THE LABOURER’S NOON-DAY HYMN
UP to the throne of God is borne The voice of praise at early morn, And he accepts the punctual hymn Sung as the light of day grows dim: Nor will he turn his ear aside From holy offerings at noontide: Then here reposing let us raise A song of gratitude and praise. What though our burthen be not light, We need not toil from morn to night; 10 The respite of the mid-day hour Is in the thankful Creature’s power. Blest are the moments, doubly blest, That, drawn from this one hour of rest, Are with a ready heart bestowed Upon the service of our God! Each field is then a hallowed spot, An altar is in each man’s cot, A church in every grove that spreads Its living roof above our heads. 20 Look up to Heaven! the industrious Sun Already half his race hath run; ‘He’ cannot halt nor go astray, But our immortal Spirits may. Lord! since his rising in the East, If we have faltered or transgressed, Guide, from thy love’s abundant source, What yet remains of this day’s course: Help with thy grace, through life’s short day, Our upward and our downward way; 30 And glorify for us the west, When we shall sink to final rest. 1834.