20

When we enter that bright city,
What the vision we behold?
Gates of pearl and walls of jasper,
Streets of pure transparent gold.
Are the many mansions empty?
Lone the terraces so fair?

Jesus and our brethren pace them;
How they long to see us there.
We are weary, &c.

There the dear ones who have left us
We shall some day meet again ;
There will be no bitter partings,
No more sorrow, death, or pain.
Evensong has closed in silence,
And the hour of rest is nigh;
Lighten Thou our darkness, Father,
God Almighty, God Most High.
We are weary, &c.

Evening.

J. Purchas.

As darker, darker, fall around

The shadows of the night,

We gather here, with hymn and prayer,
To seek the Eternal Light.

Father in heaven, to Thee are known
Our many hopes and fears,

Our heavy weight of mortal toil,

Our bitterness of tears.

We pray Thee for our absent ones,
Who have been with us here;
And in our secret heart we name
The distant and the dear.

C.M.

21

For weary eyes, and aching hearts,
And feet that from Thee rove,

The sick, the poor, the tried, the fallen,
We pray Thee, God of love.

We pray

Thee for the little bark

Just launched upon life's sea;

Are not the depths of parents' love,
O Father, known to Thee?

We bring to Thee our hopes and fears,
And at thy footstool lay;

And, Father, Thou who lovest all

Wilt hear us as we pray.

Anon.

Evening.

AGAIN, as evening's shadow falls,
We gather in these hallowed walls;
And vesper hymn and vesper prayer
Rise mingling on the holy air.

L.M.

May struggling hearts that seek release
Here find the rest of God's own peace;
And, strengthened here by hymn and prayer,
Lay down the burden and the care.

O God, our Light, to Thee we bow;
Within all shadows standest Thou;
Give deeper calm than night can bring;
Give sweeter songs than lips can sing.

Life's tumult we must meet again,
We cannot at the shrine remain ;
But, in the spirit's secret cell,
May hymn and prayer for ever dwell.

S. Longfellow.

22

Evening.

IOS.

ABIDE with me; fast falls the eventide,

The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need thy presence every passing hour;
What but thy grace can foil temptation's power?
Who like thyself my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with

me.

I fear no foe with Thee at hand to bless ;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;
Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy
victory?

I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou the 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.

23

Evening.

THE hills and vales grow dark,

The shades descend;

Let prayer of human hearts

With nature's vespers blend.

H. F. Lyte.

6.4.6.6.

THE twilight falls, the night is near;
We put our work away,

And kneel to Him who bends to hear
The story of the day.

The common story; yet we kneel
To tell it at thy call,

And cares grow lighter when we feel
Our Father knows them all.

Yes, all the morning and the night,
The joy, the grief, the loss,
The mountain track, the valley bright,
The daily thorn and cross.

Thou knowest all: we lean our head,
Our wearied eyelids close;
Content and glad awhile to tread
The way our Father knows.

And He has loved us! all our heart
With answering love is stirred;
And poverty and toil and smart,
Find healing in that word.

So here we lay us down to rest,
As nightly shadows fall;
And lean, confiding on his breast,

Who knows and pities all;

And holds the morrows, far and near,

Within his love alway:

Let come what will, He bends to hear
The story day by day.

C.M.

Anon.