4 Raise to heaven our expectation,
Give our favored souls to prove
Glorious and complete salvation,
In the realms of bliss above.
THUS far the Lord has led me on ;
Thus far His power prolongs my days;
And every ev'ning shall make known
Some fresh memorial of His grace.
2 Much of my time has run to waste,
And I, perhaps, am near my home;
But He forgives my follies past,
And strength supplies for days to come.
3 I lay my body down to sleep;
Peace is the pillow of my head:
His ever watchful eye will keep
Its constant guard around my bed.
4 Faith in Thy name forbids my fear;
O may Thy presence ne'er depart!
And in the morning may I bear
Thy loving-kindness on my heart!
silent moon is risen,
The golden star-fires glisten
In heaven serene and bright;
The forest sleeps in shadow,
And slowly off the meadow
A mist is curling, silver-white.
2 The veil of night is closing Around a world reposing
In calm and holy trust;
It seems like one still chamber,
Where weary hearts remember
No more the sorrows of the dust.
3 Behold the full moon beaming!
So round and fair 'tis gleaming,
Yet half is hid from sight.
So, oft on earth, deceive us
Things that now seem so grievous,
Because the half is veiled in night.
4 We, poor, frail mortals, groping,
Half fearing and half hoping,
In darkness seek our way;
Our airy cobwebs spinning
With erring and with sinning,
Far from the heavenly mark we stray.
5 Thy saving health, O grant us,
Lord, that we ne'er may vaunt us
In vain and fleeting show;
But child-like and confiding,
Follow Thy gentle guiding,
And in Thy paths with gladness go.
6 When death comes to release us With kindly hand, and frees us
Ere life's a weary load;
Then, when earth's ties we sever,
Take us to Thee forever,
Thou kind, Thou true, Thou gracious God!
7 The night's cool breath is creeping; Brothers, in God's good-keeping
Your weary eyelids close.
His grace from ill defend us,
And peaceful slumber send us,
And soothe our poor sick neighbor's woes!
NOW say good night! O Father be
My refuge still; to Thee I flee.
When darkness, death, and terrors rise,
Thy grace shall still for me suffice.
2 All praise to Christ my Savior give,
For He this day hath let me live
My life away in His dear name:
"To live is Christ, to die is gain."
3 O Holy Ghost, Thy grace impart,
To rest in Christ my troubled heart.
O sweet the rest Thy grace doth bring,
And bids me to my Savior cling.
4 Now say good night! May angels bright
Keep watching o'er me through the night,
And spread their guardian, heavenly wings,
O'er these my wearied, slumb'ring limbs.
5 "And now I lay me down to sleep;
I pray Thee, Lord, my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake,
I pray Thee, Lord, my soul to take.”
6 Now say good night! To all, good night!
God keep you safe till morning's light,
That with His praise you all may wake;
"And this I ask for Jesus sake."
Close my eyes, Lord, by Thee blest;
Father, let Thine eye instead
Watch and ward keep o'er my bed.
2 What I have done ill this day,
Lord, forgive it all, I pray ;
Thy rich grace and Jesus' blood
Are my trust and highest good.
3 All who are akin to me,
Let them rest, Lord, safe in Thee;
All mankind, both great and small,
Do Thou kindly keep them all.
COME, O Creator, Spirit blest!
And in our souls take up Thy rest; Come with Thy grace and heavenly aid, To fill the hearts which Thou hast made.
2 Kindle our senses from above,
And make our hearts o'erflow with love;
With patience firm and virtue high,
The weakness of our flesh supply.
3 Far from us drive the foe we dread,
And grant us Thy true peace instead;
So shall we not, with Thee for guide,
Turn from the path of life aside.
LL things hang on our possessing
God's free love and grace and blessing,
Though all earthly wealth depart;
He who God for His hath taken,-
'Mid the changing world unshaken,
Keeps a free, heroic heart.
2 He who hitherto hath fed me,
And to many a joy hath led me,
Is and shall be ever mine;
He who did so gently school me,
He who still doth guide and rule me,
Will not leave me now to pine.
3 Shall I weary me with fretting
O'er vain trifles and regretting
Things that never can remain?
I will strive but that to win me
Which can shed true rest within me,
Rest the world must seek in vain.
4 When my heart with longing sickens,
Hope again my courage quickens;
For my wish shall be fulfilled,
If it please His will most tender:
Life and soul I will surrender
Unto Him on whom I build.
5 Well He knows how best to grant me
All the longing hopes that haunt me;
All things have their proper day;
I to Him would dictate never,
As God wills, so be it ever,
When He wills I will obey.
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