Old friends, old scenes, will lovelier be, As for some dear familiar strain Such is the bliss of souls serene, O could we learn that sacrifice, We need not bid, for cloister'd cell, The trivial round, the common task, Seek we no more; content with these, Only, O Lord, in thy dear love go: Abide with us, EVENING. for it is towards evening, and the day is far spent. 'TIS gone, that bright and orbed blaze, In darkness and in weariness The traveller on his way must press, Sun of my soul! Thou Saviour dear, To hide Thee from thy servant's eyes. When round thy wondrous works below Tracing out Wisdom, Power, and Love, In earth or sky, in stream or grove ;— Or by the light thy words disclose Watch Time's full river as it flows, Scanning thy gracious Providence, Where not too deep for mortal sense: When with dear friends sweet talk I hold, And all the flowers of life unfold ; Let not my heart within me burn, When the soft dews of kindly sleep Abide with me from morn till eve, Thou Framer of the light and dark, Steer through the tempest thine own ark: Amid the howling wintry sea We are in port if we have Thee". The Rulers of this Christian land, 'Twixt Thee and us ordained to stand,- Oh by thine own sad burthen, borne Teach Thou thy Priests their daily cross If some poor wandering child of thine Watch by the sick: enrich the poor With blessings from thy boundless store : Like infant's slumbers, pure and light. : b Then they willingly received Him into the ship and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went. St. John vi. 21. |