Power, whose high abode
Becomes the grandeur of a God,
Infinite lengths beyond the bounds
Where stars resolve their little rounds!

The lowest step around Thy seat,
Rises too high for Gabriel’s feet;
In vain the favored angel tries
To reach Thine height with wond’ring eyes.

There while the first archangel sings,
He hides his face behind his wings,
And ranks of shining thrones around
Fall worshiping, and spread the ground.

Lord, what shall earth and ashes do?
We would adore our Maker, too;
From sin and dust to Thee we cry,
The Great, the Holy, and the High.

Earth from afar has heard Thy fame,
And worms have learned to lisp Thy Name;
But, O! the glories of Thy mind
Leave all our soaring thoughts behind.

God is in Heaven, and men below;
Be short our tunes, our words be few;
A solemn reverence checks our songs,
And praise sits silent on our tongues.

Father in Heaven, hear us today;
Hallowed Thy name be; hear us, we pray!
O let Thy kingdom come, O let Thy will be done,
By all beneath the sun, as in the skies.

Father in Heaven, hear us today;
Hallowed Thy name be; hear us, we pray!
Giver of daily food, Fountain of truth and good,
Be all our hearts imbued with love like Thine.

Father in Heaven, hear us today;
Hallowed Thy name be; hear us, we pray!
Lead us in paths of light, save us from sin and blight,
King of all love and might, glorious for aye.

Father of all, to Thee
With loving hearts we pray,
Through Him, in mercy given,
The Life, the Truth, the Way;
From Heav’n, Thy throne, in mercy shed
Thy blessings on each bended head.

Father of all, to Thee
Our contrite hearts we raise,
Unstrung by sin and pain,
Long voiceless in Thy praise;
Breathe Thou the silent chords along,
Until they tremble into song.

Father of all, to Thee
We breathe unuttered fears,
Deep hidden in our souls,
That have no voice but tears;
Take Thou our hand, and through the wild
Lead gently each trustful child.

Father of all, may we
In praise our tongues employ,
When gladness fills the soul
With deep and hallowed joy;
In storm and calm give us to see
The path of peace which leads to Thee.

Jesus, kneel beside me,
In the dawn of day;
Thine is prayer eternal—
Teach me how to pray!

Master, work beside me
In the shining sun;
Gently guide Thy servant
Till the work be done.

Savior, watch beside me
In the closing light;
Lo, the evening cometh—
Watch with me this night!

Birds are winging homeward,
Sun and shadow cease;
Savior, take my spirit
To Thy perfect peace.

Our Father, who art in Heaven,
Hallowèd be Thy Name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil,
For Thine is the kingdom
And the power, and the glory, forever.
Amen.

All as God wills, who wisely heeds
To give or to withhold,
And knoweth more of all my needs,
Than all my prayers have told.

Enough that blessings undeserved
Have marked my erring track;
That, wheresoe’er my feet have swerved,
His chastening turned me back.

That more and more a providence
Of love is understood,
Making the springs of time and sense
Sweet with eternal good.

That death seems but a covered way
Which opens into light,
Wherein no blinded child can stray
Beyond the Father’s sight.

And so the shadows fall apart.
And so the west winds play;
And all the windows of my heart
I open to the day.

Would you live for Jesus, and be always pure and good?
Would you walk with Him within the narrow road?
Would you have Him bear your burden, carry all your load?
Let Him have His way with thee.

Refrain

His power can make you what you ought to be;
His blood can cleanse your heart and make you free;
His love can fill your soul, and you will see
’Twas best for Him to have His way with thee.

Would you have Him make you free, and follow at His call?
Would you know the peace that comes by giving all?
Would you have Him save you, so that you can never fall?
Let Him have His way with thee.

Refrain

Would you in His kingdom find a place of constant rest?
Would you prove Him true in providential test?
Would you in His service labor always at your best?
Let Him have His way with thee.

Refrain

Lord of light, whose Name outshineth
All the stars and suns of space,
Deign to make us Thy coworkers
In the kingdom of Thy grace;
Use us to fulfill Thy purpose
In the gift of Christ Thy Son.

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Father, as in highest heaven
So on earth Thy will be done.

By the toil of lowly workers
In some far outlying field;
By the courage where the radiance
Of the cross is still revealed;
By the victories of meekness,
Through reproach and suffering won.

Refrain

Grant that knowledge, still increasing,
At Thy feet may lowly kneel;
With Thy grace our triumphs hallow,
With Thy charity our zeal;
Lift the nations from the shadows
To the gladness of the sun.

Refrain

By the prayers of faithful watchmen,
Never silent day or night;
By the cross of Jesus bringing
Peace to men, and healing light;
By the love that passeth knowledge,
Making all Thy children one.

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May we Thy precepts, Lord, fulfill
And do on earth our Father’s will
As angels do above;
Still walk in Christ, the living Way,
With all Thy children and obey
The law of Christian love.

So may we join Thy Name to bless,
Thy grace adore, Thy power confess,
From sin and strife to flee.
One is our calling, one our name,
The end of all our hopes the same,
A crown of life with Thee.

Spirit of life, of love and peace,
Unite our hearts, our joy increase,
Thy gracious help supply.
To each of us the blessing give
In Christian fellowship to live,
In joyful hope to die.

My God and Father! while I stray
Far from my home in life’s rough way,
Oh! teach me from my heart to say,
“Thy will be done!”

Though dark my path, and sad my lot,
Let me “be still,” and murmur not,
Or breathe the prayer divinely taught,
“Thy will be done!”

What though in lonely grief I sigh,
For friends beloved, no longer nigh,
Submissive still would I reply,
“Thy will be done!”

If Thou shouldst call me to resign
What most I prize, it ne’er was mine;
I only yield Thee what was Thine;
“Thy will be done!”

Should pining sickness waste away,
My life in premature decay,
My Father! still I strive to say,
“Thy will be done!”

If but my fainting heart be blest
With Thy sweet Spirit for its guest,
My God! to Thee I leave the rest--
“Thy will be done!”

Renew my will from day to day,
Blend it with Thine, and take away
All now that makes it hard to say,
“Thy will be done!”

Then when on earth I breathe no more
The prayer oft mixed with tears before,
I’ll sing upon a happier shore,
“Thy will be done!”

My Jesus, as Thou wilt! Oh, may Thy will be mine!
Into Thy hand of love I would my all resign;
Through sorrow, or through joy, conduct me as Thine own,
And help me still to say, my Lord, Thy will be done!

My Jesus, as Thou wilt! If needy here and poor,
Give me Thy people’s bread, their portion rich and sure.
The manna of Thy Word Let my soul feed upon;
And if all else should fail, my Lord, thy will be done.

My Jesus, as Thou wilt! Though seen through many a tear,
Let not my star of hope grow dim or disappear;
Since Thou on earth hast wept, and sorrowed oft alone,
If I must weep with Thee, my Lord, Thy will be done!

My Jesus, as Thou wilt! All shall be well for me;
Each changing future scene I gladly trust with Thee:
Straight to my home above I travel calmly on,
And sing, in life or death, my Lord, Thy will be done!

Not in dumb resignation
We lift our hands on high;
Not like the nerveless fatalist
Content to trust and die;
Our faith springs like the eagle,
That soars to meet the sun;
And cries exultingly to Thee,
“O Lord, Thy will be done!?

Thy will! It strengthens weakness,
It bids the strong be just;
No lip to fawn, no hand to beg,
No brow to seek the dust;
Wherever man oppresses man
Beneath Thy liberal sun,
O Lord, be there,
Thine arm made bare,
Thy righteous will be done!

O Father, Thy kingdom is come upon earth,
Thou rulest in all Thy creation;
Thou sendest Thy witnesses, telling Thy worth,
To call and entreat every nation,
With news of Thy mighty salvation,
With news of Thy mighty salvation.

They lift up a light amid shadows of fear,
And love is Thy banner above them;
No trouble shall touch them, no foes that appear
Shall e’er from their loyalty move them;
’Tis Thou dost uphold and approve them,
’Tis Thou dost uphold and approve them.

They go in Thy strength, and they speak in Thy Name,
With power of Thy promise forth faring,
And during the battle the victory claim,
Their trust in Thy strength is their daring,
Salvation to all men declaring,
Salvation to all men declaring.

O God, whose law from age to age
No chance or change can know,
Whose love forevermore abides,
While eons come and go;
From all the strife of earthly life,
To Thine embrace we flee,
And ’mid our crowding doubts and fears
Would put our trust in Thee.

The winds, Thy faithful messengers,
Are guided by Thy hand;
Thy ministers, the flames of fire,
Obey Thy stern command;
The seas resound within the bound
Where Thy dominion reigns,
And wheeling planets seek the paths
Thy mighty will ordains.

Thy holy purpose moves before
The nations on their way,
And leads the stumbling hosts of men
From darkness into day.
No captain’s sword, no prophet’s word,
But Thy great mercy prove;
No clime or kindred but attest
Thy providence of love.

Dear Father, we would learn to trust
The doing of Thy will,
And in Thy perfect law of love
Our doubts and fears would still.
Help us to know, in joy or woe,
Thy ways are always best,
And we, Thy children evermore,
By Thy great goodness blest.

O Shepherd of the nameless fold,
The blessèd Church to be,
Our hearts with love and longing turn
To find their rest in Thee;
“Thy kingdom come,” its heav’nly walls
Unseen around us rise,
And deep in loving human hearts
Its broad foundations rise.

O holy kingdom, happy fold,
The blessèd Church to be,
Our hearts in love and worship turn
To find themselves in thee!
Thy bounds are known to God alone,
For they are set above;
The length, the breadth, the height are one,
And measured by His love.

The sun is sinking fast,
The daylight dies;
Let love awake, and pay
Her evening sacrifice.

As Christ upon the cross
His head inclined,
And to His Father’s hands
His parting soul resigned;

So now herself my soul
Would wholly give
Into His sacred charge
In Whom all spirits live;

So now beneath His eye
Would calmly rest,
Without a wish or thought
Abiding in the breast;

Save that His will be done,
Whate’er betide;
Dead to herself, and dead
In Him to all beside.

Thus would I live: yet now
Not I, but He,
In all His power and love,
Henceforth alive in me.

One sacred Trinity,
One Lord divine,
May I be ever His,
And He forever mine.

Out of earth’s heart breaking sorrow and anguish
Into eternity’s rapture and calm;
Out of the doubts and the fears where we languish
Into the triumph of victory’s psalm;
Gone is a leader and friend of the people,
Home with the ransomed and numberless throngs,
There to receive the reward of his labors,
Who in the ranks of the martyrs belongs.
Whisper it tenderly sorrowing one,
This was God’s way, His will ever be done.
This was God’s way, this was God’s way,
This was God’s way, His will ever be done.

Out of the battle of life sorely wounded
Into the joy of the victory won;
Now face to face with his King and Commander
His the promotion for what he has done;
Ours the loss of a true standard bearer,
His the bright crown and eternal reward,
Called from earth’s strife to become a blest sharer,
Now and henceforth in the joy of the Lord.
Lovingly, tenderly, joyfully say,
His will be done, we believe ’tis God’s way.
His will be done, His will be done,
His will be done, We believe ’tis God’s way.

Out of the noise and the tumult of battle
Into the rest and the infinite peace;
Out of earth’s bondage and wearisome exile
Into the joy of the spirit’s release;
Ours the loss and the grief beyond measure,
Confidence broken and hopes crushed for aye,
Lord God of hosts if it be Thy good pleasure,
Help us to trust and believe ’tis Thy way.
Like him for whom we know Heav’n is begun,
We would say earnestly, His will be done.
His will be done, His will be done,
This is God’s way, His will ever be done.

Be present at our table, Lord;
Be here and everywhere adored;
Thy creatures bless, and grant that we
May feast in paradise with Thee.

We thank Thee, Lord, for this our food,
For life and health and every good;
By Thine own hand may we be fed;
Give us each day our daily bread.

We thank Thee, Lord, for this our good,
But more because of Jesus’ blood;
Let manna to our souls be giv’n,
The Bread of Life sent down from Heav’n.

O God, Thou Giver of all good;
Thy children live by daily food;
And daily must the prayer be said,
“Give us this day our daily bread.”

The life of earth and seed is Thine;
Suns glow, rains fall, by power divine;
Thou art in all; not e’en the powers
By which we toil for bread are ours.

What large provision Thou hast made!
As large as is Thy children’s need;
How wide the bounteous love is spread!
Wide as the want of daily bread.

Since every day by Thee we live,
May grateful hearts Thy gifts receive;
And may the hands be pure from stain
With which our daily bread we gain.

When o’er the fame of friend or foe,
The shadow of disgrace shall fall; instead
Of words of blame, or fatal blow—
Let something good be said.

Refrain

And so I charge ye by the thorny crown,
And by the cross on which the Savior bled,
And by your own soul’s hope of fair renown:
Let something be good said.

Forget not grace, no sinner yet
May fall so low but Christ can lift his head,
While cheeks of shame with tears are wet;
Let something be good said.

Refrain

No generous heart may turn aside
To deeds of love—if they in sin be dead,
But may awaken glorified,
If something good be said.

Refrain

If cruel words embitter thee,
Turn to the cross on Calvary, where said
The Savior: “O forgive,” and see
That something good be said.

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Think gently of the erring one;
O let us not forget,
However darkly stained by sin,
He is our brother yet!

Heir of the same inheritance,
Child of the selfsame God,
He hath but stumbled in the path
We have in weakness trod.

Speak gently to the erring ones:
We yet may lead them back,
With holy words, and tones of love,
From misery’s thorny track.

Forget not, brother, thou hast sinned,
And sinful yet may’st be;
Deal gently with the erring heart,
As God has dealt with thee.

How happy is the pilgrim’s lot!
How free from every anxious thought,
From worldly hope and fear!
Confined to neither court nor cell,
His soul disdains on earth to dwell,
He only sojourns here.

This happiness in part is mine,
Already saved from self design,
From every creature love;
Blest with the scorn of finite good,
My soul is lightened of its load,
And seeks the things above.

The things eternal I pursue,
A happiness beyond the view
Of those that basely pant
For things by nature felt and seen;
Their honors, wealth, and pleasures mean
I neither have nor want.

I have no sharer of my heart,
To rob my Savior of a part,
And desecrate the whole;
Only betrothed to Christ am I,
And wait His coming from the sky,
To wed my happy soul.

I have no babes to hold me here;
But children more securely dear
For mine I humbly claim,
Better than daughters or than sons,
Temples divine of living stones,
Inscribed with Jesus’ Name.

No foot of land do I possess,
No cottage in this wilderness,
A poor wayfaring man,
I lodge awhile in tents below;
Or gladly wander to and fro,
Till I my Canaan gain.

Nothing on earth I call my own;
A stranger, to the world unknown,
I all their goods despise;
I trample on their whole delight,
And seek a country out of sight,
A country in the skies.

There is my house and portion fair,
My treasure and my heart are there.
And my abiding home;
For me my elder brethren stay,
And angels beckon me away,
And Jesus bids me come.

“I come,” Thy servant, Lord, replies,
“I come to meet Thee in the skies,
And claim my heavenly rest”;
Now let the pilgrim’s journey end,
Now, O my Savior, Brother, Friend.
Receive me to Thy breast!

Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things.
Give heart and mind and soul and strength
To serve the King of kings.

Rise up, O men of God!
The kingdom tarries long.
Bring in the day of brotherhood
And end the night of wrong.

Rise up, O men of God!
The church for you doth wait,
Her strength unequal to her task;
Rise up and make her great!

Lift high the cross of Christ!
Tread where His feet have trod.
As brothers of the Son of Man,
Rise up, O men of God!

Dear Lord, on this Thy servant’s day,
Who left for Thee the gold and mart,
Who heard Thee whisper, “Come away,”
And followed with a single heart,

Give us, amid earth’s weary moil,
And wealth for which men cark and care,
’Mid fortune’s pride, and need’s wild toil,
And broken hearts in purple rare,

Give us Thy grace to rise above
The glare of this world’s smelting fires;
Let God’s great love put out the love
Of gold, and gain, and low desires.

Still, like a breath from scented lime
Borne into rooms where sick men faint,
His voice comes floating through all time,
Thine own evangelist and saint.

Still sweetly rings the Gospel strain
Of golden store that knows not rust:
The love of Christ is more than gain,
And heavenly crowns than yellow dust.

Great and fair is she, our land,
High of heart and strong of hand;
Dawn is on her forehead still,
In her veins youth’s arrowy thrill.
Hers are riches, might and fame;
All the earth resounds her name;
In her roadsteads navies ride:
Hath she need of aught beside?

Power Unseen, before whose eyes
Nations fall and nations rise,
Grant she climb not to her goal
All-forgetful of the Soul!
Firm in honor be she found,
Justice-armed and mercy-crowned,
Blest in labor, blest in ease,
Blest in noiseless charities.

Unenslaved by things that must
Yield full soon to moth and rust,
Let her hold a light on high
Men unborn may travel by.
Mightier still she then shall stand,
Molded by Thy secret hand,
Power Eternal, at whose call
Nations rise and nations fall.

Lift up your hearts to things above,
Ye followers of the Lamb,
And join with us to praise His love,
And glorify His Name.

To Jesus’ Name give thanks and sing,
Whose mercies never end:
Rejoice! rejoice! the Lord is king;
The King is now our friend!

We, for His sake, count all things loss;
On earthly good look down;
And joyfully sustain the cross,
Till we receive the crown.

O let us stir each other up,
Our faith by works to approve,
By holy, purifying hope,
And the sweet task of love!

Love us, though far in flesh disjoined,
Ye lovers of the Lamb;
And ever bear us on your mind,
Who think and speak the same:

You on our minds we ever bear,
Whoe’er to Jesus bow;
Stretch out the arms of faith and prayer,
And lo! we reach you now.

Surely we now your souls embrace,
With you we now appear
Present before the throne of grace,
And you, and Christ, are here.

The blessings all on you be shed,
Which God in Christ imparts;
We pray the Spirit of our Head
Into your faithful hearts.

Mercy and peace your portion be,
To carnal minds unknown,
The hidden manna, and the tree
Of life, and the white stone.

Live till the Lord in glory come,
And wait His Heaven to share:
Our Savior now prepares our home:
Go on—we’ll meet you there.

Lord, when I all things would possess,
I crave but to be Thine;
O lowly is the loftiness
Of these desires divine.

Each gift but helps my soul to learn
How boundless is Thy store;
I go from strength to strength, and yearn
For Thee, my Helper, more.

How can my soul divinely soar,
How keep the shining way,
And not more tremblingly adore,
And not more humbly pray?

The more I triumph in Thy gifts,
The more I wait on Thee;
The grace that mightily uplifts
Most sweetly humbleth me.

The heaven where I would stand complete
My lowly love shall see,
And stronger grow the yearning sweet,
O Holy One! for Thee.

How happy are they
Who the Savior obey,
And have laid up their treasure above!
Tongue can never express
The sweet comfort and peace
Of a soul in its earliest love.

That sweet comfort was mine,
When the Father divine
I first found in the blood of the Lamb;
When my heart first believed,
What a joy I received,
What heaven in Jesus’ Name!

’Twas a heaven below
My Redeemer to know,
And the angels could do nothing more,
Than to fall at His feet,
And the story repeat,
And the Lover of sinners adore.

Jesus all the day long
Was my joy and my song:
O that all His salvation might see!
“He hath loved me,” I cried,
“He hath suffered and died,
To redeem a poor rebel like me.”

O the rapturous height
Of that holy delight
Which I felt in the life giving blood!
By my Savior possessed,
I was perfect blest,
As if filled with the fullness of God.

Vain are all terrestrial pleasures,
Mixed with dross the purest gold:
Seek we, then, for heavenly treasures,
Treasures never waxing old.
Let our best affections center
On the things around the throne:
There no thief can ever enter;
Moth and rust are there unknown.

Earthly joys no longer please us;
Here would we renounce them all;
Seek our only rest in Jesus,
Him our Lord and Master call.
Faith, our languid spirits cheering,
Points to brighter worlds above;
Bids us look for His appearing;
Bids us triumph in His love.

May our light be always burning,
And our loins be girded round,
Waiting for our Lord’s returning,
Longing for the welcome sound.
Thus the Christian life adorning,
Never need we be afraid,
Should He come at night or morning
Early dawn, or evening shade.

Do not worry for your life,
What you’ll eat or drink or wear;
Is not life much more important
Than these things that cause you care?
See the birds—they sow and reap not,
Nor in barns do store away.
Yet your heav’nly Father feeds them;
Have you not more worth than they?

And why worry about clothing?
See the lilies’ glad array;
Solomon in all his splendor
Never dressed as fine as they.
This is how God clothes the grasses,
Though their life is but a day.
Will He not much more meet your needs?
Let your faith not fade away.

So I tell you, do not worry,
Asking what you’ll eat or drink.
Nor be anxious about clothing—
These are things that all men seek.
And your Father knows you need them;
Worry won’t command His power.
Which of you by constant fretting
Adds to life a single hour?

Seek first, then, your Father’s kingdom
And His righteousness on high.
All these things will then be given;
God will not neglect your cry.
So fret not about tomorrow;
God directs the future, too.
Though each day will bring its troubles,
Trust in Him—He’ll see you through.

There’s not a bird with lonely nest,
In pathless wood or mountain crest,
Nor meaner thing, which does not share,
O God, in Thy paternal care.

Each barren crag, each desert rude,
Holds Thee within its solitude;
And Thou dost bless the wand’rer there,
Who makes his solitary prayer.

In busy mart and crowded street,
No less than in the still retreat,
Thou, Lord, art near, our souls to bless
With all a parent’s tenderness.

And we, where’er our lot is cast,
While life, and thought, and feeling last,
Through all the years, in every place,
Will bless Thee for Thy boundless grace.

Spring has now unwrapped the flowers, day is fast reviving,
Life in all her growing powers towards the light is striving:
Gone the iron touch of cold, winter time and frost time,
Seedlings, working through the mould, now make up for lost time.

Herb and plant that, winter long, slumbered at their leisure,
Now bestirring, green and strong, find in growth their pleasure;
All the world with beauty fills, gold the green enhancing,
Flowers make glee among the hills, set the meadows dancing.

Through each wonder of fair days God Himself expresses;
Beauty follows all His ways, as the world He blesses:
So, as He renews the earth, Artist without rival,
In His grace of glad new birth we must seek revival.

Earth puts on her dress of glee; flowers and grasses hide her;
We go forth in charity—brothers all beside her;
For, as man this glory sees in th’awakening season,
Reason learns the heart’s decrees, hearts are led by reason.

Praise the Maker, all ye saints; He with glory girt you,
He Who skies and meadows paints fashioned all your virtue;
Praise Him, seers, heroes, kings, heralds of perfection;
Brothers, praise Him, for He brings all to resurrection!

The little cares which fretted me,
I lost them yesterday
Among the fields, above the sea,
Among the winds at play;
Among the lowing of the herds,
The rustling of the trees,
Among the singing of the birds,
The humming of the bees.

The foolish fears of what may come,
I cast them all away
Among the clover scented grass,
Among the new mown hay;
Among the hushing of the corn,
Where drowsing poppies nod,
Ill thoughts can die, and good be born,
Out in the fields of God.

Seek ye first the kingdom; not the things of earth.
Priceless are the treasures of immortal worth.
Like a flitting shadow, time will pass away,
But the heav’nly riches change not, nor decay.

Refrain

“Seek ye first the kingdom,” ’tis the Master’s voice;
In His precious promise evermore rejoice.
“All things else,” His words are true, “shall be added unto you.”
In His precious promise, evermore rejoice.

Seek ye first the kingdom; seek the gift of God.
’Tis the Savior’s offer purchased by His blood.
Seek ye first His glory; be it life’s sweet aim;
Him to serve and honor, trusting in His Name.

Refrain

Take not thought for food or raiment,
Careful one, so anxiously;
For the King Himself provideth
Food and clothes for thee.

He Who daily feeds the sparrows,
He Who clothes the lilies bright,
More than birds and flowers holds thee
Precious in His sight.

Would’st thou give a stone, a serpent,
To Thy pleading child for food?
And shall not thy Heavenly Father
Give thee what is good?

On the heart that careth for thee
Rest thou then from sorrow free;
For of all most tender fathers
None so good as He.

Seek thou first His gracious promise,
Treasure stored in Heav’n above;
So thou may’st entrust all other
Safely to His love.

Unto Thee, O bounteous Father,
Glory, honor, praise be done;
With the Son and Holy Spirit,
God for ever One.

Walk in the beautiful sunshine,
Smiling so cheerful and bright,
Chasing the mist from the mountain,
Flooding the world with its light.
Hark! the sweet voice of the Master
Whispers in accents divine,
“Take thou no thought for the morrow,
Only the present is thine.”

Refrain

Walk in the beautiful sunshine,
Smiling so cheerful and bright,
Chasing the mist from the mountain,
Flooding the world with its light.

Walk in the beautiful sunshine,
Falling in waves from the skies,
Gilding the streams and the valleys,
Scatt’ring the shadows that rise.
Hear the sweet voice of the Spirit
Softly and tenderly say,
“Trust for what may be tomorrow,
Live in the joy of today.”

Refrain

Walk in the beautiful sunshine,
Jesus thy footsteps will guide;
While thou art safe in His keeping,
Evil can never betide.
Hear the sweet voice of His mercy
Kindly and lovingly say,
“God will take care of the morrow,
Be thou content with today.”

Refrain

Lord, for tomorrow and its needs I do not pray;
Keep me, my God, from stain of sin just for today.
Help me to labor earnestly and duly pray;
Let me be kind in word and deed, Father, today.

Let me no wrong or idle word unthinking say;
Set Thou a seal upon my lips through all today.
Let me in season, Lord, be grave, in season gay;
Let me be faithful to Thy grace, dear Lord, today.

And if, today, this life of mine should ebb away,
Give me Thy sacrament divine, Father, today.
So for tomorrow and its needs I do not pray;
Still keep me, guide me, love me, Lord, through each day.

When the shadows thickly gather,
Clouding all thy onward way,
Think not what shall be tomorrow;
Seek God’s help just for today.

Refrain

Step by step He leads me onward,
Step by step the way reveals;
But what in the future lieth,
In His mercy He conceals.

Should the coming days bring burdens,
Or be fraught with grief or care,
Trust Him in the hour of trial,
He will make thee strong to bear.

Refrain

Daily strength He ever giveth,
For each day rich grace bestows;
And each morrow, as it dawneth,
Still His lovingkindness shows.

Refrain

Then why should we shrink or falter
When the onward path looks dim,
Knowing light will never fail us
While we walk by faith with Him?

Refrain