Page images
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

7 To Father, Son,

And Spirit, One

In heaven and earth, all praise be done.

57

THE sun is sinking fast,
The daylight dies;
Let love awake, and pay
Her evening sacrifice.

2 As Christ upon the cross,
His head inclined,

And to His Father's hands
His parting soul resigned;

3 So now herself

my soul
Would wholly give
Into His sacred charge,
In Whom all spirits live;

4 So now beneath His eye
Would calmly rest,
Without a wish or thought
Abiding in the breast.

P. C. Dunsterville.

5 Only His will be done,
Whate'er betide,

Dead to herself, and dead
In Him to all beside.

6 Thus would I live; yet now
Not I, but He

In all His power and love
Henceforth alive in me.

7 One sacred Trinity, One Lord divine;

May I be ever His,

And He for ever mine!

Anon.

E. Caswall, Tr.

58

SOFTLY now the light of day

Fades upon my sight away;
Free from care, from labor free.
Lord, I would commence with Thee.

2 Thou, whose all-pervading eye Naught escapes, without, within, Pardon each infirmity,

Open fault and secret sin.

3 Soon for me the light of day Shall forever pass away; Then from sin and sorrow free,

Take me, Lord, to dwell with Thee.

4 Thou who, sinless, yet hast known
All of man's infirmity;
Then, from Thine eternal throne,
Jesus, look with pitying eye.

59

NOW to gain a night's repose,

I mine eyes in sleep must close; Father, let Thine eyes divine Watch above this bed of mine.

2 Should I, Lord, have gone astray
From Thy ways this closing day,
Of Thy grace let me partake,
Pardon me for Jesus' sake.

3 Let my dear ones rest in Thee,
Keeping them from trouble free;
Let all people, small and large,
Be committed to Thy charge.

4 Unto every wounded soul

G. W. Doane.

Send Thy peace to make it whole;
While night's shadows round us fall,
God in heaven, guard us all.

61

L. Hensel.

H. Brueckner, Tr.

SAVIOR, breathe an evening blessing,
Ere repose our spirits seal;

Sin and want we come confessing:
Thou canst save, and Thou canst heal.

2 Though destruction walk around us,
Though the arrows past us fly,
Angel guards from Thee surround us,
We are safe if Thou art nigh.

3 Though the night be dark and dreary,
Darkness cannot hide from Thee;
Thou art He, who, never weary,
Watches where Thy people be.

4 Should swift death this night o'ertake us, And our couch become our tomb,

May the morn in heaven awake us,
Clad in bright and deathless bloom.

62

J. Edmeston.

ESUS, tender Shepherd, hear me;

JESUS,

Bless Thy little lamb tonight;

Through the darkness be Thou near me; Keep me safe till morning light.

2 All this day Thy hand has led me,
And I thank Thee for Thy care;
Thou hast warmed me, clothed and fed me;
Listen to my evening prayer!

3 Let my sins be all forgiven;
Bless the friends I love so well:
Take us all at last to heaven,
Happy there with Thee to dwell.

M. Duncan.

64

SUNK is the sun's last beam of light,
And now the world is wrapt in night:
Christ, light us with Thy heav'nly ray,
Nor let our feet in darkness stray.

2 Thanks, Lord, that Thou throughout the day Has kept all grief and harm away;

That angels tarried round about
Our coming in and going out.

3 Whate'er of wrong we've done or said,
Let not the charge on us be laid;

That through Thy free forgiveness blest,
In peaceful slumber we may rest.

4 Thy guardian angels round us place,
All evil from our couch to chase;
Our soul and body, while we sleep,
In safety, gracious Father, keep.

N. Heermann.

F. E. Cox, Tr.

65

NOW rest beneath night's shadows,

Man, beast, town, woods and meadows,
The world in slumber lies;

But Thou, my heart, awake thee,
To prayer and song betake thee,

Let praise to thy Creator rise.

« PreviousContinue »