Poems (Cook)/A Sabbath Evening Song

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A SABBATH EVENING SONG.
God on earth! and God in heaven!God! who gave one day in sevenUnto Man, that he might restWith thy mercy in his breast.God of Goodness! I am kneelingIn my spirit's deep revealing;Fervently to give thee praiseFor the peace of Sabbath days.Calm and tranquil thou hast madeThis soft hour of twilight shade,And I ask thee, in thy might,To be "watchman of my night."
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Let me thank thee, let me own,At the footstool of thy throne,All my grateful joy and love,Drawn from hopes that point above;Let me lay my heart before thee,And with holy trust implore theeTo forgive its human blot,Gather'd in its human lot.Listen, Father! to my singing,Like a child to thee I'm clinging;If I wander, guide me right,Be thou watchman of my night!"
Let me ask thee ere I sleep,To remember those who weep,Those who moan with some wild sorrow,That shall dread to meet the morrow;Let me ask thee to abideAt the fainting, sick one's side,Where the plaints of anguish riseIn smother'd groans and weary sighs;Give them strength to brook and bearTrial-pain, and trial-care;Let them see thy saving light;Be thou "watchman of their night!"
God of all; thou knowest well,Myriads of thy children dwellHere among us, lone and blind,In the midnight of the mind;Well thou knowest how they needWords to teach and hand to lead;Well thou knowest that they sin,For the want of light within;They grope and fall, and men refuseTo raise them up and "bind the bruise;"But thou, O God! in judgment's might,Be thou "watchman of their night!"
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God of mercy! God of grace!Keep me worthy of my place.Let my harpstrings ne'er be heardWhen they jar with thy plain word;Should the world's fair pitfall take me,Father! do not thou forsake me;Let repentance cleanse the stain,And call me back to truth again;Father: Infinite and Just!Shine upon my path of dust,Lead me in the noontide light,And be thou "watchman of my night!"

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