4 When evening slumbers press my eyes,
With his protection blest,
In peace and safety I commit
My weary limbs to rest.
5 My spirit, in his hand secure,
Fears no approaching ill;
For, whether waking or asleep,
Thou, Lord, art with me still.
All from God. - Morning or Evening.
1 FATHER! thy paternal care
Has my guardian been, my guide!
Every hallowed wish and prayer
Has thy hand of love supplied;
Thine is every thought of bliss,
Left by hours and days gone by;
Every hope thy offspring is,
Beaming from futurity.
2 Every sun of splendid ray;
Every moon that shines serene;
Every morn that welcomes day;
Every evening's twilight scene;
Every hour which wisdom brings;
Every incense at thy shrine;
These and all life's holiest things,
And its fairest - all are thine.
And for all, my hymns shall rise
Daily to thy gracious throne:
Thither let my asking eyes
Turn unwearied, righteous One!
Through life's strange vicissitude,
There reposing all my care,
Trusting still, through ill and good,
Fixed and cheered and counselled there.
1 As every day thy mercy spares
Will bring its trials or its cares,
O Father, till my life shall end,
Be thou my counsellor and friend;
Teach me thy statutes all divine,
And let thy will be always mine.
2 When each day's scenes and labors close,
And wearied nature seeks repose,
With pardoning mercy richly blest,
Guard me, my Father, while I rest:
And as each morning sun shall rise,
O lead me onward to the skies!
3 And at my life's last setting sun,
My conflicts o'er, my labors done,
Father, thine heavenly radiance shed,
To cheer and bless my dying bed;
And from death's gloom my spirit raise,
To see thy face, and sing thy praise.
1 DREAD Sovereign! let my evening song Like holy incense rise;
Permit the offerings of my tongue
To reach thee in the skies.
2 Through all the dangers of the day
Thy hand is still my guard;
And still, to drive my wants away,
Thy mercy stands prepared.
3 Perpetual blessings from above
My daily path surround;
But O how few returns of love
Hath my Creator found!
4 And now, my soul, the closing day
Is fading on thine eyes;
Once more the evening tribute pay
To Him who rules the skies.
1 GLORY to thee, my God, this night,
For all the blessings of the light;
Keep me, O keep me, King of kings,
Under thy own almighty wings.
2 Forgive me, Lord, through thy dear Son,
The ill that I this day have done;
That with the world, myself, and thee,
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.
3 Teach me to live, that I may dread
The grave as little as my bed;
Teach me to die, that so I may
Triumphant rise at the last day.
4 O may my soul on thee repose,
And may sweet sleep mine eyelids close,— Sleep that may me more vigorous make To serve my God when I awake.
5 Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him, ye angels round his throne;
Praise God, the high and holy One.
1 ON the dewy breath of even
Thousand odors mingling rise,
Borne like incense up to heaven,
Nature's evening sacrifice.
2 With her balmy offerings blending,
Let our glad thanksgivings be-
To thy throne, O Lord, ascending-
Incense of our hearts to thee.
3 Thou, whose favors, without number,
All our days with gladness bless,
Let thine eye, that knows not slumber,
Guard our hours of helplessness.
4 Then, though conscious we are sleeping
In the outer courts of death,
Safe beneath a Father's keeping,
Calm we rest in placid faith.
5 Lord! when life is closing round us,.
Dark with anguish, faint with fear,
Let thy beams of love surround us,
Let us know thee, feel thee near!
1 THE mellow eve is gliding
Serenely down the west;
So, every care subsiding,
My soul would sink to rest.
2 The woodland hum is ringing
The daylight's gentle close;
May angels round me singing
Thus hymn my last repose.
3 The evening star has lighted
Her crystal lamp on high;
So, when in death benighted,
May hope illume the sky.
4 In golden splendor dawning,
The morrow's light shall break;
O on the last bright morning
May I in glory wake.
1 SLOWLY, by God's hand unfurled,
Down around the weary world
Falls the darkness: O how still
Is the working of his will!
2 Mighty Spirit, ever nigh!
Work in me as silently;
Veil the day's distracting sights,
Show me heaven's eternal lights.
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