1189 L. M. Hide me under the shadow of thy wings. Psalm 17:8.
Glory to thee, my God, this night, For all the blessings of the light; Keep me, O keep me, King of kings, Beneath thine own almighty wings.
2 Forgive me, Lord, for thy dear Son, The ill which I this day have done; That with the world, myself, and thee, I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.
3 Teach me to live, that I may dread The grave as little as my bed; Teach me to die, that so I may Rise glorious at thy Judgment-day.
4 O let my soul on thee repose, And may sweet sleep mine eyelids close; Sleep, which shall me more vigorous make, To serve my God when I awake.
5 Be thou my guardian while I sleep, Thy watchful station near me keep; My heart with love celestial fill, And guard me from the approach of ill.
6 Lord, let my soul for ever share The bliss of thy paternal care: ’Tis heaven on earth, ’tis heaven above, To see thy face and sing thy love!
1190 L. M. I will lay me down in peace. Psalm 4:8.
Thus far the Lord has led me on; Thus far his power prolongs my days; And every evening 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; He gives me strength for days to come.
3 I lay my body down to sleep; Peace is the pillow for my head; While well-appointed angels keep Their watchful stations round my bed.
4 Thus, when the night of death shall come, My flesh shall rest beneath the ground, And wait thy voice to rouse my tomb, With sweet salvation in the sound.
1191 C. M. The angel of the Lord, etc. Psalm 34:7.
And now another day is gone, I’ll sing my Maker’s praise; My comforts every hour make known His providence and grace.
2 I lay my body down to sleep; Let angels guard my head; And through the hours of darkness keep Their watch around my bed.
3 With cheerful heart I close my eyes, Since thou wilt not remove; And in the morning let me rise, Rejoicing in thy love.
1192 C. M. Let my prayer come before thee, etc. Psalm 141:2.
Blest Sovereign, let my evening song Like holy incense rise; Assist the offerings of my tongue To reach the lofty skies.
2 Through all the dangers of the day, Thy hand was still my guard; And still, to drive my wants away, Thy mercy stood prepared.
3 Perpetual blessings from above Encompass me around; But O how few returns of love Hath my Creator found!
4 Lord, with this guilty heart of mine, To thy dear cross I flee; And to thy grace my soul resign, To be renewed by thee.
1193 C. M. The day goeth away. Jer. 6:4.
Hail, tranquil hour of closing day! Begone, disturbing care; And look, my soul, from earth away, To him who heareth prayer.
2 How sweet the tear of penitence, Before his throne of grace, While, to the contrite spirit’s sense, He shows his smiling face.
3 How sweet, through long remembered years, His mercies to recall; And, pressed with wants, and griefs, and fears, To trust his love for all.
4 How sweet to look, in thoughtful hope, Beyond this fading sky, And hear him call his children up To his fair home on high.
5 Calmly the day forsakes our heaven, To dawn beyond the west; So let my soul, in life’s last even, Retire to glorious rest.
1194 C. M. D. The shadows of the evening, etc. Jer. 6:4.
The shadows of the evening hours Fall from the darkening sky; Upon the fragrance of the flowers The dews of evening lie: Before thy throne, O Lord of heaven, We kneel at close of day; Look on thy children from on high, And hear us while we pray.
2 The sorrows of thy servants, Lord, O, do not thou despise; But let the incense of our prayers Before thy mercy rise; The brightness of the coming night Upon the darkness rolls: With hopes of future glory chase The shadows on our souls.
3 Slowly the rays of daylight fade; So fade within our heart The hopes in earthly love and joy, That one by one depart; Slowly the bright stars, one by one, Within the heavens shine; Give us, O Lord, fresh hopes in heaven And trust in things divine.
4 Let peace, O Lord, thy peace, O God, Upon our souls descend; From midnight fears and perils, thou Our trembling hearts defend; Give us a respite from our toil, Calm and subdue our woes; Through the long day we suffer, Lord, O, give us now repose!
1195 S. M. Now is our salvation nearer, etc. Rom. 13:11.
A sweetly solemn thought, Comes to me o’er and o’er; To-day, I’m nearer to my home Than e’er I’ve been before.
2 Nearer my Father’s house, Where many mansions be, And nearer to the great white throne, Nearer the crystal sea;