2 While the empress of the night
Scatters mild her silver light;
While the vivid planets stray

Various through their mystic way;-
3 While the stars unnumbered roll
Round the ever-constant pole ;
Far above these spangled skies,
All my soul to God shall rise,-
4 'Midst the silence of the night,
Mingling with those angels bright,
Whose harmonious voices raise
Ceaseless love and ceaseless praise.
5 Through the throng his gentle ear
Shall my tuneless accents hear;
From on high doth he impart
Secret comfort to my heart.

6 He, in these serenest hours,
Guides my intellectual powers,
And his Spirit doth diffuse,
Sweeter far than midnight dews,-

7 Lifting all my thoughts above,,
On the wings of faith and love:
Blest alternative to me,

Thus to sleep, or wake, with thee!

681

7s M.

DODDRIDGE.

A Thought of Death suggested in the Night.

1 WHAT if death my sleep invade?
Should I be of death afraid?
Whilst encircled by thine arm,
Death may strike, but cannot harm.

2 What if beams of opening day
Shine around my breathless clay?
Brighter visions from on high
Shall regale my mental eye.

3 Tender friends awhile may mourn
Me from their embraces torn ;
Dearer, better friends I have
In the realms beyond the grave.
4 See the guardian angels nigh
Wait to waft my soul on high!
See the golden gates displayed!
See the crown, to grace my head!
5 See a flood of sacred light,
Which no more shall yield to night!
Transitory world, farewell;
Jesus calls with him to dwell.

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

682

L. M.

An Evening Hymn.

WATTS.

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;

He gives me strength for days to come.

3 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 Thus, when the night of death shall come, My flesh shall rest beneath the ground, And wait thy voice to rouse my tomb, With sweet salvation in the sound.

683

L. M.

Evening Hymn.

BISHOP KENN.

1 GLORY to thee, my God, this night,
For all the blessings of the light;

Keep me, O keep me, King of kings,
Under thy own almighty wings.

2 Forgive me, Lord, through 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 closeSleep that may me more vigorous make, To serve my God when I awake.

5 Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below;

Praise him, ye angels round his throne;
Praise God, the high and holy One.

684

P. M.

Evening Aspiration.

BISHOP HEBER.

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 livelong night.

685

C. M.

Nature's Evening Hymn.

BOWRING.

1 THE heavenly spheres to thee, O God,
Attune their evening hymn;
All-wise, all-holy, thou art praised
In song of seraphim:

Unnumbered systems, suns, and worlds,
Unite to worship thee,
While thy majestic greatness fills

Space, time, eternity.

2 Nature, a temple worthy thee,

That beams with light and love; Whose flowers so sweetly bloom below, Whose stars rejoice above;

Whose altars are the mountain cliffs

That rise along the shore;

Whose anthems, the sublime accord
Of storm and ocean roar ;

3 Her song of gratitude is sung
By spring's awakening hours;
Her summer offers at thy shrine

Its earliest, loveliest flowers;
Her autumn brings its ripened fruits,
In glorious luxury given,

While winter's silver heights reflect
Thy brightness back to heaven.

4 On all thou smil'st; and what is man
Before thy presence, God?

A breath but yesterday inspired,
To-morrow but a clod:

That clod shall mingle in the vale,
But, kindled, Lord, by thee,
The spirit to thy arms shall spring,
To life, to liberty.

686

C. M.

LIVERPOOL COL.

Evening Hymn.

1 INDULGENT God, whose bounteous care O'er all thy works is shown,

O, let my grateful praise and prayer
Ascend before thy throne.

2 What mercies has this day bestowed!
How largely hast thou blessed!
My cup with plenty overflowed,
With cheerfulness my breast.

3 Now may sweet slumbers close my eyes,
From pain and sickness free e;

And let my waking thoughts arise
To meditate on thee.