1 Out of the depths of woe, To Thee, O Lord, I cry; Darkness surrounds Thee, but I know That Thou art ever nigh.
2 Like them whose longing eyes Watch till the morning star, Though late and seen through tempests, rise, Heaven"s portals to unbar,--
3 Like them I watch and pray; And though it tarry long, Catch the first gleam of welcome day Then burst into a song.
4 Glory to G.o.d above!
The waters soon will cease; For lo, the swift returning dove Brings home the sign of peace.
5 Though storms Thy face obscure, And dangers threaten loud, Thy holy covenant is sure; Thy bow is in the cloud!
548. 7 & 6s. M. Montgomery.
In Time of Tribulation.
1 In time of tribulation, Hear, Lord, our earnest cries; With humble supplication To Thee the spirit flies.
2 Remembered songs of gladness, Through night"s lone silence brought, Strike notes of deepest sadness, And stir desponding thought.
3 Hath G.o.d cast off forever?
Can time His truth impair?
His tender mercy never Shall we presume to share?
4 Hath He His loving-kindness Shut up in bitter wrath?
No! it is human blindness, That cannot see His path.
5 We"ll call to recollection The years of Thy right hand, And, strong in Thy protection, Again through Faith we stand.
6 Thy way is in great waters, Thy footsteps are not known; But let earth"s sons and daughters Confide in Thee alone!
7 Through the wild sea Thou leddest Thy chosen flock of yore; Still on the wave thou treadest, And Thy redeemed pa.s.s o"er.
549. 6 & 5s. M. Montgomery.
I Will Extol Thee, O Lord!
1 Yea, I will extol Thee, Lord of Life and light!
For Thine arm upheld me, Turned my foes to flight.
2 I implored Thy succor, Thou wast swift to save, To heal my wounded spirit, And bring me from the grave.
3 Grief may, like the pilgrim, Through the night sojourn, Yet shall joy, to-morrow, With the sun return.
4 Thou hast turned my mourning Into minstrelsy; Girded me with gladness, Set from thraldom free.
5 Thee my ransomed powers Henceforth shall adore; Thee, my great Deliverer, Bless forevermore!
550. S. M. Breviary.
Morning Hymn.
1 Behold, night"s shadows fade, And morn is in the skies!
To Him by whom all things were made Our aspirations rise.
2 To break this deathly trance Help us, our G.o.d, our stay!
Give the freed spirit utterance, Its languors charm away!
3 So sin shall cease to reign, So safety shall be nigh; Rend, spirit blest, the heavy chains Of death, in victory!
551. C. M. Anonymous.
Morning Hymn.
1 Be Thou, O G.o.d, by night, by day, My guard, my guide from sin, My life, my trust, my light divine, To keep me pure within.
2 Pure as the air, when day"s first light A cloudless sky illumes, And active as the lark that soars Till heaven shines round its plumes.
3 So may my soul, upon the wings Of faith, unwearied rise, Till at the gate of heaven it sings, "Midst light from Paradise.
552. 12 & 11s. M. Anonymous.
Vesper Hymn.
1 The daylight is fading o"er earth and o"er ocean, The sun has gone down o"er the slumbering sea; And now, in the hush of life"s fitful commotion, We lift our tired spirits, blest Saviour, to thee.
2 For oft would"st thou wander alone on the mountain, As eventide spread her dark wing o"er the wave; Now, filling our souls from thy light"s ceaseless fountain; Be near in the darkness, to bless and to save.
3 And oft as the tumult of life"s heaving billow Shall toss our frail bark driving wild o"er night"s deep, Let thy guarding wing be stretched over our pillow, And shield us from evil, though death watch our sleep.