Evening Devotions.

"I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for Thou Lord, only makest me dwell in safety."-Ps. iv. 8.

WHEN night o'er earth her mantle spreads,

And darkening shades the skies invest,

'Tis sweet to put aside all care, And lay the body down to rest.

O Thou who hast an ear to hear,
When contrite souls before Thee bend,
Do Thou now listen to my prayer,
Thy Spirit's gracious influence send.

Apply the Saviour's precious blood,
Wash all my stains of guilt away,
Hold me in Thy paternal arms,
Nor let me ever from Thee stray.

With loving-kindness compass Thou
My bed; my every thought control;
And let the bosom of Thy love,
Be the sweet pillow of my soul.

So shall I rest in perfect peace,
From every anxious thought made free:
No evil has the soul to fear,

That puts its trust, O God, in Thee.

HEAR

me when I call, O God of my righteousness: Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

I will both lay me down in peace and sleep, for Thou, Lord, only makest me to dwell in safety.

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto Thy name, O Most High:

To show forth Thy loving-kindness in the morning, and Thy faithfulness every night. Let my prayer come before Thee: incline Thine ear unto my cry.

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my Redeemer.

Make a hedge about us and about our house, and around all that we have round about. Let the angel of God encamp round about us to deliver us; that we may lie down, and none may make us afraid. So shall our sleep be sweet to us.

"Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, aloud; and He shall hear my voice."- Ps. lv. 17.

SAVIOUR, let the evening hours

Dear to us, Thy children, be;
With clasped hands, as folded flowers,
Praying earnestly to Thee,

Let our vesper worship rise,
Incense-like, before Thine eyes:

Then when that dark even tide
Closes in our life's long day,
And, like some steep mountain side,
Frowns the last and lonesome way,

Bright to us that path shall be,

Found alone, O Lord, with Thee.

and cry

"He knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with Him."-DAN. ii. 22.

THE day is past and over,

All thanks, O Lord, to Thee!
I pray Thee now that sinless
The hours of dark may be.
Be Thou my soul's Preserver,

O God! for Thou dost know
How many are the perils

Through which I have to go:
O Jesu! keep me in Thy sight,

And save me through the coming night.

"The darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee." Ps. cxxxix. 12.

HEAR my prayer, O Heavenly Father,

Ere I lay me down to sleep:

Bid the Angels, pure and holy,
Round my bed their vigils keep.
Pardon all my past transgressions,

Give me strength for days to come :
Guide and guard me with Thy blessing,
Till Thine angels bid me home.