Light us, lead us, love us! cry Thy groping nations,
Pleading in the thousand tongues, but calling only Thee,
Weaving blindly out one holy, happy purpose; Thou wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.
Life nor death can part us, O Thou Love eternal,
Shepherd of the wandering star and wayward souls that flee;
Homeward draws the spirit to Thy Spirit yearning,
Thou wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.
HEAVENLY Father, by whose care
Comes again this hour of prayer,
In the evening stillness, we
Grateful raise our hearts to Thee;
To our spirits, as we bend,
Peace and holy comfort send.
Gladly we Thy Presence seek;
Father! to our spirits speak:
Call us from the world away;
Still our passions' reckless play;
On our inner darkness shine;
Bend our wayward will to Thine.
In this quiet eventide
May our souls with Thee abide,
Own Thy presence, feel Thy power,
Through this consecrated hour;
And from peaceful vesper-prayer
Purer, stronger spirits bear.
WEET Saviour, bless us ere we go;
Thy word into our minds instil,
And make our lukewarm hearts to glow
With lowly love and fervent will.
Through life's long day and death's dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our Light.
The day is done, its hours have run,
And Thou hast taken count of all;
The scanty triumphs grace hath won,
The broken vow, the frequent fall.
Through life's long day and death's dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our Light.
Grant us, dear Lord, from evil ways
True absolution and release;
And bless us, more than in past days,
With purity and inward peace.
Through life's long day and death's dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our Light.
Do more than pardon; give us joy,
Sweet fear, and sober liberty;
And simple hearts without alloy
That only long to be like Thee.
Through life's long day and death's dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our Light.
For all we love, the poor, the sad,
The sinful, unto Thee we call;
O let Thy mercy make us glad :
Thou art our Jesus, and our All.
Through life's long day and death's dark night
O gentle Jesus, be our Light.
LORY to Thee, my God, this night,
Keep me, O keep me, King of kings,
Beneath Thine own almighty wings!
Forgive me, Lord, for Thy dear Son,
The ills that I this day have done:
That with the world, myself, and Thee,
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be !
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!
O may my soul on Thee repose,
And may sweet sleep mine eyelids close;
Sleep, that may me more vigorous make
To serve my God when I awake!
When in the night I sleepless lie,
My soul with heavenly thoughts supply!
Let no ill dreams disturb my rest,
No powers of darkness me molest!
HE sun is sinking fast,
The daylight dies;
Let love awake, and pay
Her evening sacrifice.
As Christ upon the Cross
His head inclined,
And to His Father's hands
His parting soul resign'd:
So now herself my soul
Would wholly give
Into His sacred charge,
In whom all spirits live;
So now beneath His eye
Would calmly rest,
Without a wish or thought
Abiding in the breast,
Save that His Will be done
Whate'er betide;
Dead to herself, and dead
In Him to all beside.
Thus would I live; yet now
Not I, but He
In all His power and love
Henceforth alive in me.
One sacred Trinity!
One Lord Divine !
May I be ever His!
And He for ever mine!
E. Caswall (from the Latin).
"MAnd the Father's boundless love,
[AY the grace of Christ our Saviour,
With the Holy Spirit's favour,
Rest upon us from above!
Thus may we abide in union
With each other and the Lord,
And possess, in sweet communion,
Joys which earth cannot afford.
May the grace of Christ our Saviour,
And the Father's boundless love,
With the Holy Spirit's favour,
Rest upon us from above!"
Night is drawing nigh,
Shadows of the evening
Steal across the sky.
Now the darkness gathers,
Stars begin to peep,
Birds, and beasts, and flowers
Soon will be asleep.
Jesu, give the weary
Calm and sweet repose;
With Thy tenderest blessing
May mine eyelids close.
Grant to little children
Visions bright of Thee;
Guard the sailors tossing
On the deep blue sea.
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