2 Father, now to thee we raise
Grateful songs and hymns of praise;
Let thy blessing on us rest,
With thy smile may we be blest;
Thanks to thee, our Father kind,
For the truths of heart and mind,
For the love and watchful care,
That have blessed us through the year.
Thou hast given us friends most dear,
Parents, teachers, pastor, here,
Who for us both watch and pray,
And would lead in thy right way.
Father, may we hear their voice,
Make religion our first choice,
Onward press, and upward move,
Filling life with deeds of love.
3 Father, be our guide in youth,
Lead us in the paths of truth;
May we thy true children be,
Honest, loving, brave, and free;
May we love to do thy will,
In the world our part fulfil,
And, as year by year goes by,
Grow in truth and purity.
Foes we know are to be met,
Snares the path of life beset;
Clouds upon the valley rest,
Rough and dark the mountain's breast:
Therefore guide us, make us strong,
Keep us, Lord, from going wrong;
And the faults which make us fall,
Help us, Lord, to conquer all.
4 Little trav'lers, Zionward,
Each one entering into rest,
In the kingdom of your Lord,
In the mansions of the blest;
There, to welcome, Jesus waits,
Gives the crowns his followers win
Lift your heads, ye golden gates!
Let the little travellers in!
5 Approach not the altar with gloom in thy soul,
Nor let thy feet falter from terror's control;
God loves not the sadness of fear and mistrust;
Oh! serve him with gladness-the loving and just!
His bounty is tender, his being is love;
His smile fills with splendor the blue arch above;
Confiding, believing, oh! enter always
His courts with thanksgiving, his portals with praise!
Come not to his temple with pride in thy mien,
But lowly and simple, in courage serene;
Bring meekly before him the faith of a child,
Bow down and adore him with heart undefiled!
The Lord is my Shepherd, no want shall I know;
I feed in green pastures, safe folded I rest;
He leadeth my soul where the still waters flow,
Restores me when wandering, redeems me when opprest.
Through the valley and shadow of death tho' I stray,
Since thou art my guardian, no evil I fear;
Thy rod shall defend me, thy staff be my stay;
No harm can befall with my Comforter near.
In the midst of affiction my table is spread;
With blessings unmeasured my cup runneth o'er;
With perfume and oil thou anointest my head;
Oh, what shall I ask of thy providence more?
Let goodness and mercy, my bountiful God,
Still follow my steps till I meet thee above;
I seek by the path which my forefathers trod
Through the land of their sojourn, thy kingdom of love.
How dear is the thought that the angels of God
May bow their bright wings to the world they once trod;
Will leave the sweet songs of the mansions above,
To breathe o'er our bosoms some message of love!
They come, on the wings of the morning they come,
Impatient to lead some poor wanderer home;
Some sinner to save from his darkened abode,
And lay him to rest in the arms of his God.
They come when we wander, they come when we pray,
In mercy to guard us wherever we stray;
A glorious cloud, their bright witness is given;
Encircling us here are these angels of heaven.
Acquaint yourselves early, dear children, with God,
And joy, like the sunbeam, shall beam on your road;
And peace, like the dewdrop, shall fall on your head,
And sleep, like an angel. shall visit. your bed.
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