2.-EVENING. Sleep, that may me more vigorous make To serve my God when I awake! [p 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 !] mf O when shall I, in endless day, For ever chase dark sleep away, ff Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow, Praise Him all creatures here 683 L.M. mf SUN of my soul, Thou Saviour dear, It is not night if Thou be near; Oh! may no earth-born cloud arise To hide Thee from Thy servant's eyes. [p When with dear friends sweet talk I hold, And all the flowers of life unfold; pp When the soft dews of kindly sleep My wearied eyelids gently steep, Be my last thought, how sweet to Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness [grave, thy victory? cres Where is death's sting? where, I triumph still, if Thou abide with me! p Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes! cresShine through the gloom, and point me to the skies! f Heaven's morning breaks! and earth's vain shadows flee! In life, in death, O Lord, abide H. F. Lyte, v. 8, ll. 1, 2 altd. 685 Who the day for toil hast given, mp May Thine angel-guards defend us, mf Guard us waking, guard us sleeping; And when we die, May we, in Thy mighty keeping, All peaceful lie. As Christ upon the cross In death reclined, And to His Father's hands His parting soul resigned; mf So now herself my soul Would wholly give mp mf FATHER, in high heaven dwelling, May our evening song be telling Of Thy mercy large and free. Through the day Thy love has fed us, Through the day Thy care has led mf With divinest charity. [us. mp This day's sins, O pardon, Saviour, mp From enticements of the devil, mp Whilst the night-dews are distilling, Holy Ghost, each heart be filling dimSoftly let the eyes be closing, mf f Into His sacred charge, Save that His will be done, Dead to herself; and dead Thus would I live ;-yet now In all His power and love One sacred Trinity! One Lord divine! May I be ever His! And He for ever mine! Latin, 7th century. tr. E. Caswall. |