Father, in Thy presence now

Has been pledged the nuptial vow;

Heart to heart, as hand in hand,

Linked in one Thy children stand.

God of love! this union bless,

Not with earth’s low happiness;

But with joys whose heavenly spring

Shall diviner raptures bring.

May these blended souls be found

Firm in duty’s active round;

Daily every burden share,

Nightly seek Thy shadowing care.

When against their trembling forms

Shoot the arrows of life’s storms;

Or when age and sickness wait

Heralds at life’s parting gate;—

In the fulness of belief,

May they look beyond the grief;

And together fearless tread

In the path where Thou shall lead.