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After Sermon is sung Hymn CXL
VIII.
1 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!
2 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:
Thou who changest not, abide with me!
3 Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word;
But as Thou dwell’st with Thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free,
Come, not to sojourn, but abide, with me.
4 Come not in terrors, as the King of kings,
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea:
Come, Friend of sinners, thus abide with me.
5 Thou on my head in early youth didst smile;
And, though rebellious and perverse meanwhile
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee:
On to the close, O Lord, abide with me!
6 I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempters
Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.
7 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.
8 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!
Let us pray.
Once again, merciful Hearer of prayer, behold us turned to Thy footstool
through Thy Son and by thy Blessed Spirit, now to entreat before we depart
at Thy effectual blessing be on all our worship and twice this day. Grant,
we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that the words which we have heard this day
with our outward ears may through Thy grace be so lifted inwardly in our
hearts that they may bring forth in us the fruit of good living, to the
honour and praise of Thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessed God, Father of all, Whose will is that Thy people, offering prayer
for the relief of their own necessities, fail not to make intercession for
all men, hearken to us humbly praying that in Thy great mercy Thou wouldst
remember and visit all whom Thou hast made. Comfort all that mourn: spare
useful lives: prepare the dying for the great change: and hasten that
blessed and predicted day when there shall be no more death, neither sorrow
nor crying, neither any more pain.
And meanwhile, rejoicing (as we are permitted to do) in the communion of
saints, we thank and bless Thee for all Thy servants departed this world in
Thy fear and love, who are now at rest with Thee in Paradise: humbly
beseeching Thee so to make us partakers of their faith and good example,
that we finally fail not to come to the same blessed and peaceful rest.
Almighty Father, Searcher of the heart, Who knowest what evil cleaves to our
best feelings and purest services: Who art well aware that coming to Thy
holy place to join in Thy worship, we cannot leave the evil heart behind us,
and our thoughts will wander away : mercifully accept that in our worship
which was well-intended and sincere: and as for the unworthiness mingled,
pardon this, as Thou pardon-est all, for Thy dear Son's sake.
Touch our hearts, we humbly ask, with true devotion, as we sing Thy praise
before we depart: and dismiss us with Thy blessing. Defend us from all
dangers of the night: and keep us through all the days and nights of the
appointed pilgrimage, till we come to our Father's House for ever. All which
we ask for our Blessed Redeemer's sake: to Whom, with the Father and the
Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, now and evermore. Amen.
Then is sung Hymn CLXXIII (The Evening Hymn).
1 All praise to Thee, my God, this night,
For all the blessings of the light;
Keep me, 0 keep me, King of kings,
Beneath Thine own almighty wings!
2 Forgive me, Lord, for Thy dear Son,
The ill that I this day have done;
That, with the world, myself, and Thee,
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.
3 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.
4 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.
5 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.
6 Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
The Patting Benediction.
The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and
minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of His Son Jesus Christ our
Lord: And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Ghost, be amongst you, and remain with you always. Amen. |
