EVENING.

30

C. M.

Since now the day has reached its close
And sunlight shines no more,
In sleep the toil-worn find repose
And all who wept before.
2. But Thou, my God, no rest dost know,
No slumber dims Thy sight;
Thou hatest darkness as Thy foe,
For Thou Thyself art light.
3. O Lord, I pray, remember me
Throughout the gloom of night
And grant to me most graciously
The shield of Thy great might.
4. Turn from me Satan’s tyranny
Through many an angel arm,
Then shall I be from danger free
And safe from every harm.
5. I know the evil I have done
Doth cry aloud to Thee;
But yet the mercy of Thy Son
Hath full atoned for me.
6. Him I present Thee as my bail
While suppliant at Thy feet;
With such assurance I’ll not fail
Before Thy judgment-seat.
7. And therefore now I close my eyes
And sleep with tranquil breast;
Why waste the time in fears or sighs?
God watches o’er my rest.
8. Away, vain, idle thoughts, depart!
Roam not, my soul, abroad!
For now I build within my heart
A temple to my God.
9. Should this night prove the last for me
In this dark vale of tears,
Then lead me, Lord, in heaven to Thee
And my elect compeers.
10. And thus I live and die to Thee,
Strong Lord of hosts, indeed!
In life and death Thou helpest me
From every fear and need.

J. T. Herzog, before 1670.

31

8, 7

Sink not yet, my soul, to slumber,
Wake, my heart, go forth and tell,
All the mercies without number
That this bygone day befell.
Tell how God hath kept afar
All things that against me war,
Hath upheld me and defended,
And His grace my soul befriended.
2. Father, merciful and holy,
Thee to-night I praise and bless,
Who, to labor true and lowly,
Grantest ever meet success;
Many a sin and many a woe,
Many a fierce and subtle foe,
Hast Thou checked that once alarmed me,
So that naught to-day has harmed me.
3. Yes, our wisdom vainly ponders,
Fathoms not Thy loving thought.
Never tongue can tell the wonders
That Thy hand for me hath wrought;
Thou hast guided me to-day
That no ill hath crossed my way.
There is neither bound nor measure
In Thy love’s o’erflowing treasure.
4. Now the light that nature gladdens,
And the pomp of day, is gone,
And my heart is tired and saddens
As the gloomy night comes on.
Ah, then, with Thy changeless light
Warm and cheer my heart to-night;
As the shadows round me gather,
Keep me close to Thee, my Father!
5. Of Thy grace, I pray Thee, pardon
All my sins and heal their smart;
Sore and heavy is their burden,
Sharp their sting within my heart;
And my Foe lays many a snare
But to tempt me to despair.
Thou alone canst help me, Savior;
Punish not my ill behavior.
6. Though I have from Thee departed,
Now I seek Thy face again,
For Thy Son, the loving-hearted,
Made our peace through bitter pain.
Yes, far greater than our sin,
Though it still be strong within,
Is Thy love that fails us never,
Mercy that endures forever.
7. Brightness of th’ eternal city!
Light of every faithful soul!
Safe beneath Thy sheltering pity
Let the tempest past me roll;
Now it darkens far and near,
Still, my God, still be Thou here;
Thou canst comfort, and Thou only,
When the night is long and lonely.
8. From the power of darkness save me
And from Satan’s hellish snares,
Who endeavors to enslave me
And assails me unawares;
Let me never lose the sight
Of Thy good and gracious light;
Thou canst fill my heart with gladness,
That it feel no pain in sadness.
9. Though my weary eyes are closing
And my senses fall asleep,
Still my soul, on Thee reposing,
Ever must its vigils keep.
Let my spirit longingly
Always dream, my God, of Thee,
Firmly unto Thee e’er cleaving,
Sleeping, yet Thy grace receiving.
10. Lord, the twilight now hath vanished,
Send Thy blessing on my sleep,
Every sin and terror banished,
Let my rest be calm and deep.
Soul and body, mind and health,
Wife and children, house and wealth,
Friend and foe, the sick, the stranger,
Keep Thou safe from harm and danger.
11. O Thou mighty God, now hearken
To the prayer Thy child hath made;
Jesus, while the night-hours darken,
Be Thou still my hope, my aid;
Holy Ghost, on Thee I call,
Friend and Comforter of all,
Hear my earnest prayer, O hear me!
Lord, Thou hearest, Thou art near me.

J. Rist, 1642.

32

L. M.

The happy sunshine now is gone,
The gloomy night comes swiftly on;
But shine Thou still, O Christ, our Light,
Nor let us lose ourselves in night.
2. We thank Thee that throughout the day
Thy angels watched around our way
And free from harm and vexing fear
Have led us on in safety here.
3. Whate’er of wrong we’ve done or said,
Let not the charge on us be laid;
That, through Thy free forgiveness blest,
In peaceful slumber we may rest.
4. Thy guardian angels round us place,
All evil from our couch to chase;
Our soul and body, while we sleep,
In safety, gracious Father, keep.

Nikolaus Herman, 1560.

33

7, 7

Now rest beneath night’s shadows,
Man, beast, town, woods, and meadows,
The world in slumber lies;
But thou, my heart, awake thee,
To prayer and song betake thee,
Let praise to thy Creator rise.
2. O sun, where art thou vanished?
The night thy reign hath banished,
The foe of day, the night.
Farewell! For now appeareth
Another Sun and cheereth
My heart—’tis Jesus Christ, my Light.
3. The last faint beam is going,
The golden stars are glowing
In yonder dark-blue deep;
Such is the glory given
When, called of God to heaven,
On earth no more we pine and weep.
4. To rest my body hasteth,
Aside its garments casteth,
Types of mortality;
These I put off and ponder
How Christ shall give me yonder
A robe of glorious majesty.
5. Head, hands, and feet, reposing,
Are glad the day is closing,
That work came to an end;
Cheer up, my heart, with gladness!
For God from all earth’s sadness
And from sin’s toil relief will send.
6. Ye weary limbs, now rest you,
For toil hath sore oppressed you,
And quiet sleep ye crave;
A sleep shall once o’ertake you
From which no man can wake you,
In your last narrow bed—the grave.
7. My heavy eyes are closing;
When I lie deep reposing,
Soul, body, where are ye?
To helpless sleep I yield them;
O let Thy mercy shield them,
Thou sleepless Eye, their Guardian be!
8. Lord Jesus, who dost love me,
O spread Thy wings above me
And shield me from alarm!
Though Satan would devour me,
Let angel-guards sing o’er me:
“This child of God shall meet no harm!”
9. My loved ones, rest securely,
From every peril surely
Our God will guard your heads.
May He sweet slumbers send you
And bid His hosts attend you,
And golden-armed, watch o’er your beds!

Paul Gerhardt, 1653.

34

L. M.

Christ, everlasting Source of light,
All things are open to Thy sight;
Thou Splendor of Thy Father’s face,
Show us the path of truth and grace.
2. We now implore Thy sovereign might
To keep us, Lord, the coming night;
Preserve us, Lord, from all distress;
O God, Thy mercy we address.
3. Remove our sinful drowsiness;
Let Satan not our soul oppress;
Our feeble flesh keep chaste and pure
And let us rest in Thee secure.
4. And when our eyes are bound in sleep,
The lamp of faith still burning keep;
Thy hand sustain us while we rest;
Remove our sin, and we are blest.
5. Great Guardian of Thy Christian flock,
Thy presence be our saving rock;
Thine agony and holy blood
Be always our support, O God!
6. Remember, Lord, the woes and pains
Which here our body hold in chains;
Our soul, which Thou hast ransomed, Lord,
O comfort with Thy holy Word.
7. To God the Father and the Son
And Holy Spirit, Three in One,
Be glory, praise, and majesty
Now, ever, and eternally.

From Ambrose’s Christe, qui lux es et dies: W. Meusslin, 1527.

35

L. M.

Before Thy throne I now appear,
O Lord, bow down Thy gracious ear
To me and cast not from Thy face
Thy sinful child, that sues for grace.
2. Thou, Father of eternity,
Thine image hast impressed on me;
In Thee I am and live and move,
Nor can exist without Thy love.
3. Oft hast Thou snatched me from distress
And raised me oft when comfortless,
When but a step, nay, one hair’s breadth,
Was ’twixt my tottering life and death.
4. My sense and reason come from Thee,
And sustenance Thou givest me;
A faithful friend Thou dost bestow
To prove his love in weal and woe.
5. Thou hast redeemed me, Son of God,
Hast shed for me Thy precious blood,
The Law for my sake hast fulfilled,
And thus Thy Father’s wrath hast stilled.
6. When sin and Satan witness bear
Against me that I must despair,
As Mediator step Thou in
And save me from the curse of sin.
7. Thou art my Advocate for aye,
My Savior, Comfort, and my Stay.
Thine all-sufficient merit is
On earth my peace, in heaven my bliss.
8. God Holy Spirit, Power Divine,
Thou workest in this heart of mine;
Naught can be counted good in me
But what proceeds alone from Thee.
9. Through Thee I now my God adore
And call Him Father evermore;
Through Thee His Word and Sacrament
I love and hold till life is spent.
10. Through Thee I’m in temptation free
From fear and sad despondency;
Through Thee I’m quickened oft to taste
The sweets of Thine eternal rest.
11. And so I now give thanks to Thee
With heart and tongue most joyfully
For all Thy mercies, Lord, my God,
Which on my soul Thou hast bestowed.
12. Beseeching Thine almighty grace
To aid me, till I’ve run my race,
Soul, body, honor, house, and friend
To Thy protection I commend.
13. Give me a heart that is sincere,
To love Thy truth, and persevere
In faith and Christian piety
And shun all base hypocrisy.
14. My sins and trespasses forgive;
Have patience with me while I live;
O give me faith and charity
And let my hope rest but in Thee.
15. Grant that in peace I close mine eyes,
But on the Last Day bid me rise
And let me see Thy face fore’er—
Amen, Amen, Lord, hear my prayer!

B. von Hodenberg. 1640; J. Gesenius, a. 1650.

36

L. M.

Glory 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;
Teach me to die that so I may
With joy behold the Judgment Day.
4. Oh, may my soul on Thee repose,
And may sweet sleep my eyelids close!
Let no ill dreams disturb my rest,
No powers of darkness me molest.

Thomas Ken, 1695, abr.

37

8, 7

Savior, breathe an evening blessing
Ere repose our spirits seal;
Sin and want we come confessing;
Thou canst save, and Thou canst heal.
2. Though destruction walk around us,
Though the arrows past us fly,
Angel-guards from Thee surround us;
We are safe if Thou art nigh.
3. Though the night be dark and dreary,
Darkness cannot hide from Thee;
Thou art He who, never weary,
Watchest where Thy people be.
4. Should swift death this night o’ertake us
And our couch become our tomb,
May the morn in heav’n awake us,
Clad in light and deathless bloom.

James Edmeston, 1820.

38

11, 11, 11, 5

Now God be with us, for the night is closing;
The light and darkness are of His disposing,
And ’neath His shadow here to rest we yield us,
For He will shield us.
2. Let evil thoughts and spirits flee before us;
Till morning cometh, watch, O Master, o’er us;
In soul and body Thou from harm defend us,
Thine angels send us.
3. Let pious thoughts be ours when sleep o’ertakes us,
Our earliest thoughts be Thine when morning wakes us;
All day serve Thee, in all that we are doing
Thy praise pursuing.
4. Through Thy Beloved soothe the sick and weeping
And bid the captive lose his griefs in sleeping;
Widows and orphans, we to Thee commend them,
Do Thou befriend them.
5. We have no refuge, none on earth to aid us,
Save Thee, O Father, who Thine own hast made us:
But Thy dear presence will not leave them lonely
Who seek Thee only.
6. Father, Thy name be praised, Thy kingdom given;
Thy will be done on earth as ’tis in heaven;
Give daily bread, forgive our sins, deliver
Us now and ever.

Bohemian Brethren, 1566; C. Winkworth, tr., a.

39

L. M.

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.
3. I lay my body down to sleep;
Peace is the pillow for my head;
His ever-watchful eye will keep
Its constant guard around my bed.
4. Faith in Thy name forbids my fear;
Oh, may Thy presence ne’er depart!
And in the morning may I bear
Thy loving-kindness on my heart!

Isaac Watts, 1709, a. and abr.

40

10s

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!
2. 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. Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word,
But as Thou dwell’st with Thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free,
Come not to sojourn, but abide with me.
4. Come not in terrors, as the King of kings,
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings;
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea;
O Friend of sinners, thus abide with me!
5. Thou on my head in early youth didst smile,
And, though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee:
On to the close, O Lord, abide with me!
6. I need Thy presence every passing hour:
What but Thy grace can foil the Tempter’s power?
Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me!
7. 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.
8. 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!

H. F. Lyte, 1847.

41

S. M.

The day is past and gone,
The evening shades appear;
O may I ever keep in mind
The night of death draws near.
2. Lord, keep me safe this night,
Secure from all my fears;
May angels guard me while I sleep,
Till morning light appears.
3. And when I early rise
And view th’ unwearied sun,
May I set out to win the prize
And after glory run,
4. That, when my days are past
And I from time remove,
Lord, I may in Thy bosom rest,
The bosom of Thy love.

J. Leland, 1792.

42

L. M.

Sun of my soul, Thou Savior dear,
It is not night if Thou be near;
Oh, may no earth-born cloud arise
To hide Thee from Thy servant’s eyes!
2. When the soft dews of kindly sleep
My wearied eyelids gently steep,
Be my last thought how sweet to rest
Forever on my Savior’s breast.
3. Abide with me from morn till eve,
For without Thee I cannot live;
Abide with me when night is nigh,
For without Thee I dare not die.
4. If some poor wandering child of Thine
Has spurned to-day the voice divine,
Now, Lord, the gracious work begin;
Let him no more lie down in sin.
5. Watch by the sick, enrich the poor
With blessings from Thy boundless store;
Be every mourner’s sleep to-night,
Like infant’s slumbers, pure and light.
6. Come near and bless us when we wake,
Ere through the world our way we take;
And lead us by Thy hand of love
Until we reach our home above.

J. Keble, 1820.

43

8, 7, 8, 7, 7, 7

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.
3. Triune God, let all adore Thee,
Saints on earth and saints in heav’n;
Every creature bow before Thee,
Who hast all their being giv’n,
Who dost seek and save the lost:
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Thomas Kelly, 1806.

44

8, 4, 8, 4, 8, 8, 8, 4

God, who 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 livelong night!
2. Guard us waking, guard us sleeping,
And when we die,
Let us in Thy mighty keeping
All peaceful lie.
When the trumpet’s call shall wake us,
Do not Thou, blest Lord, forsake us,
But to reign in glory take us
With Thee on high.

Reginald Heber, 1827; 2d stanza, R. Whately, 1860.

45

6, 5

Now the day is over,
Night is drawing nigh,
Shadows of the evening
Steal across the sky.
2. Now the darkness gathers,
Stars begin to peep,
Birds and beasts and flowers
Soon will be asleep.
3. Jesus, give the weary
Calm and sweet repose;
With Thy tenderest blessing
May my eyelids close.
4. Through the long night-watches
May Thine angels spread
Their white wings above me,
Watching round my bed.
5. When the morning wakens,
Then may I arise
Pure and fresh and sinless
In Thy holy eyes!
6. Glory to the Father,
Glory to the Son,
And to Thee, blest Spirit,
While all ages run.

Sabine Baring-Gould, 1865, abr.