1 WE rose to-day with anthems sweet,
To sing before the mercy seat,
And ere the darkness round us fell,
We bade the grateful vespers swell.
2 Whate'er has risen from heart sincere,
Each upward glance of filial fear,
Each true resolve, each solemn vow,
Jesus our Lord! accept them now.
3 Whate'er beneath thy searching eyes
Has wrought to spoil our sacrifice,
Mid this sweet stillness while we bow,
Jesus our Lord! forgive us now.
4 And teach us erring souls to win,
And hide their multitude of sin;
To tread in Christ's long-suffering way
And grow more like him day by day.
5 So as our Sabbaths hasten past,
And rolling years bring nigh the last,
When sinks the sun behind the hill,
When all the weary wheels stand still;
6 When by our bed the loved ones weep,
And death-dews o'er the forehead creep,
And vain is help or hope from men;
Jesus our Lord! receive us then.