3 Nearer the bound of life, Where falls my burden down; Nearer to where I leave my cross, And where I gain my crown.
4 Saviour, confirm my trust, Complete my faith in thee; And let me feel as if I stood Close on eternity;
5 Feel as if now my feet Were slipping o’er the brink; For I may now be nearer home, Much nearer than I think.
1196 S. M. He that keepest Israel shall not sleep. Psalm 121:4.
Another day is past, The hours for ever fled; And time is bearing me away, To mingle with the dead.
2 My mind in perfect peace My Father’s care shall keep; I yield to gentle slumber now, For thou canst never sleep.
3 How blesséd, Lord, are they, On thee securely stayed! Nor shall they be in life alarmed, Nor be in death dismayed.
1197 S. M. The day is past and gone.
The day is past and gone, The evening shades appear; O 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 now possess.
3 Lord, keep us safe this night, Secure from every fear, Beneath the pinions of thy love, Till morning light appear.
4 And when we early rise, To view the unwearied sun, May we set out to win the prize And after glory run.
5 And when our days are past, And we from time remove, O may we in thy bosom rest— The bosom of thy love.
1198 7s, 6 lines. The evening sacrifice. Psalm 141:2.
Now from labor and from care Evening shades have set me free, In the work of praise and prayer, Lord, I would converse with thee; O, behold me from above, Fill me with a Saviour’s love.
2 For the blessings of this day, For the mercies of this hour, For the gospel’s cheering ray, For the Spirit’s quickening power, Grateful notes to thee I raise; Lord! accept my song of praise.
1199 7s. Softly, now, the light of day.
Softly, now, the light of day Fades upon my sight away; Free from care, from labor free, Lord! I would commune with thee.
2 Soon, for me, the light of day Shall for ever pass away; Then, from sin and sorrow free, Take me, Lord! to dwell with thee.
1200 7s & 6s. Twilight.
The mellow eve is gliding Serenely down the west; So, every care subsiding, My soul would sink to rest.
2 The woodland hum is ringing The daylight’s gentle close; May angels round me, singing, Thus hymn my last repose.
3 The evening star has lighted Her crystal lamp on high; So, when in death benighted, May hope illume the sky.
4 In golden splendor dawning, The morrow’s light shall break; O, on the last bright morning May I in glory wake!
1201 P. M. Evening aspiration.
God that madest earth and heaven, Darkness and light! Who the day for toil hast given, For rest the night! May thine angel guards defend us, Slumber sweet thy mercy send us, Holy dreams and hopes attend us, This livelong night!
1202 8s & 7s. Saviour! breathe an evening blessing.
Saviour! breathe an evening blessing, Ere repose our eyelids seal; Sin and want we come confessing; Thou canst save, and thou canst heal.
2 Though destruction walk around us, Though the arrows past us fly, Angel-guards from thee surround us— We are safe if thou art nigh.
3 Though the night be dark and dreary, Darkness can not hide from thee: Thou art he who, never weary, Watcheth where thy people be.
4 Should swift death this night o’ertake us, And our couch become our tomb, May the morn in heaven awake us, Clad in bright and deathless bloom.
1203 8s & 7s. Abide with us.
Tarry with me, O my Saviour, For the day is passing by; See the shades of evening gather, And the night is drawing nigh.
2 Many friends were gathered round me In the bright days of the past; But the grave has closed above them, And I linger here at last.
3 Deeper, deeper grow the shadows; Paler now the glowing west; Swift the night of death advances; Shall it be the night of rest?
4 Feeble, trembling, fainting, dying, Lord, I cast myself on thee; Tarry with me through the darkness! While I sleep, still watch by me.
5 Tarry with me, O my Saviour! Lay my head upon thy breast Till the morning; then awake me— Morning of eternal rest!
1204 8s & 7s. While I was musing. Psalm 39:3.
Silently the shades of evening Gather round my lowly door; Silently they bring before me Faces I shall see no more.
2 O! the lost, the unforgotten, Though the world be oft forgot; O! the shrouded and the lonely— In our hearts they perish not.