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, be near, Day-star in my heart appear. 2 Dark and cheerless is the morn, If thy light is hid from me; Joyless is the day's return, Till thy mercy's beams I see; Scatter all my unbelief; Charles Wesley. NOW, FROM labor and from care, But my Saviour's melting voice; 3 For the blessings of this day, Thomas Hastings. PALMER. 11s, 5. F. MENDELSSOHN. Behold, the shade of night is now re- ceding, Kindling with splendors fair the dawn is vent hearts, oh, let us all implore him-Rul-er Almighty: BEHOLD, the shade of night is now receding, 3 If the dread foe assail us with temptaKindling with splendors fair the dawn is tion, NIGHT'S shadows falling men to rest are FROM the recesses of a lowly spirit, calling ; Rest we, possessing heavenly peace and blessing: This we implore thee, falling down before thee, Great King of Glory! Our humble prayer ascends; O Father! hear it, Upsoaring on the wings of awe and meekness! Forgive its weakness! 2 We see thy hand; it leads us, it supports us! 2 O Saviour, hear us! Son of God, be We hear thy voice; it counsels and it courts near us! us: Thine angels send us; let thy love attend us: And then we turn away; and still thy kindHe nothing feareth, whom thy presence cheereth, Light his path cleareth. 3 Be near, relieving all who now are grieving; Thy visitation be our consolation: Oh, hear the sighing of the faint and dying; Lord, hear our crying! ness Forgives our blindness. 3 Oh, how long-suffering, Lord! but thou delightest, To win with love the wandering; thou in vitest, By smiles of mercy, not by frowns or terrors, Man from his errors. 4 Thou ever livest; endless life thou givest; 4 Father and Saviour! plant within each Thou watch art keeping o'er thy faithful sleeping; bosom The seeds of holiness, and bid them blossom In thy clear shining they are now reclining, In fragrance and in beauty bright and vernal, All care resigning. And spring eternal. 5 Then place them in thine everlasting gardens, Where angels walk, and seraphs are the wardens; Where ev'ry flower, escaped through death's dark portal, Becomes immortal. John Bowring. SUN of my soul! thou Saviour dear, 2 When soft the dews of kindly sleep 3 Abide with me from morn till eve, 4 Be near to bless me when I wake, John Keble. 96 Ebening Shadows. AGAIN, as evening's shadow falls, 2 May struggling hearts, that seek release, 3 O God our Light, to thee we bow; 4 Life's tumult we must meet again, Samuel Longfellow. AT even, when the sun was set, We know and feel that thou art here. 3 O Saviour Christ, our woes dispel; For some are sick, and some are sad, And some have never loved thee well, And some have lost the love they had. 4 And some have found the world is vain, Yet from the world they break not free, ANGELUS. L. M. And some have friends who give them pain, Yet have not sought a friend in thee. 5 And none, O Lord, have perfect rest, For none are wholly free from sin; And they who fain would serve thee best, Are conscious most of wrong within. 6 O Saviour Christ, thou too art man; Thou hast been troubled, tempted, tried; Thy kind but searching glance can scan The very wounds that shame would hide. 7 Thy touch has still its ancient power; No word from thee can fruitless fall; Hear in this solemn evening hour, And in thy mercy heal us all. Henry Twells. JOHANN G. W. SCHEFFLER. |