If some poor wandering child of Thine Watch by the sick: enrich the poor Come near and bless us when we wake, We lose ourselves in heaven above. TUNE-"HURSLEY." 112-ABIDE WITH ME. THIS was the Swan Song of the Rev. H. F. Lyte. He produced it on the evening of the Sunday on which he preached his last sermon. It is generally used as an evening hymn. It was not so intended. It refers to the evening of life, not of the day, and is more of a hymn for the dying than for those about to renew their strength by a night's rest. It was sung at the burial of Professor Maurice, and is in constant use throughout the English-speaking world. Lyte is buried in Nice, and his grave is still sometimes sought out by pilgrims from far across the seas who attribute their conversion to this hymn. A BIDE with me, fast falls the eventide : The darkness thickens: Lord, with me abide; When other helpers fail, and comforts flee, Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day; O Thou who changest not, abide with me. Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word, Come not in terrors, as the King of kings, Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes, Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies: Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee; In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me. TUNE- -"EVENTIDE." Mrs. Mona Caird's three favourite hymns are," Lead, Kindly Light," "As pants the Hart," and "Abide with me." "These three," she says, "possess for me the stay and power of succour. They seem to refer me back to the great unknown in which and in whom all of us believe, whatever name we may give to our divinity." 113-AT EVEN, ERE THE SUN WAS SET. EVENING hymns are much more popular than those for morning use. And among evening hymns few are better known or more used than this, written by Canon Twells in 1868. T the sun was set, A even, ere, O Lord, around Thee lay; O in what divers pains they met ! We know and feel that Thou art here. For some are sick and some are sad; Thy touch has still its ancient power; And in thy mercy heal us all. TUNE "ANGELUS. William Johnston, M.P., the well-known Orange leader, said: "No hymn now touches me more than that pathetic one, ' At Even, ere the Sun was set;' the verse beginning, O Saviour Christ' would be too painful but for the Healer's power." 114-SAVIOUR, AGAIN TO THY DEAR NAME. THIS evening hymn is the most popular of all the hymns of the Rev. John Ellerton. He wrote it for a festival of parochial choirs in Nantwich in 1866, and in less than thirty years it has sung its way around the world. AVIOUR, again to Thy dear name we raise SAV With one accord our parting hymn of praise; We stand to bless Thee ere our worship cease, Then, lowly kneeling, wait Thy word of peace. Grant us Thy peace through this approaching night; Turn Thou for us its darkness into light; From harm and danger keep Thy children free, Grant us Thy peace upon our homeward way; That in this house have call'd upon Thy name. Grant us Thy peace throughout our earthly life, TUNE "PAX DEI." 115-SWEET SAVIOUR, BLESS US ERE WE GO. THIS is Faber's evening hymn. Faber published it in 1852, six years after he quitted the English for the Roman Church. WEET Saviour, bless us ere we go; SWE Thy word into our minds instil; And make our lukewarm hearts to glow Through life's long day and death's dark night, Grant us, dear Lord, from evil ways Through life's long day and death's dark night, Do more than pardon; give us joy, Through life's long day and death's dark night, Labour is sweet, for thou hast toiled; And care is light, for thou hast cared; Let not our works with self be soiled, Nor in unsimple ways insnared. |