Thou, Lord, by strictest search hast known
My rising up and lying down;
My secret thoughts are known to Thee,
Known long before conceived by me.

Thine eye my bed and path surveys,
My public haunts and private ways,
Thou know’st what ’tis my lips would vent,
My yet unuttered word’s intent.

Surrounded by Thy power I stand,
On every side I find Thy hand;
O skill, for human reach too high!
Too dazzling bright for mortal eye!

Search, try, O God, my thought and heart,
If mischief lurks in any part;
Correct me where I go astray,
And guide me in Thy perfect way.

Try us, O God, and search the ground
Of every sinful heart;
Whate’er of sin in us is found,
O bid it all depart.

If to the right or left we stray,
Leave us not comfortless;
But guide our feet into the way
Of everlasting peace.

Help us to help each other, Lord,
Each other’s cross to bear;
Let each his friendly aid afford,
And feel his brother’s care.

Help us to build each other up,
Our little stock improve;
Increase our faith, confirm our hope,
And perfect us in love.

Up unto Thee, our living Head,
Let us in all things grow,
Till Thou hast made us free indeed,
And spotless here below.

Then, when the mighty work is wrought,
Receive Thy ready bride:
Give us in Heaven a happy lot
With all the sanctified.

In all my vast concerns with Thee,
In vain my soul would try
To shun Thy presence, Lord, or flee
The notice of Thine eye.

Thy all-surrounding sight surveys
My rising and my rest,
My public walks, my private ways,
And secrets of my breast.

My thoughts lie open to the Lord
Before they’re formed within;
And ere my lips pronounce the word
He knows the sense I mean.

O wondrous knowledge, deep and high!
Where can a creature hide?
Within Thy circling arms I lie,
Beset on every side.

So let Thy grace surround me still,
And like a bulwark prove,
To guard my soul from every ill,
Secured by sovereign love.

Lord, where shall guilty souls retire,
Forgotten and unknown?
In hell they meet Thy dreadful fire,
In Heav’n Thy glorious throne.

Should I suppress my vital breath
To ’scape the wrath divine,
Thy voice would break the bars of death,
And make the grave resign.

If winged with beams of morning light
I fly beyond the west,
Thy hand, which must support my flight,
Would soon betray my rest.

If o’er my sins I think to draw
The curtains of the night,
Those flaming eyes that guard Thy law
Would turn the shades to light.

The beams of moon, the midnight hour,
Are both alike to Thee:
O may I ne’er provoke that power
From which I cannot flee.

O Lord, Thy all discerning eyes
My inmost purpose see;
My deeds, my words, my thoughts, arise
Alike disclosed to Thee:
My sitting down, my rising up,
Broad noon, and deepest night,
My path, my pillow, and my cup,
Are open to Thy sight.

Before, behind, I meet Thine eye,
And feel Thy heavy hand:
Such knowledge is for me too high,
To reach or understand:
What of Thy wonders can I know?
What of Thy purpose see?
Where from Thy Spirit shall I go?
Where from Thy presence flee?

If I ascend to heaven on high,
Or make my bed in hell;
Or take the morning’s wings, and fly
O’er ocean’s bounds to dwell;
Or seek, from Thee, a hiding place
Amid the gloom of night—
Alike to Thee are time and space,
The darkness and the light.

Take the wings of the morning; speed quickly thy flight
To Jesus, thy Savior, thy hope and thy light;
The fount of His mercy is open for thee,
Go wash and be cleaned in its waters so free.

Refrain

Take the wings of the morning and fly,
Ere the darkness shall cover the sky;
Fly away from the shadows that over thee roll,
And find in thy Savior the home of thy soul.

Fly away to thy Savior, He waits to forgive;
One look of His love, and thy spirit shall live;
Thy faith will secure thee His blessing divine;
Go plead thou His merits, and peace will be thine.

Refrain

On the wings of the morning fly home to His breast—
There only thy refuge, there only thy rest;
The moments are precious, the noontide is near;
Fly home to the Savior, oh, linger not here.

Refrain

Thou Lord of hosts, whose guiding hand
Has brought us here before Thy face,
Our spirits wait for Thy command,
Our silent hearts implore Thy peace.

Those spirits lay their noblest powers
As offerings on Thy holy shrine.
Thine was the strength that nourished ours;
The soldiers of the cross are Thine.

While watching on our arms at night
We saw Thine angels around us move.
We heard Thy call, we felt Thy light,
And followed, trusting, to Thy love.

Send us wherever Thou wilt, O Lord!
Through rugged toil and wearying fight.
Thy conquering love shall be our sword,
And faith in Thee our truest might.

Send down Thy constant aid, we pray.
Be Thy pure angels with us still.
Thy truth, be that our firmest stay;
Our only rest, to do Thy will.

Great God, we sing Your mighty hand
By which supported still we stand;
The opening year Your mercy shows,
That mercy crowns it ’til its close.

By day, by night, at home, abroad,
Still are we guarded by our God,
By His incessant bounty fed,
By His unerring counsel led.

With grateful hearts the past we own;
The future, all to us unknown,
We to Thy guardian care commit,
And peaceful leave before Thy feet.

In scenes exalted or depressed,
You are our joy, and You our rest;
Your goodness all our hopes shall raise,
Adored through all our changing days.

When death shall interrupt our songs
And seal in silence mortal tongues,
In fairer realms, O God, shall we
Your praises sing eternally.

God is always near me,
Hearing what I say;
Knowing all my thoughts and deeds,
All my work and play.

God is always near me,
In the darkest night,
He can see me just the same
As by midday light.

God is always near me,
Though so young and small;
Not a look, or word, or thought,
But God knows it all.

O Thou to Whose all searching sight
The darkness shineth as the light,
Search, prove my heart; it pants for Thee;
O burst these bonds, and set it free!

Wash out its stains, refine its dross,
Nail my affections to the cross;
Hallow each thought; let all within
Be clean, as Thou, my Lord, art clean!

If in this darksome wild I stray,
Be Thou my light, be Thou my way;
No foes, no violence I fear,
No fraud, while thou, my God, art near.

When rising floods my soul o’erflow,
When sinks my heart in waves of woe,
Jesu, Thy timely aid impart,
And raise my head, and cheer my heart.

Savior, where’er Thy steps I see,
Dauntless, untired, I follow thee!
O let Thy hand support me still,
And lead me to Thy holy hill!

If rough and thorny be the way,
My strength proportion to my day;
Till toil, and grief, and pain shall cease,
Where all is calm, and joy, and peace.

Peacefully round us the shadows are falling,
Glad be our praises and trustful our prayer;
Hear us, O Lord, on Thy providence calling,
Lighten our darkness, and banish our care.

Hushed are the sheep bells afar on the moorland,
O’er the still meadows the night breezes sweep,
Faint fall the footsteps in city and hamlet,
Safely the children are folded in sleep.

Softly may weary ones rest from their duty,
Bright be the dreams of the troubled and worn,
While through the shades beam the stars in their beauty,
Watching the world till the breaking of morn.

Lord of the night, let Thine angels defend us;
Sunshine and gloom are alike unto Thee;
Lord of the day, let Thy Spirit attend us,
Bless us and keep us wherever we be.

O Lord, life is sacred, a gift from above;
Each person is worthy of honor and love.
Your works are so marvelous, we’re wonderfully made;
We each bear Your image, conception to grave.

Your hands shaped and formed us before we took breath;
You knit us together and clothed us with flesh.
You give us our life and ordain all our days;
Your works, Lord, are wonderful; we lift our hearts in praise.

Upheld since conception and carried since birth,
To old age and hair of gray, we’re still of great worth.
We still bear Your likeness, the stamp of Your hand;
You made us in Jesus for all the works you planned.

And so, may we honor each person we meet;
The kindness You’ve shown us, we wish to repeat
From children to agèd—we’ll serve them in Your Name;
As You honor us, O Lord, we pledge to do the same.

All that I am I owe to Thee,
Thy wisdom, Lord, has fashioned me;
I give my Maker thankful praise,
Whose wondrous works my soul amaze.

Ere into being I was brought,
Thine eye did see, and in Thy thought
My life in all its perfect plan
Was ordered ere my days began.

Thy thoughts, O God, how manifold,
More precious unto me than gold!
I muse on their infinity,
Awaking I am still with Thee.

The wicked Thou shalt surely slay,
From me let sinners turn away;
They speak against the Name divine,
I count God’s enemies as mine.

Search me, O God, my heart discern,
Try me, my inmost thought to learn;
And lead me, if in sin I stray,
To choose the everlasting way.

My God, how wonderful Thou art,
Thy majesty, how bright;
How beautiful Thy mercy seat
In depths of burning light!

How dread are Thy eternal years,
O everlasting Lord,
By prostrate spirits day and night
Incessantly adored!

How wonderful, how beautiful,
The sight of Thee must be;
Thy endless wisdom, boundless power,
And glorious purity!

O how I fear Thee, living God,
With deep and tender fear;
And worship Thee with trembling hope,
And penitential tears!

Yet, I may love Thee, too, O Lord,
Almighty as Thou art;
For Thou hast stooped to ask of me
The love of my poor heart!

No earthly father loves like Thee,
No mother, e’er so mild,
Bears and forbears as Thou hast done,
With me, Thy sinful child.

Only to sit and think of God,
Oh, what a joy it is!
To think the thought, to breathe the Name,
Earth has no higher bliss.

Father of Jesus, love’s Reward!
What rapture it will be
Prostrate before Thy throne to lie,
And gaze, and gaze on Thee!

Not in darkness nor in mystery,
No depth of heart or mind,
Nowhere in heav’n or earth or hell
Can I run and Thou not find;
Transcendent thoughts too deep for me
Surround on every side.
Thy mighty wisdom, O my God,
Moves ocean, wind and tide.

With skillful and with hidden hand
Thou workest in the womb,
And there, in dark and tiny space,
Makest unseen life to bloom.
Fashioned fearfully and wonderf’ly,
Thy knowledge to display,
Thine image bearer grows in night
Which is to Thee as day.

How I love Thy wisdom and Thy thoughts
Unnumbered as the sands.
I joy that all my earthly trials
Are written by Thy hands.
And I trust that strong benevolence
That never leaves my side—
Thy holy, gracious presence is
My treasure and my guide.

Still, still with Thee, when purple morning breaketh,
When the bird waketh, and the shadows flee;
Fairer than morning, lovelier than daylight,
Dawns the sweet consciousness, I am with Thee.

Alone with Thee, amid the mystic shadows,
The solemn hush of nature newly born;
Alone with Thee in breathless adoration,
In the calm dew and freshness of the morn.

As in the dawning o’er the waveless ocean
The image of the morning star doth rest,
So in the stillness Thou beholdest only
Thine image in the waters of my breast.

Still, still with Thee, as to each newborn morning,
A fresh and solemn splendor still is given,
So does this blessèd consciousness, awaking,
Breathe each day nearness unto Thee and Heaven.

When sinks the soul, subdued by toil, to slumber,
Its closing eye looks up to Thee in prayer;
Sweet the repose beneath the wings o’ershading,
But sweeter still to wake and find Thee there.

So shall it be at last, in that bright morning,
When the soul waketh and life’s shadows flee;
O in that hour, fairer than daylight dawning,
Shall rise the glorious thought, I am with Thee.

When I awake from slumber
To greet the golden day,
Then teach me, Lord, to number
Its hours in wisdom’s way.

When clouds at dawn are gleaming,
Lift up mine answering eyes
To where Thy light is streaming
On faith’s high enterprise.

While all the heights are calling
And skies are blithe and blue,
Keep Thou my feet from falling,
My heart’s ambitions true.

Let simple pleasures cheer me
When every goal seems far;
Reveal Thyself as near me
As life and duty are.

And when the light is fading,
If dreams have not come true,
Yet breathe Thy peace pervading
The twilight through and through.

When life’s long day is ended
And shadows closer creep,
Lord, let me feel befriended
Before I go to sleep.

Blest Jesus, when my soaring thoughts
O’er all Thy graces rove,
O’er all Thy graces rove,
How is my soul in transport lost—
How is my soul in transport lost—
In wonder, joy and love.

Not softest strains can charm mine ears
Like Thy belovèd Name,
Like Thy belovèd Name!
Nor aught beneath the skies inspire,
Nor aught beneath the skies inspire,
My heart with equal flame.

Where’er I look, my wondering eyes
Unnumbered blessings see!
Unnumbered blessings see!
But what is life with all its bliss!
But what is life with all its bliss!
If once compared to Thee!

Hast Thou a rival in my breast?
Search, Lord, for Thou canst tell,
Search, Lord, for Thou canst tell,
If aught can raise my passions thus,
If aught can raise my passions thus,
Or please my soul so well.

Do not I love Thee, O my Lord?
Behold my heart and see;
And turn each cursèd idol out,
That dares to rival Thee.

Do not I love Thee, O my Lord?
Then let me nothing love;
Dead be my heart to every joy,
When Jesus cannot move.

Is not Thy Name melodious still
To mine attentive ear?
Doth not each pulse with pleasure bound
My Savior’s voice to hear?

Hast Thou a lamb in all Thy flock
I would disdain to feed?
Hast Thou a foe, before whose face
I fear Thy cause to plead?

Would not mine ardent spirit vie
With angels round the throne,
To execute Thy sacred will,
And make Thy glory known?

Would not my heart pour forth its blood
In honor of Thy Name?
And challenge the cold hand of death
To damp th’immortal flame?

Thou know’st I love Thee, dearest Lord,
But O, I long to soar
Far from the sphere of mortal joys,
And learn to love Thee more!

Search me, O God,
And know my heart today;
Try me, O Savior,
Know my thoughts, I pray.
See if there be
Some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from every sin
And set me free.

I praise Thee, Lord,
For cleansing me from sin;
Fulfill Thy Word,
And make me pure within.
Fill me with fire
Where once I burned with shame;
Grant my desire
To magnify Thy Name.

Lord, take my life,
And make it wholly Thine;
Fill my poor heart
With Thy great love divine.
Take all my will,
My passion, self and pride;
I now surrender, Lord
In me abide.

O Holy Ghost,
Revival comes from Thee;
Send a revival,
Start the work in me.
Thy Word declares
Thou wilt supply our need;
For blessings now,
O Lord, I humbly plead.

Search me, O God, search me and know my heart;
Try me and prove me in the hidden part;
Cleanse me and make me holy, as Thou art,
And lead me in the way everlasting.

Refrain

Lead me, lead me, lead me in the way everlasting;
Keep me from the things that wither and decay;
Give to me the things that cannot pass away,
And lead me in the way everlasting.

Thou art the same today and yesterday;
Oh, make Thy life in me the same alway;
Take from my heart the things that pass away;
Lead, lead me in the way everlasting.

Refrain

Take my poor heart and only let me love
The things that always shall abiding prove;
Bind all my heartstrings to the world above,
And lead me in the way everlasting.

Refrain

Help me to lay my treasures up on high;
Teach me to seek my future in the sky;
Give me my portion yonder by and by,
And lead me in the way everlasting.

Refrain

Oh, let my work abide the testing day
That shall consume the stubble and the hay;
Oh, build my house upon the rock, I pray,
And lead me in the way everlasting.

Refrain

Search me, O Lord, and try this heart of mine,
Search me, and prove if I indeed am Thine.
Test by Thy Word, that never changed can be,
My strength of hope and living faith in Thee.

Search me, O Lord, subdue each vain desire,
And in my soul a deeper love inspire.
Hide Thou my life, that I, supremely blest,
Beneath Thy wings in perfect peace may rest.

Search me, O Lord, and from the dross of sin,
Refine as gold, and keep me pure within,
Search Thou my thoughts whose springs Thine eyes can see;
From secret faults, O Savior, cleanse Thou me.

Search me, O Lord, let faith through grace divine
Thyself reflect in every act of mine,
Till at Thy call my waiting soul shall rise,
Caught up with joy, to meet Thee whom I prize.

Searcher of hearts, from mine erase
All thoughts that should not be,
And in its deep recesses trace
My gratitude to Thee.

Hearer of prayer, O guide aright
Each word and deed of mine;
Life’s battle teach me how to fight,
And be the vict’ry Thine.

Giver of all—for ev’ry good
In the Redeemer came—
For raiment, shelter, and for food,
I thank Thee in His Name.

Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost,
Thou glorious Three in One,
Thou knowest best what I need most,
And let Thy will be done.

Round me falls the night; Savior, be my Light:
Through the hours in darkness shrouded
Let me see Thy face unclouded;
Let Thy glory shine in this heart of mine.

Earthly work is done, earthly sounds are none;
Rest in sleep and silence seeking,
Let my hear Thee softly speaking;
In my spirit’s ear whisper “I am near.”

Darkened now each ray o’er the traveler’s way;
Let me know that Thou hast found me,
Let me feel Thine arms around me,
Sure from every ill Thou wilt guard me still.

Blessèd heavenly Light, shining through earth’s night;
Voice, that oft of love hast told me;
Arms, so strong to clasp and hold me;
Thou Thy watch wilt keep, Savior, o’er my sleep.

Father, lead me day by day,
Ever in Thine own sweet way;
Teach me to be pure and true;
Show me what I ought to do.

When in danger, make me brave,
Make me know that Thou canst save;
Keep me safe by Thy dear side;
Let me in Thy love abide.

When I’m tempted to do wrong,
Make me steadfast, wise and strong;
And when all alone I stand,
Shield me with Thy mighty hand.

When my heart is full of glee,
Help me to remember Thee,
Happy most of all to know
That my Father loves me so.