1 THUS far the Lord has led me on, Thus far his power prolongs my days; And every evening shall make known Some fresh memorial of his grace.
2 Much of my time has run to waste, And I, perhaps, am near my home; But he forgives my follies past, And gives me strength for days to come.
8 I lay my body down to sleep; Peace is the pillow for my head; While well-appointed angels keep Their watchful stations round my bed.
4 Faith in his name forbids my fear: Oh may thy presence ne'er depart! And in the morning make me hear Thy love and kindness in my heart.
Swept from the records of the year; And still, with every setting sun, Life's fading visions disappear.
3 Another fleeting day is gone, But soon a fairer shall arise, A day whose never-setting sun Shall pour its light o'er cloudless skies.
4 Another fleeting day is gone: In solemn silence rest, my soul; And bow before His awful throne, Who bids the morn and evening roll.
1 SWEET is the light of sabbath eve, And soft the sunbeams lingering there: For these blest hours the world I leave, Wafted on wings of faith and prayer.
2 The time how lovely and how still! Peace shines and smiles on all below; The plain, the stream, the wood, the hill,- All fair with evening's setting glow.
3 Season of rest! the tranquil soul Feels the sweet calm, and melts to love; And, while these sacred moments roll, Faith sees a smiling heaven above. 93
1 GENTLY the shades of night descend; Thy temple, Lord, is calm and still; A thousand lamps of ether blend, A thousand fires that temple fill.
2 Thou bidd'st the cares of earth depart; Heaven's peace is wafted from above; A sabbath stillness fills the heart, Devotion's calm and holy love
3 And man, even from the dust, may rise Borne on the pinions of thy grace, Up to angelic mysteries,
And find in thee his resting-place.
1 O BLEST Creator of the light, Who dost the dawn from darkness bring, And, framing nature's depth and height, Didst with the new-born light begin;
2 Who gently blending eve with morn,
And morn with eve, didst call them day,Thick flows the flood of darkness down: Oh hear us as we weep and pray!
3 Keep thou our souls from schemes of crime,
Nor guilt remorseful let them know; Nor, thinking but on things of time, Into eternal darkness go.
4 Teach us to knock at heaven's high door; Teach us the prize of life to win;
Teach us all evil to abhor,
And purify ourselves within.
1 SLOWLY, by God's hand unfurled, Down around the weary world, Falls the darkness; oh how still Is the working of his will!
2 Mighty Spirit, ever nigh, Work in me as silently;
Veil the day's distracting sights, Show me heaven's eternal lights.
3 Living stars to view be brought In the boundless realms of thought; High and infinite desires, Flaming like those upper fires.
4 Holy Truth, Eternal Right,
Let them break upon my sight; Let them shine serene and still, And with light my being fill.
2 For the mercies of the day, For this rest upon our way, Thanks to thee alone be given,
Lord of earth, and King of Heaven
3 Whilst this thorny path we tread, May thy love our footsteps lead! When our journey here is past, May we rest with thee at last!
4 Let these earthly sabbaths prove Foretastes of our joys above, While their steps thy pilgrims bend To the rest which knows no end.
Arranged from Beethoven by Dr. MASON.
Vesper Hymn. 8. LONGFELLOW. | 2 For over us, and over all,
1 AGAIN, as evening's shadow falls, We gather in these hallowed walls; And vesper hymn and vesper prayer Rise mingling on the holy air.
2 May struggling hearts that seek release, Here find the rest of God's own peace; And, strengthened here by hymn and prayer,
Lay down the burden and the care! 8 O God, our Light! to thee we bow; Within all shadows standest thou; Give deeper calm than night can bring; Give sweeter songs than lips can sing.
4 Life's tumult we must meet again, We cannot at the shrine remain; But, in the spirit's secret cell, May hymn and prayer for ever dwell!
Thy tender mercies still extend, Nor vainly shall thy children call On thee, their Father and their Friend.
3 Kept by thy goodness through the day, Thanksgiving to thy name we pour; Night o'er us, with its stars, Thy love to guard us evermore.
4 In grief console, in gladness bless, In darkness guide, in sickness cheer; Till, perfected in righteousness, Before thy throne our souls appear.
1 ERE to the world again we go,
Its pleasures, cares, and idle show, Thy grace once more, O God! we crave. From folly and from sin to save.
2 Oh may the influence of this day Long as our memory with us stay, And as an angel guardian prove, To guide us to our home above!
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