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15

THE

HROUGH the day Thy love has spared us;
Wearied we lie down to rest;

Through the silent watches guard us;
Let no foe our peace molest:
Jesus, Thou our guardian be;
Sweet it is to trust in Thee.

2 Pilgrims here on earth, and strangers,
Dwelling in the midst of foes,
Us and ours preserve from dangers;
In Thy love may we repose;

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And, when life's short day is past,
Rest with Thee in heaven at last.

OUNK is the sun's last beam of light,

SU

And darkness wraps the world in night:
Christ! light us with Thy heavenly ray,
Nor let our feet in darkness stray.

2 Thanks, Lord, that Thou throughout the day
Hast kept all grief and harm away;
That angels tarried round about

Our coming in and going out.

3 What we of wrong have done or said,
Let not on us the charge be laid;
That, through Thy.free forgiveness blest,
In peaceful slumber we may rest.

4 Thy guardian angels round us place,
All evil from our couch to chase;
Both soul and body, while we sleep,
In safety, gracious Father, keep.

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F

ATHER! by Thy love and power
Comes again the evening hour;

Light has vanished, labours cease,
Weary creatures rest in peace :
We to Thee ourselves resign,
Let our latest thoughts be Thine!

2 Saviour! Thou hast seen to-day
How, like sheep, we've gone astray;
Selfish wishes, thoughts of pride,
Secret sins Thou hast descried :
Blessed Saviour, yet through Thee
Pray that these may pardoned be.

3 Holy Spirit! ere we sleep,
We with Thee will vigils keep:
Lead us on our sins to muse,
Truest penitence infuse,

Melt our spirits, mould our will,
Soften, strengthen, comfort still.

4 Blessed Trinity! be near

Through the hours of darkness drear;
When the help of man is far,
Ye more clearly present are;
Guard us, till the morning rays
Wake us to a song of praise.

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I

NTERVAL of grateful shade,
Welcome to my weary head!
By my heavenly Father blest,
Now I give myself to rest.

2 Let Thine eye that cannot sleep
Night's defenceless watches keep;
Bless'd vicissitude to me—

Day and night, I'm still with Thee.

3 Midst the silence of the night,
Mingling with those angels bright,
Whose harmonious voices raise
Ceaseless songs of worthiest praise.

4 Through the throng His gracious ear
Shall my tuneless accents hear;
And His Spirit shall diffuse
Gentler far than midnight dews.

5 What if death my sleep invade?
Should I be of death afraid?
While encircled by Thine arm,
Death may strike, but cannot harm.

6 With Thy heavenly presence blest,
Death is life, and labour rest:
Welcome sleep or death to me,
Still secure, for still with Thee!

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T

HE sun is sinking fast,
The daylight dies;

Let love awake, and pay
Her evening sacrifice.

2 As Christ

upon the cross

His head inclined,

And to His Father's hands

His parting soul resigned;

3 So now herself my soul
Would wholly give
Into His sacred charge,
In whom all spirits live:

4

So now beneath His eye
Would calmly rest,

Without a wish or thought
Abiding in the breast;

5 Save that His will be done,
Whate'er betide;

Dead to herself, and dead
In Him to all beside.

6 Thus would I live; yet now
Not I, but He

In all His power and love
Henceforth alive in me.

7 One sacred Trinity!

One Lord Divine !

May I be ever His,

And he for ever mine.

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S now the sun's declining rays
At eventide descend,

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So life's brief day is sinking down
To its appointed end.

2 Lord, on the cross Thine arms were stretched, To draw Thy people nigh:

O grant us, then, that cross to love,

And in those arms to die.

3 All glory to the Father be, All glory to the Son,

2 I

3

All glory, Holy Ghost, to Thee,
While endless ages run.

A

BIDE 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.

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.

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, Lord, abide with

me.

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