271.

I ALL praise to Thee, my God, this night,
For all the blessings of the light!

Keep me, O keep me, King of kings,
Beneath Thine Own Almighty wings.

2 Forgive me, Lord, for Thy dear Son,
The ill that I this day have done;
That with the world, myself, and Thee
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.

3 Teach me to live that I may dread
The grave as little as my bed;
To die, that this vile body may
Rise glorious at the awful day.

4 O may my soul on Thee repose;

And may sweet sleep mine eyelids close;
Sleep, that may me more vigorous make
To serve my God when I awake!

5 When in the night I sleepless lie,

My soul with heavenly thoughts supply;
Let no ill dreams disturb my rest,
No power of darkness me molest.

6 Praise God, from whom all blessings flow, Praise Him all creatures here below!

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host!

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! Amen.

Bp. T. Ken.

4

I

2

272.

ABIDE with me; fast falls the eventide ;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;

O Thou Who changest not, abide with me.

3 I need Thy presence every passing hour; What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power?

5

Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with

me.

I fear no foe with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;
Where is death's sting, where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy Cross before my closing eyes; Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies;

Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain
shadows flee ;

In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me. Amen.
H. F. Lyte.

I

2

273.

SWEET Saviour, bless us ere we go;

Thy word into our minds instil;

And make our lukewarm hearts to glow

With lowly love and fervent will.

Through life's long day and death's dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our Light.

The day is gone, its hours have run,
And Thou hast taken count of all,
The scanty triumphs grace hath won,

The broken vow, the frequent fall.

Through life's long day and death's dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our Light.

3 Grant us, dear Lord, from evil ways
True absolution and release;

And bless us, more than in past days,
With purity and inward peace.

Through life's long day and death's dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our Light.

4 Do more than pardon; give us joy,

Sweet fear, and sober liberty,

And simple hearts without alloy

That only long to be like Thee.

Through life's long day and death's dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our Light.

6 For all we love, the poor, the sad,

The sinful, unto Thee we call ;

I

I

O let Thy mercy make us glad ;

Thou art our Jesus, and our All.

Through life's long day and death's dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our Light. Amen.

274.

F. W. Faber.

GOD, that madest earth and heaven,

Darkness and light;

Who the day for toil hast given,
For rest the night;

May Thine angel guards defend us!
Slumber sweet Thy mercy send us!
Holy dreams and hopes attend us,

This live-long night! Amen.

275.

Bp. R. Heber.

THROUGH the day Thy love hath spared us,

Now we lay us down to rest;

Through the silent watches guard us!

Let no foe our peace molest!
Jesus, Thou our Guardian be!
Sweet it is to trust in Thee.

2 Pilgrims here on earth, and strangers
Dwelling in the midst of foes;

Us and ours preserve from dangers;
In Thine arms may we repose!
And, when life's sad day is past
Rest with Thee in Heaven at last!

Amen. T. Kelly.

I

2

276.

Die dierum principe.

[Morning.

MORN of morns, and day of days!
Silent as the morning rays,

From the sepulchre's dark prison,
Christ, the Light of lights, hath risen.

He commanded, and His word
Death and the dread chaos heard ;
O shall we, more deaf than they,
In the chains of darkness stay?

3 While the dead world sleeps around,
Let the sacred temples sound
Law, and prophet, and blest psalm,
Lit with holy light so calm.

4 Thus to hearts in slumber weak
Let the heavenly trumpet speak ;
And, like streaks of early morn
New ways mark the newly born.

5 Grant us this, and with us be,
O Thou Fount of charity!
Thou Who dost the Spirit give,
Bidding the dead letter live.

6 Glory to the Father, Son,

And to Thee, the Holy One,

By Whose quickening Breath divine
Our dull spirits burn and shine. Amen.

I. Williams. (tr.*)