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Yet angels, in their loftiest song,

Fail in their flight, and do Thee wrong;
Like as their veiled adoring face

Tells of a Glory none can trace!

And now, my mid-day homage paid,
Life's busy path again I tread;
Yet happier far its task I ply
From surer trust that Thou art nigh;

Nigh to defend, assist, and bless,
Making my cares and dangers less;
And daily duteous toil the road,
That leads to perfect peace in God:

Peace, through the grace of Christ our Lord; Rest, in the Father's love restored;

Joy, by the Spirit's union given ;

The peace, the rest, the joy of Heaven! James Ford. 1856

CCLIV

Evening

THE day, O Lord, is spent ;

Abide with us, and rest;

Our hearts' desires are fully bent
On making Thee our guest.

We have not reached that land,
That happy land, as yet,

Where holy angels round Thee stand,
Whose sun can never set.

Our sun is sinking now;
Our day is almost o'er :

O Sun of Righteousness, do Thou

Shine on us evermore !

John Mason Neale. 1854

B

CCLV

Evening

EHOLD the sun, that seemed but now
Enthroned overhead,

Beginneth to decline below

The globe whereon we tread ;
And he, whom yet we look upon
With comfort and delight,
Will quite depart from hence anon,
And leave us to the night.

Thus time, unheeded, steals away
The life which nature gave;
Thus are our bodies every day
. Declining to the grave:
Thus from us all our pleasures fly

Whereon we set our heart;

And when the night of death draws nigh,

Thus will they all depart.

Lord! though the sun forsake our sight,
And mortal hopes are vain ;
Let still Thine everlasting light
Within our souls remain !

And in the nights of our distress

Vouchsafe those rays divine,

Which from the Sun of Righteousness

Forever brightly shine!

George Wither. 1641

CCLVI

Evening

ACCEPT, my God, my evening song,

Like incense let it fragrant rise;

Stir up my heart, and tune my tongue,
And let the music reach the skies.

Thou hast my kind protector been
Through all the dangers of the day;
My guardian to defend from sin,

My guide to choose me out my way.
The flowing spring of all my good,

Still pouring blessings from on high; Thine hand hath dealt me out my food, For every want a kind supply.

Unceasing, Lord, Thy bounty flowed; Each moment brought me in fresh aid; But what returns of love to God

Have I for all His kindness made?

What have I done for Him that died

To save my soul from endless woe? How much have I His patience tried From whom all my enjoyments flow!

Fast as my flying minutes pass,

My faults augment the former sum! Forgive the past, and by Thy grace Prevent the like for time to come!

Dear Saviour, to Thy cross I'll fly,
And there my guilty head recline,
And my whole soul, that sin may die,
Yield up to influence divine!

Then, sprinkled with atoning blood,
I'll lay me down and take my rest,
Trust the protection of my God,

And sleep as on my Saviour's breast.
Variation from Isaac Watts.

1709

By Simon Browne. 1720

A

CCLVII

Evening

LL praise to Thee, my God, this night, For all the blessings of the light; Keep me, O keep me, King of kings, Beneath Thine own Almighty wings!

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.

Teach me to live, that I may dread
The grave as little as my bed!
To die, that this vile body may
Rise glorious at the awful day!

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!

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!

Dull sleep, of sense me to deprive !
I am but half my time alive :
Thy faithful lovers, Lord, are grieved
To lie so long of Thee bereaved.

But though sleep o'er my frailty reigns,
Let it not hold me long in chains!
And now and then let loose my heart,
Till it an hallelujah dart !

The faster sleep the senses binds,
The more unfettered are our minds;
O may my soul, from matter free,
Thy loveliness unclouded see!

O when shall I, in endless day,
Forever chase dark sleep away,
And hymns with the supernal choir
Incessant sing, and never tire?

O may my Guardian, while I sleep,
Close to my bed his vigils keep;
His love angelical instil;

Stop all the avenues of ill:

May he celestial joy rehearse,

And thought to thought with me converse;
Or in my stead, all the night long,
Sing to my God a grateful song!

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!
Bishop Thomas Ken.

1700

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