553. 10 & 4s. M. Anonymous.

Vespers.

1 Father supreme! Thou high and holy One, To Thee we bow; Now, when the labor of the day is done, Devoutly, now.

2 From age to age unchanging, still the same All-good Thou art; Hallowed forever be Thy reverend name In every heart!

3 When the glad morn upon the hills was spread, Thy smile was there; Now, as the darkness gathers overhead, We feel Thy care.

4 Night spreads her shade upon another day Forever past; So o'er our faults, Thy love, we humbly pray A veil may cast.

5 Silence and sleep, o'er hearts by earth distrest, Now sweetly steal; So every fear that struggles in the breast Shall faith conceal.

6 Thou through the dark will watch above our sleep With eye of love; And Thou wilt wake us, when the sunbeams leap The hills above.

7 O, may each heart its grat.i.tude express As life expands, And find the triumph of its happiness In Thy commands!

554. 8 & 7s. M. Martineau's Coll.

Evening Hymn.

1 On the dewy breath of even Thousand odors mingling rise, Borne like incense up to heaven,-- Nature's evening sacrifice.

2 With her fragrant offerings blending, Let our glad thanksgivings be To Thy throne, O Lord, ascending,-- Incense of our hearts to Thee.

3 Thou, whose favors without number All our days with gladness bless, Let Thine eye, that knows no slumber, Guard our hours of helplessness.

4 Then, though conscious we are sleeping In the outer courts of death, Safe beneath a Father's keeping, Calm we rest in perfect faith.

555. 7s. M. Doddridge.

Night.

1 While the stars unnumbered roll Round the ever-constant pole, Far above these spangled skies All my thoughts to G.o.d shall rise.

2 From on high He shall impart Secret comfort to my heart; He in these serenest hours Guide my spiritual powers.

3 He His spirit doth diffuse, Sweeter far than midnight dews; Lifting all my thoughts above, On the wings of faith and love.

4 What if death my sleep invade;-- Should I be of death afraid?

Whilst encircled by Thine arm, Death may strike, but cannot harm.

5 Visions brighter than the morn Greet the deathless spirit born; See, the guardian angel nigh Waits to waft my soul on high!

6 With Thy heavenly presence blest, Death is life, and labor, rest; Welcome sleep or death to me, Still secure, for still with Thee!

556. 11s. M. Breviary.

Even-Song.

1 Be near us, O Father! through night's silent hour; Impart to our slumbers Thy calmness divine; Drop rest on our lids like the dew on the flower, That even our still sleep may have something of Thine.

2 O watch o'er our couch; drive the tempter away; From the sins that corrupt and betray keep us free; That nor fancy shall wander, nor pa.s.sion shall stray, And we dream not a thought that's displeasing to Thee.

3 And grant, when deep sleep o'er our senses shall close, That the heart may still watch, all unclouded and clear; Guard, guard still Thy children; and bless the repose That, stainless of sin, is untouched by a fear.

4 Then still to Thee, Father, our praises we pay; Still to Thee we will offer love's infinite store; Send down Thy pure spirit, even now while we pray; Be with us, and keep us, and bless, evermore!

557. C. M. Breviary.

Our Guard By Night.

1 Lord of the world, who hast preserved Us safely through this day, Now guard us in the silent night, And in all time, we pray!

2 Be present, in Thy peace, to those Who as Thy suppliants wait; Blot out the record of our sin; Our gloom illuminate!

3 Let not, amid our hours of sleep, Life's enemy steal in; Let not a vision of the night Have power to whisper sin.

4 Guard every avenue from guile, When slumber seals our eyes; And guiltless as we laid us down, So guiltless let us rise.

558. 11s. M. Breviary.

Hymn of Night.

1 Creator of all! through whose all-seeing might This ponderous globe to its hour is true, Thou glad'st us each morn with the vision of light, And at eve on our lids pourest slumber like dew.