EVENING.

Fresh hopes have wakened in our hearts,
Fresh energy to do our parts;

Thy thousand sleeps our strength restore,
A thousand-fold to serve thee more.

Yet whilst thy will we would pursue,
Oft what we would we cannot do;
The sun may stand in zenith skies,
But on the soul thick midnight lies.

O Lord of lights! 'tis thou alone

Canst make our darkened hearts thine own: Though this new day with joy we see,

O Dawn of God! we cry for thee.

Praise God, our Maker and our Friend! Praise him through time, till time shall end!. Till psalm and song his name adore

Through Heaven's great day of Evermore.

HOLI

28.

OLIEST! breathe an evening blessing,
Ere repose our spirits seal;

Sin and want we come confessing,
Thou canst save, and thou canst heal.

Though destruction walk around us,
Though the arrow past us fly;
Angel-guards from thee surround us,
We are safe, if thou art nigh.

Though the night be dark and dreary,
Darkness cannot hide from thee;
Thou art he, who, never weary,
Watchest where thy people be.

Should swift death this night o'ertake us,
And our couch become our tomb,
May the morn in heaven awake us,
Clad in light and deathless bloom.

GOD,

29.

OD, our Sun! the day we own
Thine,-in purest pleasures flown;
God, our Shield! with confidence
Thee we make our night's defence.

Thee we bless for every thought
By thy holy sabbath brought ;
Thee we trust for aid to lead
Holy thought to holy deed.

Lord! when life's short day is past,
Like this evening be our last :
Like a sabbath let it cease,

Leaving thanks, and hope, and peace.

30.

GENTLY fall the evening shadows

O'er the hills and o'er the plains,

Cattle slumber in the meadows,

Hushed are now the wild birds' strains.

Whisp'ring leaves in light winds quiver,
Moonbeams flush the silent grove,
Stars gleam on the brimming river,
Earth is wrapped in folds of love,

On our hearts sweet peace is falling
Softly, like the shades of night,
And to each a voice is calling,
"Be thou faithful to the right."

Have we, in the day just going,

Breathed pure thoughts, and purpose high,
Used the hours now past us flowing,
Wisely ere the night draws nigh?

Lord, we pray, give to the weary
Placid rest, refreshing sleep,
Solace to the heart that's dreary,
Healing balm to those who weep.

IN

31.

N mercy, Lord, remember me,
Be with me through this night;

And grant to me most graciously
The safeguard of thy might.

With cheerful heart I close my eyes,
Since thou wilt not remove :

O, in the morning let me rise
Rejoicing in thy love!

Or, if this night should prove the last,
And end my transient days,
Lord, take me to thy promised rest,
Where I may sing thy praise.

32.

GOD that madest earth and heaven,

Darkness and light!

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

May thine angel guard defend us,
Slumber sweet thy mercy send us!
Holy dreams and hopes attend us,
This live-long night.

33.

NOTHER fleeting day is gone ;

AN

Slow o'er the west the shadows rise; Swift the soft-stealing hours have flown, And night's dark mantle veils the skies.

Another fleeting day is gone,

Swept from the records of the year; And still, with each successive sun, Life's fading visions disappear

Another fleeting day is gone

To join the fugitives before;

And I, when life's employ is done,

Shall sleep, to wake in time no more.

Another fleeting day is gone ;

But soon a fairer day shall rise, A day whose never-setting sun

Shall pour his light o'er cloudless skies.

Another fleeting day is gone;

In solemn silence rest, my soul !
Bow down before his awful throne,
Who bids the morn and evening roll.

SOFTLY

34.

OFTLY fades the twilight ray
Of the sacred sabbath day;

Gentle as life's setting sun,
When the good man's course is run.

Night her solemn mantle spreads
O'er the earth as daylight fades :
All things tell of calm repose
At the sacred sabbath's close.

Peace is on the world abroad;
'Tis the holy peace of God,
Symbol of the inner peace,
When the spirit's troubles ceasc.

Father, may our sabbaths be
Days of peace and joy in thee,
Till in heaven our souls repose,

Where the sabbath ne'er shall close.