4 Old friends, old scenes, will lovelier be,
As more of heaven in each we see;
Some softening gleam of love and prayer
Shall dawn on every cross and care.
5 Only, O Lord, in Thy dear love,
Fit us for perfect rest above;
And help us, this and every day,
To live more nearly as we pray.
Early in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up. Ps. v. 3.
1 Now that the daylight fills the sky, We lift our hearts to God on high, That He, in all we do or say,
Would keep us free from harm to-day.
2 May He restrain our tongues from strife,
And shield from anger's din our life,
And guard with watchful care our eyes
From earth's absorbing vanities.
30 may our inmost hearts be pure,
From thoughts of folly kept secure,
And pride of sinful flesh subdued
Through sparing use of daily food.
4 So we, when this day's work is o'er,
And shades of night return once more,
Our path of trial safely trod,
Shall give the glory to our God.
5 All praise to God the Father be;
All praise, Eternal Son, to Thee;
Whom, with the Spirit, we adore
For ever and for evermore. Amen.
Unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings. MAL. iv. 2.
1 Christ! whose glory fills the skies!
Christ, the true, the only Light!
Sun of Righteousness, arise,
Triumph o'er the shades of night:
Day-spring from on high, draw near;
Day-star, in our hearts appear.
2 Dark and cheerless is the morn,
Unaccompanied by Thee;
Joyless is the day's return,
Till Thy mercy's beams we see:
Till Thine inward light imparts
Warmth and gladness to our hearts.
3 Visit, then, these souls of Thine;
Pierce the gloom of sin and grief;
Fill us, Lord, with light divine;
Scatter all our unbelief:
More and more Thyself display,
Shining to the perfect day.
I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me. Ps. xxiii. 4.
1 God, who heaven and earth upholdest,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Who the day and night unfoldest,
Ruler of the heavenly host,
Who creation dost command,
Kept by Thine Almighty hand;
2 Praise to Thee my soul shall render,
Who this night hast guarded me;
My omnipotent defender,
Who from ill dost set me free:
Free from danger, anguish, woe;
Free from the infernal foe.
3 Let the night of my transgression
With night's darkness pass away;
Whilst of sin I make confession,
Let Thy wounds my grief allay:
Lord, in Thee my burden'd mind
Can its only refuge find.
4 Let my life and conversation
Be directed by Thy word:
Lord, Thy constant preservation
Through the day to me afford:
Nowhere but alone in Thee,
From all harm can I be free.
I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest; for it is Thou,
Lord, only, that makest me dwell in safety. Ps. iv. 9.
1 All praise to Thee, my God, this night,
For all the blessings of the light;
Keep me, O keep me, King of kings,
Beneath Thy own almighty wings.
2 Forgive me, Lord, for Thy dear Son,
The ill that 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 the awful day.
4 O may my soul on Thee repose,
And may sweet sleep mine eyelids close;
Sleep that may me more vigorous make,
To serve my God when I awake.
5 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.
6 Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Abide with us. LUKE Xxiv. 29.
1. Sun of my soul, Thou Saviour dear!
It is not night if Thou be hear:
Oh! may no earth-born cloud arise,
To hide Thee from Thy servant's eyes.
2 When the soft dews of kindly sleep
My wearied eyelids gently steep;
Be my last thought, how sweet to rest
For ever on my Saviour's breast.
3 Abide with me from morn till eve,
For without Thee I cannot live :
Abide with me when night is nigh,
For without Thee I dare not die.
4 If some poor wandering child of Thine
Have spurn'd, to-day, the voice divine,
Now, Lord, the gracious work begin,—
Let him no more lie down in sin.
5 Watch by the sick, enrich the poor
With blessings from Thy boundless store,
Be every mourner's sleep to-night
Like infant's slumbers, pure and light.
6 Come near and bless us when we wake,
Ere through the world our way we take,—
Till in the ocean of Thy love,
We lose ourselves in heaven above.
Thou shalt not be afraid for any terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day. Ps. xci. 5.
1 Through the day Thy love has spared us,
Now we lay us 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;
And when life's short day is past,
Rest with Thee in heaven at last.
3 Praise to Thee our great Creator,
God the Father, God the Son,
God the blest life-giving Spirit,
One in Three and Three in One:
May Thy perfect image be
Ours to all eternity.
The angel of the Lord tarrieth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them. Ps. xxxiv. 7.
1 God, who 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.
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