Father, in thy presence now

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.

Source: A Book of Hymns for Public and Private Devotion (15th ed.) #381

• MIDI file from The Cyber Hymnal #9339