Ere the rude perplexities
Of the day,
Lord, I'd lay my quiet heart
'Neath Thy sway. In my loneliness I'd come
Unto Thee;
For I know there's always One
Welcomes me.

Weakness, want, and waywardness,
I confess,
While in Thy dear name I plead
Need of grace.
Strength from Thee I crave each day,
While I live;
And I know, what's best, alway
Thou wilt give.

If with retrospective glance
I would trace
Memories of the painful past,
In Thy grace
Gently draw my heart above,
Where Thou art;
With sweet memories of Thy love
Fill my heart.

Ah, Lord Jesus, upon earth
There is naught
Like the silent interchange
Of deep thought;-
Thought too sweet, too deep to tell
But to Thee.
E'en to those our hearts love well,
How could we ?

Then, beneath the shadowy night,
Oh how sweet
Just to lay my sorrows down
At Thy feet ;-
All my heart's complaint to tell
Unto Thee! For I know Thy love full well,
Lord, to me.

Thus from morn to night I'd walk
Close to Thee ;-
I would lean upon Thy might
Constantly.
Night to day shall soon give place,-
Glorious day.
I shall then behold Thy face,
And for aye.

H. McD.