2 I love, in solitude, to shed
The penitential tear;
And all His promises to plead
Where none but God can hear.
3 I love to think on mercies past,
And future good implore;
And all my cares and sorrows cast
On Him whom I adore.

4 I love, by faith, to take a view

Of brighter scenes in heaven; The prospect doth my strength renew, While here by tempests driven.

5 Thus, when life's toilsome day is o'er,
May its departing ray

Be calm as this impressive hour,
And lead to endless day.

Mrs. Phoebe Hinsdale Brown. (1783-1861.) 1824.

1233

Rev. Leonard Bacon. (1802-) 1845

"He knoweth the Way that I take."
Job xxiii. 10.

I THE twilight falls, the night is near,
I fold my work away,

And kneel to One who bends to hear

The story of the day.

2 The old, old story; yet I kneel
To tell it at Thy call,

And cares grow lighter as I feel
That Jesus knows them all.

3 Thou knowest all: I lean my head;
My weary eyelids close;
Content and glad awhile to tread
This path, since Jesus knows.

4 And He has loved me: All my heart
With answering love is stirred,
And every anguished pain and smart
Finds healing in the word.

5 So here I lay me down to rest,
As nightly shadows fall,
And lean confiding on His breast
Who knows and pities all.

Unknown Author.

I DREAD 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 What have I done for Him that died

To save my wretched soul? How are my follies multiplied,

Fast as the minutes roll.

15 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.

6 Sprinkled afresh with pardoning blood,
I lay me down to rest,
As in the embraces of my God,
Or on my Saviour's breast.

1 O LORD, another day is flown,
And we, a lonely band,

Are met once more before Thy throne,
To bless Thy fostering hand.

2 And wilt Thou bend a listening ear
To praises low as ours?

Thou wilt, for Thou dost love to hear
The song which meekness pours.

3 O let Thy grace perform its part,
And let contention cease;

And shed abroad in every heart
Thine everlasting peace.

4 Thus chastened, cleansed, entirely Thine, A flock by Jesus led,

The Sun of righteouness shall shine
In glory on our head.

5 And Thou wilt turn our wandering feet, And Thou wilt bless our way;

Till worlds shall fade, and faith shall greet The dawn of lasting day.

Henry Kirke White. (1785-1806.) 1803. ab. and sl. alt.

VESPERS. 8, 7.

Arr. from Friedrich von Flotow. (1812-)

2 There no tumult can alarm thee,
Thou shalt dread no hidden snare;
Guile nor violence can harm thee,
In eternal safeguard there.

3 From the sword, at noonday wasting,
From the noisome pestilence,
In the depth of midnight, blasting,
God shall be thy sure defence.
4 God shall charge His angel legions
Watch and ward o'er thee to keep;
Though thou walk through hostile regions,
Though in desert wilds thou sleep.
5 Since, with pure and firm affection,
Thou on God hast set thy love,
With the wings of His protection
He will shield thee from above.

6 Thou shalt call on Him in trouble,
He will hearken, He will save;
Here for grief reward thee double,
Crown with life beyond the grave.
James Montgomery. (1771-1854.) 1822. ab.

(3 Vainer still the hope of heaven,
That on human strength relies;
But to Him shall help be given,
Who in humble faith applies.

4 Seek we, then, the Lord's Anointed;
He will grant us peace and rest:
Ne'er was suppliant disappointed,
Who through Christ his prayer addressed.
Miss Harriet Auber. (1773-1862.) 1829.

I HEAR my prayer, O heavenly Father,
Ere I lay me down to sleep:
Bid Thine angels, pure and holy,
Round my bed their vigil keep.

2 Great my sins are, but Thy mercy
Far outweighs them every one;
Down before Thy cross I cast them,
Trusting in Thy help alone.

3 Keep me, through this night of peril,
Underneath its boundless shade;
Take me to Thy rest, I pray Thee,
When my pilgrimage is made.

4 None shall measure out Thy patience
By the span of human thought;
None shall bound the tender mercies
Which Thy holy Son has brought,

5 Pardon all my past transgressions;
Give me strength for days to come;
Guide and guard me with Thy blessing,
Till Thine angels bid me home.
Miss Harriet Parr. 1856. sl. at

I244

"Te lucis ante terminum."

2 Guard from dreams that may affright; Guard from terrors of the night; Guard from foes, without, within; Outward danger, inward sin.

3 Mindful of our only stay,

Duly thus to Thee we pray;
Duly thus to Thee we raise
Trophies of our grateful praise.

4 Hear the prayer, almighty King;
Hear Thy praises while we sing,
Hymning with Thy heavenly host,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Ambrose of Milan. (340-397.)
Tr. by Bp. Richard Mant. (1776-1848.) 1837.

1245*

"The Lord is Thy Keeper."
Ps. cxxi. 5.

I EVERY morning mercies new
Fall as fresh as morning dew;
Every morning let us pay
Tribute with the early day;

For Thy mercies, Lord, are sure;
Thy compassion doth endure.

2 Still the greatness of Thy love
Daily doth our sins remove;
Daily, far as east from west,
Lifts the burden from the breast;
Gives unbought to those who pray
Strength to stand in evil day.

3 Let our prayers each morn prevail, That these gifts may never fail; Sing to Halle p. 463.