139.

2 The calm retreat, the silent shade,
With prayer and praise agree;
And seem by thy sweet bounty made
For those who follow thee.

3 There, if thy Spirit touch the soul,
And grace her mean abode,

Oh, with what peace, and joy, and love,
She communes with her God!

4 There, like the nightingale, she pours
Her solitary lays;

Nor asks a witness of her song,
Nor thirsts for human praise.

5 Author and Guardian of my life!
Sweet Source of light divine,

And all harmonious names in one

My Saviour!-thou art mine!

"When evening was come, he was alone." Matt, 14: 23. MRS. BROWN.

I to steal, a

From every cumbering care,

And spend the hours of setting day
In humble, grateful prayer.

2 I love, in solitude, to shed

The penitential tear;

And all his promises to plead,
Where none but God can hear.

3 I love to think on mercies past,
And future good implore;
And all my cares and sorrows cast
On him whom I adore.

4 I love, by faith, to take a view

Of brighter scenes in heaven;
The prospect doth my strength renew,
While here by tempests driven.

5 Thus, when life's toilsome day is o'er,
May its departing ray

Be calm as this impressive hour,
And lead to endless day!

GUARDIAN. S. M.

J. E. GOULD.

140.

Mark 1: 35;-6: 46-51.

OW sweet the melting lay,
Which breaks upon the ear,
When at the hour of rising day
Christians unite in prayer!

2 The breezes waft their cries
Up to Jehovah's throne;
He listens to their humble sighs,
And sends his blessings down.

3 So Jesus rose to pray

Before the morning light;

MRS. BROWN.

Once on the chilling mount did stay,
And wrestle all the night;-

4 Then left his vigil there,

Came down upon the wave:

So come to us while we toil here,
And storms shall cease to rave!

Prayer is the Christian pilgrim's staff
To walk with God all day.

2 At noon, beneath the Rock

Of ages, rest and pray;

Sweet is that shelter from the sun
In weary heat of day.

3 At evening in thy home,
Around its altar, pray;

And finding there the house of God,
With heaven then close the day.

4 When midnight vails our eyes,
Oh, it is sweet to say,

I sleep, but my heart waketh, Lord,
With thee to watch and pray.

EVENTIDE. 10.

W. H. MONK.

142.

"Abide with us." Luke 24: 29.

ABIDE with me! fast falls the even fide,

LYTE.

The darkness deepens-Lord, with me abide!
When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me!

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 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, oh, abide with me!
4 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
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me!

[flee!

GREENWOOD. S. M.

Sweetser.

143.

144.

By day, by night, at home, abroad,
I would be still with thee:

2 With thee, when dawn comes in,
And calls me back to care;
Each day returning to begin
With thee, my God, in prayer:

3 With thee, amid the crowd

That throngs the busy mart,
To hear thy voice, 'mid clamor loud,
Speak softly to my heart:

4 With thee, when day is done,
And evening calms the mind:
The setting as the rising sun
With thee my heart would find:
5 With thee, in thee, by faith
Abiding I would be;

By day, by night, in life, in death,
I would be still with thee.

BONAR.

J. M. NEALE.

2 We have not reached that land,
That happy land, as yet,
Where holy angels round thee stand,
Whose sun can never set.

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

O Sun of righteousness, do thou
Shine on us evermore!

VESPER. S. M.

145.

A. CHAPIN.

Ps. 4: 8.

HE day is past and gone :
The evening shades appear;
Oh, may we all remember well
The night of death draws near.

2 We lay our garments by

Upon our beds to rest;

So death will soon disrobe us all,
Of what we've here possessed.

3 Lord, keep us safe this night,
Secure from all our fears;
May angels guard us while we sleep,
Till morning light appears.

4 And when we early rise

To view the unwearied sun,
May we set out to win the prize,
And after glory run.

LELAND.