Blest are the souls that thirst for grace,
Hunger and long for righteousness;
They shall be well supplied and fed
With living streams and living bread.

Blest are the men whose bowels move
And melt with sympathy and love;
From Christ the Lord shall they obtain
Like sympathy and love again.

Blest are the pure, whose hearts are clean
From the defiling power of sin;
With endless pleasure they shall see
A God of spotless purity.

Blest are the men of peaceful life,

Who quench the coals of growing strife;
They shall be call'd the heirs of bliss,
The sons of God, the God of peace.

Blest are the sufferers, who partake
Of pain and shame for Jesus' sake;
Their souls shall triumph in the Lord,
Glory and joy are their reward.

Isaac Watts. 1709.

IV.

"GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD."

CCV.

Lord of my life, whose tender care

Hath led me on till now,

Here lowly at the hour of prayer
Before Thy throne I bow;

I bless Thy gracious hand, and pray
Forgiveness for another day.

Oh! may I daily, hourly, strive
In heavenly grace to grow;
To Thee and to Thy glory live,
Dead else to all below;

Tread in the path my Saviour trod,
Though thorny, yet the path to God!

With prayer my humble praise I bring
For mercies day by day;

Lord, teach my heart Thy love to sing,

Lord, teach me how to pray!

All that I have, I am, to Thee

I offer through Eternity!

Anon. [1853.]

CCVI.

Lord, in the day Thou art about

The paths wherein I tread;
And in the night, when I lie down,
Thou art about my bed.

While others in God's prisons lie,

Bound with affliction's chain, I walk at large, secure and free From sickness and from pain.

'Tis Thou dost crown my hopes and plans
With good success each day;
This crown, together with myself,
At Thy blest feet I lay.

O let my house a temple be,
That I and mine may sing
Hosanna to Thy Majesty,

And praise our heavenly King!

Cento by John Hampden Gurney. 1851.
From John Mason. 1683.

CCVII.

Shine on our souls, eternal God,
With rays of beauty shine!
O let Thy favour crown our days,
And all their round be thine!

Did we not raise our hands to Thee,
Our hands might toil in vain ;
Small joy success itself could give,
If Thou Thy love restrain.

With Thee let every week begin,

With Thee each day be spent ;

For Thee each fleeting hour improv'd,
Since each by Thee is lent.

Thus cheer us through this desert road,

Till all our labours cease,

And Heaven refresh our weary souls

With everlasting peace!

Philip Doddridge. 1755.

CCVIII.

O how kindly hast Thou led me,
Heavenly Father, day by day!
Found my dwelling, clothed and fed me,
Furnish'd friends to cheer my way!
Didst Thou bless me, didst Thou chasten,
With Thy smile, or with Thy rod,
'Twas that still my step might hasten
Homeward, heavenward, to my God!

O how slowly have I often

Follow'd where Thy hand would draw ! How Thy kindness fail'd to soften! How Thy chastening fail'd to awe! Make me for Thy rest more ready As Thy path is longer trod; Keep me in Thy friendship steady, Till Thou call me home, my God! Thomas Grinfield. 1836.

CCIX.

Heavenly Father, to Whose eye
Future things unfolded lie,
Through the desert where I stray,
Let Thy counsels guide my way.

Lord, uphold me day by day;
Shed a light upon my way;

Guide me through perplexing snares ;
Care for me in all my cares.

All I ask for is, enough ;
Only, when the way is rough,
Let Thy rod and staff impart
Strength and courage to my heart.

Should Thy wisdom, Lord, decree
Trials long and sharp for me,
Pain or sorrow, care or shame,
Father glorify Thy Name!

Let me neither faint nor fear,
Feeling still that Thou art near,
In the course my Saviour trod,
Tending still to Thee, my God.

Josiah Conder. 1856.

CCX.

Sovereign Ruler of the skies,
Ever gracious, ever wise,
All my times are in Thy hand,
All events at Thy command.

His decree, who form'd the earth,
Fix'd my first and second birth;
Parents, native place, and time,
All appointed were by Him.

Q