"Behold! He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep." PSALM CXXI. 4.
Through the day Thy love hath spar'd us;
Weary we lie down to rest;
Through the silent watches guard us;
Let no foes our peace molest;
Jesus, Thou our guardian be;
Sweet it is to trust in Thee!
Pilgrims here on earth and strangers
Dwelling in the midst of foes,-
Us and ours preserve from dangers;
Let us on Thine arm repose;
And when earthly toils are past,
Rest with Thee in Heaven at last.
"There remaineth a rest to the people of God."-HEBREWS IV. 9.
The day is past and gone;
Great God, we bow to Thee;
Again as shades of night come on
Unto thy side we flee.
O when shall that day come,
Ne'er sinking in the west,
That country and that holy home
Where none shall break our rest?
Where all things shall be peace
And joyance without end,
And golden harps that never cease
With echoing lips shall blend?
Blend in one sweet accord
Of deep and full and bright,
Like sounds of many waters poured
On the still ear of night?
"Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." ST. LUKE XXIV. 29.
Sun of my soul! Thou Saviour dear,
It is not night if Thou be near;
Oh! may no earthborn cloud arise
To hide Thee from Thy servant's eyes.
When the soft dews of kindly sleep,
Our wearied eyelids gently steep,
Be our last thought how sweet to rest
For ever on the Saviour's breast
Abide with us from morn till eve,
For without Thee we cannot live;-
Abide with us when night is nigh,
For without Thee we dare not die.
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.
Come near and bless us when we wake,
'Ere thro' the world our way we take,
Till, in the ocean of Thy love,
We lose ourselves in Heaven above.
'I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help."-PSALM CXXI. 1.
Interval of grateful shade,
Welcome to my wearied head!
Welcome slumber to mine eyes,
Tired with glaring vanities.
That kind Eye which cannot sleep
These defenceless hours shall keep:
By my heavenly Father blest,
Thus I give my powers to rest.
What if death my sleep invade?
Should I be of death afraid?
Whilst encircled by Thine arm,
Death may strike, but cannot harm.
With Thy heavenly presence blest
Death is life, and labour rest;
Welcome sleep or death to me,-
Still secure, for still with Thee.
"He that keepeth thee will not slumber."-PSALM CXXI, 2.
'Ere the waning light decay,
God of all! to Thee we pray;
Thee Thy healthful grace to send,
Thee to guard us and defend.
Guard from dreams that may affright,
Guard from terrors of the night,
Guard from foes, without, within,
Outward danger, inward sin.
Mindful of our only stay,
Duly thus to Thee we pray;
Duly thus to Thee we raise
Tribute of our grateful praise.
Hear the prayer, Almighty king;
Hear Thy praises while we sing,
Hymning with the heavenly host,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
"And that day was the preparation."-ST. LUKE XXIII. 54.
Safely through another week
God hath brought us on our way;
Let us now a blessing seek
On the approaching Sabbath-day;
Day of all the week the best,
Emblem of eternal rest!
Mercies, multiplied each hour,
Gracious Lord! our praise demand;
Guarded by Thy mighty power,
Nourished by thy bounteous hand;
Now from worldly cares set free,
May we rest this night with Thee.
When the morn shall bid us rise,
May we feel Thy presence near;
May Thy glory meet our eyes
When we in Thy house appear;
And may all our Sabbaths prove
Foretastes of the joys above.
"And the Sabbath drew on."-LUKE XXIII. 54.
The hours of evening close;
Its lengthened shadows drawn
O'er scenes of earth, invite repose
And wait the morrow's dawn.
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