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, O abide with me!
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!
Thou on my head in early youth didst smile,
And though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee;
On to the close, O Lord, abide with me!
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?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me!
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!
From TÖPLER'S Old Choral Melodies. (HAVERGAL'S Old Church Psalmody.)
AVIOUR, breathe an evening blessing,
Ere repose our spirits seal;
Sin and want we come confessing;
Thou canst save, and Thou canst heal.
Though destruction walk around us,
Though the arrow past us fly,
Angel-guards from Thee surround us;
We are safe if Thou art nigh.
Though the night be dark and dreary,
Darkness cannot hide from Thee;
Thou art He who, never weary,
Watchest where Thy people be.
Should swift death this night o'ertake us,
And our couch become our tomb,
May the heavenly morn awake us,
Clad in bright and deathless bloom.
The day is done, its hours have run;
And Thou hast taken count of all-
The scanty triumphs grace hath won,
The broken vow, the frequent fall.
Through life's long day and death's dark night,
O gentle JESU, be our light.
Labour is sweet, for Thou hast toil'd,
And care is light, for Thou hast cared: Ah! never let our works be soil'd
With strife, or by deceit ensnared.
Through life's long day and death's dark night,
O gentle JESU, be our light.
For all we love, the poor, the sad,
The sinful, unto Thee we call ; O let Thy mercy make us glad;
Thou art our JESUS, and our All!
Through life's long day and death's dark night,
O gentle JESU, be our light.
Sweet Saviour! bless us! night is come,
Through night and darkness near us be;
Good Angels watch about our home,
And we are one day nearer Thee.
Through life's long day and death's dark night,
O gentle JESU, be our light.
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