Hymns for Christian Devotion Part 157

4 Thou, my ever-bounteous G.o.d, Crown'st my days with various good; Thy kind eye which cannot sleep, My defenceless hours shall keep.

5 Blest vicissitude to me!

Day and night I'm still with thee; Guarded thus I sink to rest, Lodged within my Father's breast

950. S. M. Curtis' Coll.

Flight of Time.

1 Another day is past, The hours forever fled, And time is bearing us away To mingle with the dead.

2 Our minds in perfect peace Our Father's care shall keep, We yield to gentle slumber now, For thou canst never sleep.

3 How blessed, Lord, are they On thee securely stayed!

Nor shall they be in life alarmed, Nor be in death dismayed.

951. S. M. Anonymous.

Evening Hymn.

1 The day is past and gone; The evening shades appear; O, may we all remember well The night of death draws near!

2 We lay our garments by, Upon our beds to rest; So death shall soon disrobe us all Of what is here possessed.

3 Lord, keep us safe this night, Secure from all our fears; May angels guard us, while we sleep, Till morning light appears!

952. 8s. & 7s. M. (Peculiar.) Kelly.

An Evening Offering.

1 Through the day thy love hath spared us, Now we lay us down to rest; Through the silent watches guard us, Let no foe our peace molest; Father, thou our guardian be, Sweet it is to trust in thee.

2 Pilgrims here on earth, and strangers, Dwelling in the midst of foes,-- Us and ours preserve from dangers, In thine arms let us repose, And, when life's short day is past, Rest with thee in heaven at last.

953. 7s. M. Missionary Mag.

Evening Hymn.

1 Lord of glory! King of power!

In this lone and silent hour, While the shades of darkness rise, And the eve is on the skies, By thy blessing, as the dews, Which yon shaded skies diffuse, Bid our feverish pa.s.sions cease; Calm us with thy promised peace.

2 Wheresoe'er the brow of pain Seeks oblivion's balm in vain, Or the form of watchful grief Knows not of the night's relief, There thy pity, softening power, There the spirit's calm restore; Till each tongue, from murmuring free, Wakes the hymn of praise to thee.

954. P. M. Bp. Heber.

Evening Aspiration.

G.o.d, that madest earth and heaven, Darkness and light,-- Who the day for toil hast given, For rest the night,-- May thine angel guards defend us, Slumber sweet thy mercy send us, Holy dreams and hopes attend us, This livelong night.

955. 7s. M. Anonymous.

Evening Hymn. Ps. 141:2.

1 Softly now the light of day Fades upon my sight away; Free from care, from labor free, Lord, I will commune with thee.

2 Thou, whose all-pervading eye Nought escapes, without, within: Pardon each infirmity, Open fault and secret sin.

3 Soon, for me, the light of day Shall forever pa.s.s away; Then from sin and sorrow free, Take me, Lord, to dwell with thee.

956. L. M. Kenn.

Midnight.

1 My G.o.d, I now from sleep awake; The sole possession of me take; From midnight terrors me secure, And guard my heart from thoughts impure.

2 Blest angels, while we silent lie, You hallelujahs sing on high; You joyful hymn the Ever-blest, Before the throne, and never rest.

3 I with your choir celestial join, In offering up a hymn divine; With you in heaven I hope to dwell, And bid the night and world farewell.

4 Blest Jesus, thou, on heaven intent, Whole nights hast in devotion spent; But I, frail creature, soon am tired, And all my zeal is soon expired.

5 s.h.i.+ne on me, Lord, new life impart, Fresh ardors kindle in my heart: One ray of thy all-quickening light Dispels the sloth and clouds of night.