Morning, Evening, and Midnight Hymns/An Evening Hymn (1697)
An Evening HYMN.
GLORY to Thee my God, this night,
For all the Blessings of the Light;
Keep me, O keep me, King of Kings,
Under Thy own Almighty Wings.
Forgive me Lord, for Thy dear Son,
The ill that I this day have done,
That with the World, my self, and Thee,
I, e'r I sleep, at peace may be.
Teach me to live, that I may dread
The Grave as little as my Bed;
Teach me to die, that so I may
Triumphing rise at the last day.
O may my Soul on Thee repose,
And with sweet sleep mine Eye-lids close;
Sleep that may me more vig'rous 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.
Dull sleep of Sense me to deprive,
I am but half my days alive;
Thy faithful Lovers, Lord, are griev'd
To lie so long of Thee bereav'd.
But though sleep o'r my frailty reigns,
Let it not hold me long in chains,
And now and then let loose my Heart,
Till it an Hallelujah dart.
The faster sleep the sense does bind,
The more unfetter'd is the Mind;
O may my Soul from matter free!
Thy unvail'd Goodness waking see.
O when shall I in endless day,
For ever chase dark sleep away,
And endless praise with th' Heavenly Choire,
Incessant sing, and never tire?
You my blest Guardian whilst I sleep,
Close to my Bed your Vigils keep,
Divine Love into me instill,
Stop all the avenues of ill.
Thought to thought with my Soul converse,
Celestial Joys to me rehearse,
And in my stead all the night long,
Sing to my God a grateful Song.
Praise God from whom all Blessings flow,
Praise Him all Creatures here below,
Praise Him above y' Angelick Host,
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.