2 Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day; Earth's joys grow dim! its glories pass away; Change and decay in all around I see;

O Thou who changest not, abide with me! 3 Come not in terrors, as the King of kings; But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings; Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea; Come, Friend of sinners! thus abide with me! 4. I need Thy presence every passing hour; What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power?

Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be? Thro' cloud and sunshine, oh! abide with me! 5 I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless ; Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness; Where is death's sting? where, grave! thy victory?

I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

6 Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes, Shine through the gloom, and point me to the

skies:

Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee :

In life, in death, O Lord! abide with me!

17

1

THE

Lyte. (See Preface.)

8.8.8.4.

HE radiant morn hath passed away, And spent too soon her golden store ; The shadows of departing day

Creep on once more.

2 Our life is but a fading dawn;
Its glorious noon how quickly past!
Lead us, O Christ, when all is gone,
Safe home at last.

3 Oh, by Thy soul-inspiring grace
Uplift our hearts to realms on high;
Help us to look to that bright place
Beyond the sky;

4 Where light and life and joy and peace
In undivided empire reign,

And thronging angels never cease
Their deathless strain;

5 Where saints are clothed in spotless white,
And evening shadows never fall;
Where Thou, Eternal Light of Light,

18

Art Lord of all !

6.5.6.5.

1 NOW the day is over,

NOW

Night is drawing nigh,
Shadows of the evening
Steal across the sky.

2 Jesus, grant the weary
Calm and sweet repose;
With Thy tenderest blessing
May our eyelids close.

3 Grant to little children
Visions bright of Thee:
Guard the sailors tossing
On the angry sea.

4 Comfort every sufferer
Watching late in pain ;
Those who plan some evil
From their sins restrain.

5 When the morning wakens,
Then may I arise

Pure and fresh and sinless

In Thy holy eyes.

Anon.

S. Baring Gould.

19

1

SA

8.7.8.7. D.

AVIOUR! breathe an evening blessing,
Ere repose our spirits seal;
Sin and want we come confessing,

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

2 Though destruction walk around us,
Though the arrow past us fly,
Angel-guards from Thee surround us,
We are safe, if Thou art nigh.
Should swift death this night o'ertake us,
And our couch become our tomb;
May the morn in heaven awake us,
Clad in light and deathless bloom.
3 Father! to Thy holy keeping,
Humbly we ourselves resign:
Saviour, who hast slept our sleeping,
Make our slumbers pure as Thine.
Blessed Spirit! brooding o'er us,
Chase the darkness of our night,
Till the perfect day before us
Breaks in everlasting light.

20

1

2

4.4.7.8.7.

THE day departs;

Our souls and hearts

Long for that better morrow,

Edmeston.

When Christ shall set His people free
From every care and sorrow.

The sunshine bright

Is lost in night;

O Lord, Thyself unveiling,

3

4

Shine on our souls with beams of love,
All darkness there dispelling.

Be Thou still nigh,

With sleepless eye,

While all around are sleeping;
And angel-guards, at Thy command,
Afar all danger keeping.

The land above,

Of peace and love,

No earthly beams need brighten;
For all its borders Christ Himself
Doth with His glory lighten.

6

21

1

That joy to share,

Glad hallelujahs singing:

With all the ransomed evermore

Our joyful praises bringing.

Lord Jesu, Thou

Our Refuge now,

Forsake Thy servants never;

Uphold and guide, that we may stand
Before Thy throne for ever.

Freylinghausen (1700); tr. H. L. L.

WHEN

7.6.7.6. D.

evening shadows gather,
And twilight gently fades,
When all is still and silent

In midnight's darker shades ;
Then Thou art ever watching,
Thou wilt our vigils keep,
And, trusting in Thy mercy,
We sink in peaceful sleep.

22

1

2 But, ere our eyelids closing,
We humbly seek Thy Face,
And pray for Thy forgiveness,
And Thy sustaining grace:
For we are weak and erring,
And need Thy mighty power;
O Jesu, ever guard us

In dark temptation's hour.
3 We pray for those who languish
In sickness and distress,

That thou wilt soothe their anguish,
And their afflictions bless :
We pray for those in peril
Upon the mighty sea;

We pray for friends and loved ones :--
Do Thou their Guardian be.

4 And now to Thee we render

Our thanks for mercies past,
With grateful hearts imploring
Thy favour to the last.
And at the great awakening
May we be found above,-

With Saints and Angels praising
Thy providence and love.

THE

10.10.10.10.10.10.

G. F. Swift.

HE day is gently sinking to a close,
Fainter, and yet more faint, the sunlight
glows!

O brightness of Thy Father's glory, Thou!
Eternal Light of light, be with us now!

When Thou art present, darkness cannot be, Midnight is glorious noon, O Lord! with Thee. 2 Our changeful lives are ebbing to an end, Onward to darkness and to death we tend ;