4 Then shall Light all light excelling,
Christ, the Sun of suns, arise,
And in humble hearts indwelling,
Light their pathway to the skies,
Where, when worlds have passed away,
They shall reign in endless day. Amen.
Godfrey Thring.

16

1

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firma-
ment sheweth His handywork. Ps. xix. 1.

THY love for all Thy creatures
What tongue, O God, may tell ?
The morning, noon, and evening,
Alike our praise compel;
The morning, noon, and evening,
Whene'er they rise or fall,

Unite to hymn Thy praises,
Great Maker of them all.

2 ƒ Behold, the sun in splendour
Hath lit his fires on high,
The farther on his journey,
The higher in the sky;

dim And when again he sinketh
Beneath the western wave,
A radiant crown of glory
Shall kindle (dim) o'er his

cres

grave.

3 mf May we, to whom in mercy
A brighter light is given,
The farther on our journey,
The nearer be to heaven;
And when the shades of evening
Shall lengthen o'er our heads,
cres May rays of heavenly glory
Illume our (dim) dying beds.

7.6.

4 Shine! shine! Thou Sun Eternal,
And cast a ray divine

On those who hymn Thy praises,
and ever, Thine;

Both now,

For then no cloud of evening
Shall gather round the past,

But Thou, O Christ, shalt light us

Safe home, (rall. dim) safe home at last.

A men.

Godfrey Thring

17 The Lord God is a Light and Defence. Ps. lxxxiv. 12. L.M.

1 mf WHEN at mid-day my task I ply,

With labouring hand or watchful eye,
I need the timely aid of prayer
To guard my soul from worldly care.
2 cres Sun of my soul, Thyself display;
Quicken me, Lord, and cheer my way,
Till borne upon Thy healing wing,
Upward I soar Thy praise to sing.

3 mf E'en now, when far from Thy blest light,
At morn and eve, at noon and night,
I tune my heart betimes to raise
With angel-choirs a hymn of praise.

4 Yet angels, in their loftiest song,
Fail in their flight, and do Thee wrong;
Like as their veiled adoring face
Tells of a glory none can trace.

5 mf And now, my mid-day homage paid,
Life's busy path again I tread;

cres Yet happier far its task I ply

From surer trust that Thou art nigh,—

6 Nigh to defend, assist, and bless, Making my cares and dangers less, dim And daily duteous toil the road

7

That leads to perfect peace in God ;

p Peace, through the grace of Christ our Rest, in the Father's love restored; [Lord; Joy, by the Spirit's union given

cres

The Peace, the Rest, the Joy of heaven!

Amen.

J. Ford (1797-1877), verse 3, 11, 3, 4, alt. by G. T.

18

Afternoon.

The Eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are
the everlasting Arms. Deut. xxxiii. 27.

1 mf As now the sun's declining rays
Towards eventide descend;

dim So life's brief day is sinking down
P To its appointed end.

C.M.

2 mf Lord, on the Cross Thine Arms were stretched

To draw Thy people nigh;

cres O grant us then that Cross to love,
And in those Arms to die.

dim

3 To God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Holy Ghost,
All glory be from saints on earth
And from the angel-host. Amen.

C. Coffin (1676–1749), tr. J. Chandler (1806-1876).

19

Thy Name also is so nigh. Ps. lxxv. 2.

1 mf BEFORE the ending of the day, Creator of the world, we pray

L.M.

That, with Thy wonted favour, Thou Wouldst be our Guard and Keeper now. 2 Uplift us with Thine Arm of might, So may our souls rise pure and bright; With love divine our hearts inflame, To praise Thee for Thy glorious Name. 3 mf Within our spirits ever dwell,

And worldly darkness thence expel; The faith of old by saints professed, Root deep within our inmost breast. 4 mf Author of all things, Gracious Guide, In life be ever at our side;

dim And when the assaults of death impend, eres Thy people strengthen and defend.

5 mf Almighty Father, hear our cry,

Through Jesus Christ our Lord Most High, cres Who, with the Holy Ghost and Thee, Doth live and reign eternally.

20

Amen.

St. Ambrose (340–397), tr. J. M. Neale (1818-1866).

Man is like a thing of nought: his time passeth
away like a shadow. Ps. cxliv. 4.

D.C.M.

1 mƒ BEHOLD the sun, that seemed but now
Enthroned overhead,

Beginneth to decline below

The globe whereon we tread;
And he, whom yet we look upon
With comfort and delight,

dini Will quite depart from hence anon,
An leave us to the night.

2 Thus time, unheeded, steals away
The life which nature gave;
Thus are our bodies every day
Declining to the grave:

Thus from us all our pleasures fly
Whereon we set our heart;

pp And when the night of death draws nigh,
Thus will they all depart.

3

21

Lord! though the sun forsake our sight,
And mortal hopes are vain;

cres Let still Thine everlasting light
Within our souls remain !

mf And in the nights of our distress
Vouchsafe those rays divine,

cres Which from the Sun of Righteousness
f For ever brightly shine! Amen.

George Wither (1588-1667).

The Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness,
neither shadow of turning. James i. 17.

1 mƒ O GOD, unchangeable and true,
Of all the Life and Power,

Dispensing light in silence through
Every successive hour :-

2 mf Lord, brighten our declining day,
That it may never wane,

C.M.

dim Till death, when all things round decay, Brings back the morn again.

cres

3 mf This grace on Thy redeemed confer, Father, Co-equal Son,

cres

And Holy Ghost, the Comforter,
Eternal Three in One.

A men.

Cardinal J. H, Newman.