Lead us through the vale of tears
To the land of perfect day,
Where Thy people, fully blest,
Safely rest!
C. Knorr, 1664. Tr. H. L. L. 1862.
RISE, my soul, thy God directs thee;
Stranger bands no more impede ;
Pass thou on; His hand protects thee,
Strength that has the captive freed.
Is the wilderness before thee,
Desert lands where drought abides ?
Heavenly springs shall there restore thee,
Fresh from God's exhaustless tides.
2 Light Divine surrounds thy going,
God Himself shall mark thy way;
Secret blessings richly flowing,
Lead to everlasting day.
In the desert God will teach thee
What the God that thou hast found,
Patient, gracious, powerful, holy,
All His grace shall there abound.
3 On to Canaan's rest still wending,
E'en thy wants and woes shall bring
Suited grace, from high descending
Thou shalt taste of mercy's spring.
Though thy way be long and dreary,
Eagle-strength He'll still renew ;
Garments fresh and feet unweary
Tell how God hath brought thee through.
4 When to Canaan's long-loved dwelling
Love Divine thy foot shall bring,
There with shouts of triumph swelling,
Zion's songs in rest to sing-
There no stranger-God shall meet thee,
Stranger thou in courts above,
He who to His rest shall greet thee
Greets thee with a well-known love!
J. N. Darby, 1837.
"At evening time, it shall be light."—ZECH. xiv, 7.
LORY to Thee, my God! this night,
For all the blessings of the light:
Keep me, oh! keep me, King of kings!
Beneath Thine own Almighty wings.
2 Forgive me, Lord! for 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
Rise glorious at the Judgment-day.
4 Oh! may my soul on Thee repose,
And with sweet sleep mine eyelids close;
Sleep that may me more vigorous make
To serve my God when I awake.
5 When in the night I sleepless lie,
My soul with heavenly thoughts supply;
Let no ill dreams disturb my rest,
No powers of darkness me molest.
6 Lord! let my soul for ever share
The bliss of Thy paternal care :
'Tis heaven on earth, 'tis heaven above,
To see Thy face and sing Thy love.
7 Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise Him, all creatures here below! Praise Him above, ye heavenly host,
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! Bp. Ken. 8.8.8.8.
1 INSPIRER and Hearer of prayer,
Thou Shepherd and Guardian of Thine!
My all to Thy covenant care
I sleeping and waking resign.
2 If Thou art my Shield and my Sun
The night is no darkness to me,
And fast as the moments run on
They bring me but nearer to Thee.
3 Thy minist'ring spirits descend,
To watch while Thy saints are asleep;
By day and by night they attend,
The heirs of salvation to keep.
4 Thy worship no interval knows,
Their fervour is still on the wing;
And while they protect my repose,
They chant to the praise of their King.
5 I, too, at the season ordained,
Their chorus for ever shall join;
And love, and adore without end,
Their Faithful Creator and mine.
OD, that madest earth and heaven,
U 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.
2 Guard us waking, guard us sleeping; And when we die,
May we, in Thy mighty keeping,
All peaceful lie:
When the trumpet's call shall wake us,
Do not Thou, O God, forsake us,
But to reign in glory take us,
With Thee on high.
[OLY Father, cheer our way
With Thy love's perpetual ray :
Grant us every closing day
Light at evening-time.
2 Holy Saviour, calm our fears
When earth's brightness disappears :
Grant us in our later years
Light at evening-time.
3 Holy Spirit, be Thou nigh
When in mortal pains we lie;
Grant us, as we come to die,
Light at evening-time.
4 Holy, Blessèd Trinity,
Darkness is not dark to Thee :
Those Thou keepest always see
Light at evening-time.
HE shadows of the evening hours
Fall from the darkening sky;
Upon the fragrance of the flowers
The dews of evening lie:
Before Thy throne, O Lord of heaven,
We kneel at close of day;
Look on Thy children from on high,
And hear us while we pray.
2 The sorrows of Thy servants, Lord,
Oh, do not Thou despise,
But let the incense of our prayers
Before Thy mercy rise:
The brightness of the coming night
Upon the darkness rolls
With hopes of future glory chase
The shadows on our souls.
3 Slowly the rays of daylight fade ;—
So fade within our heart
The hopes in earthly love and joy,
That one by one depart;
Slowly the bright stars, one by one,
Within the heavens shine ;-
Give us, O Lord, fresh hopes in heaven,
And trust in things divine.
4 Let peace, O Lord,-Thy peace, O God,
Upon our souls descend;
From midnight fears and perils, Thou
Our trembling hearts defend :
Give us a respite from our toil,
Calm and subdue our woes;
Through the long day we labour, Lord,—
Oh, give us now repose.
1 ABIDE with me! fast falls the eventide ; The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide :
When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh! abide with me !
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