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 of our souls.

BELMONT C. M.

4

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!

Adelaide Anne Procter 1858

S. WEBBE

63

3

THE Lord be with us as we bend His blessing to receive;

His gift of peace upon us send,

Before His courts we leave.

2 The Lord be with us as we walk
Along our homeward road;
In silent thought, or friendly talk,
Our hearts be still with God.

3 The Lord be with us till the night Shall close the day of rest;

Be He of every heart the Light,

Of every home the Guest.

4 The Lord be with us still, we pray, His nightly watch to keep;

Crown with His peace His own blest day, And guard His people's sleep.

John Ellerton 1879

MONSELL S. M.

J. BARNBY

64

LORD, at this closing hour,
Establish every heart

Upon Thy word of truth and power,
To keep us when we part.

2 Peace to our brethren give;
Fill all our hearts with love;
In faith and patience may we live,
And seek our rest above.

3 Through changes bright or drear,
We would Thy will pursue;
And toil to spread Thy kingdom here,
Till we its glory view.

4 To God, the Only Wise,
In every age adored,

Let glory from the Church arise
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Eleazer Thompson Fitch 1845

65

OUR day of praise is done;
The evening shadows fall;
Yet pass not from us with the sun,
True Light that lightenest all.

STANIFORTH C. M.

4

66

[heaven,

O God, by whom the seed is given,
By whom the harvest blessed;
Whose word, like manna showered from
Is planted in our breast,

2 Preserve it from the passing feet,
And plunderers of the air,

The sultry sun's intenser heat,
And thorns of worldly care.
3 Though buried deep, or thinly sown,
Do Thou Thy grace supply;
The hope in earthly furrows strown,
Shall ripen in the sky.

Reginald Heber 1827

LEICESTER 8s, 75, 7

C. E. KETTLE

67

SAVIOUR, now the day is ending,

And the shades of evening fall; Let Thy Holy Ghost, descending, Bring Thy mercy to us all. Set Thy seal on every heart, Jesus! bless us ere we part. 2 Bless the Gospel-message, spoken In Thine own appointed way; Give each longing soul a token Of Thy tender love to-day. Set Thy seal on every heart, Jesus! bless us ere we part.

PEACE 8s, 75.

3 Comfort those in pain and sorrow,
Watch each sleeping child of Thine;
Let us all arise to-morrow

Strengthened by Thy grace Divine;
Set Thy seal on every heart,
Jesus! bless us ere we part.

4 Pardon Thou each deed unholy,
Lord, forgive each sinful thought;
Make us contrite, pure, and lowly,
By Thy great example taught:
Set Thy seal on every heart,
Jesus! bless us ere we part.

Sarah Doudney 1881
From "Narrative Hymns."

FAITH 8s, 7s.

Arr. fr. MENDELSSOHN

Call Jehovah thy

sal

LORD, dismiss us with Thy blessing,
Fill our hearts with joy and peace;
Let us each, Thy love possessing,
Triumph in redeeming grace:
O refresh us,
Traveling through this wilderness
2 Thanks we give, and adoration,
For Thy gospel's joyful sound:
May the fruits of Thy salvation
In our hearts and lives abound;
May Thy presence

With us evermore be found.
3 So, whene'er the signal's given,
Us from earth to call away,
Borne on angels' wings to heaven,
Glad the summons to obey,
May we ever

74

Reign with Christ in endless day. John Fawcett

KEEP us, Lord, O keep us ever; Vain our hope, if left by Thee; We are Thine, O leave us never Till Thy glorious face we see: Then to praise Thee Through a bright eternity.

GREENVILLE 8s, 75, 4.

鬥

Thomas Kelly 1809

GOD of our salvation, hear us;

Bless, O bless us, ere we go; When we join the world, be near us, Lest we cold and careless grow:

Saviour, keep us,

Keep us safe from every foe.

2 May we live in view of heaven,
Where we hope to see Thy face;
Save us from unhallowed leaven,
All that might obscure Thy grace;
Keep us walking
Each in his appointed place.

3 As our steps are drawing nearer
To the place we call our home,
May our view of heaven grow clearer,
Hope more bright of joys to come;

And, when dying,

May Thy presence cheer the gloom.

FINE.

Thomas Kelly 1809

J. J. ROUSSEAU

\D.C.