Evening Hymn.

Thou art about my path, and about my bed: and spiest out all my ways.

PSALM CXxxix. 2.

FATHER! by Thy love and power
Comes again the evening hour.
Light has vanished, labours cease,
Weary creatures rest in peace.
Thou whose genial dews distil

On the lowliest weed that grows;
Father! guard our couch from ill,
Lull Thy creatures to repose.

We to Thee ourselves resign,

Let our latest thoughts be Thine!

Saviour! to Thy Father bear
This, our feeble evening prayer;
Thou hast seen how oft to-day
We, like sheep, have gone astray;
Worldly thoughts, and thoughts of pride,
Wishes to Thy Cross untrue,

Secret faults, and undescried,

Meet Thy spirit-piercing view ;
Blessed Saviour! yet through Thee
Pray that these may pardoned be!

Holy Spirit! breath of balm !
Fall on us in evening's calm:
Yet, awhile, before we sleep,
We, with Thee, will vigils keep;
Lead us on our sins to muse,
Give us truest penitence,

Then the love of God infuse,

Breathing humble confidence ;

Melt our spirits, mould our will,
Soften, strengthen, comfort still!

Blessed Trinity! be near

Through the hours of darkness drear;

When the help of man is far,

Ye more clearly present are;

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,

Watch o'er our defenceless head!

Let your Angels' guardian host

Keep all evil from our bed,
"Till the flood of morning rays
Wake us to a song of praise!

I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest; for it is Thou, Lord, only, that makest me dwell in safety.

PSALM iv. 9.

Who shall ascend into the
hill of the Lord; or who
shall rise up in His holy
place?

PSALM XXIV. 3.

PUT far from us, O Lord, we pray,
Of darkness the unfruitful deeds,
And keep us safely in the way
That to Thy holy presence leads.

Each one of us has duly sworn
Against the crafty foe to fight
Beneath the Cross's banner, borne

By Him who darkness changed to light.

He that right manfully would stand
The devil, world, and flesh to quell ;

B

Keeps anxious watch on either hand,
In his Lord's armour fenced well.

The shield of faith is o'er him spread,
To guard from Satan's fiery dart,
Salvation's helmet keeps his head,
And righteousness protects his heart.

The girdle of his loins, is truth,

His sword the piercing word of God;
He thus sets forth in earliest youth,
The way God's Saints before have trod.

And he proceeds from strength to strength,
Forgetting all the trials past,

His eyes still fix'd, where he at length

May hope eternal rest at last.

Collect.

They will go from strength to strength; and unto the God of gods appeareth every one of them in Sion.

PSALM 1xxxiv. 7.