To Thy temple we repairing,
Come with awe and holy fear,
Promises of service bearing
To our God, while dwelling here.
In Thy covenant of grace
Grant us an abiding place.
Let us seek and find the vision,
To behold in Thee our good;
Oh how precious that condition,
Sheltered by Thy Fatherhood.
Keep our hearts and minds, we pray,
Stayed upon Thy truth alway.
Lord, with earnest contemplation,
We life's pathway now behold;
May we meet each obligation,
By Thy spirit wise controlled.
Wilt Thou heart and spirit brighten,
Virtue's value e'er to see,
May Thy word our souls enlighten,
Teaching Faith, Hope, Charity.
Safe then while life's pathway treading,
Guided by Thy radiance pure;
Fearless, death itself not dreading,
Since in God we are secure.
FATHER, SEE THY CHILDREN.
Father, see Thy suppliant children
Trembling stand before Thy throne,
To confirm the vow of Horeb :
"We will serve the Lord alone."
Thy command shall be engraven
On the tables of our heart,
Till the heart in death be broken
And the cord of life shall part.
When dark tempests lowering gather,
It will be our strength and stay,
It will be our guardian angel
Upon life's laborious way.
As a sheltering cloud at noon-tide,
As a flaming fire by night,
Through prosperity and sorrow
It will guide our steps aright.
Till we reach the land of promise,
When the toils of earth are past,
Till we sleep the sleep eternal
In the realms of peace at last.
HAPPY WHO IN EARLY YOUTH.
Happy who in early youth,
While yet pure and innocent,
Stores his mind with heavenly truth
Life's unfading ornament.
Happy who in tender years
Leans on God for His support;
Who life's bark in virtue steers,
That it reach salvation's port.
Guide, O guide this hopeful band,
Father, in Thy truth and light!
May these children ever stand
Firm in virtue and in right.
Thine, O God, these souls are Thine,
Undefiled they came to Thee;
Guide them in Thy love divine-
Heirs of immortality.
Our desires we, Lord, have spoken,
Strengthen our resolves and bless,
May our promises unbroken
Tend to peace and righteousness.
Give a parting benediction
Mercy's light illume our ways, That we may with true conviction Follow duty all our days.
Let our thoughts ne'er stray, unheeding,
Into deeds that lead to shame;
Lord we crave Thy gracious leading,
Guide us to life's noblest aim.
(Rosh-Hashanah.)
Behold th' advancing year,
Borne on the wing of ages;
My soul would ask what cheer
Or sorrow it presages.
I cannot lift the veil,
The future's mystery hiding;
God's goodness, I, confiding
Know that can never fail.
What'er the year bestow,
Thanks bring we to Thine altar;
Thou lovest us, we know,
And so faith cannot falter.
Our prayer, Lord, wilt Thou hear;
Protect us by Thy power,
Be e'er our strength and tower,
And bless for us the year.
THE MESSAGE OF ETERNITY.
As rushes 'twixt the willows
The river to the sea,
So time on heaving billows
Speeds to eternity.
The year to close is wearing,
And questions solemnly,
Oh soul, hast thou been caring
For thine eternity?
A New year's dawn is speeding
With messages to thee,
Oh will thou list, and, heeding,
Live for eternity?
No earthly ill can matter,
Though dark sometimes it be,
If faithfully we scatter
Seeds for eternity.
This, thought, how reassuring,
Through years and ages flee;
God lives for aye, enduring
To all eternity.
THE DAWNING OF NEW YEAR.
From Thy throne, Thy love according,
Grace, O Lord, to us dispense;
In Thy tenderness rewarding
Child-like faith and confidence.
Myriad songs are upward bounding,
Temples with Thy praise resounding,
Countless hosts Thy name revere;
Tearfully past faults confessing,
Longing for Thy gracious blessing,
On the dawning of New Year.
Where the highest heavens tracing,
Lord, Thou dwellest gloriously;
Hear our prayer, a world embracing,
Yea, and all humanity.
All the wrongs, their strivings, foiling,
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