:

O add clearness to my light and quickness to my watchfulness.

For suddenly thy hour cometh : when none are expecting Thee Thou appearest.

At midnight the shout of thy approach is heard and the cry soundeth, "Behold the Bridegroom cometh !"

Prepare my heart to hear it with joy and to follow in the train of thy glory.

Amid the voice of the thanksgiving of thy saints with the song of blessing and praise.

VIII.

THE FRAILTY OF THE BODY.

I HAVE seen the mist lie thick upon the meadow and the sun and wind have scattered it away.

I have seen the smoke dense and dark at the chimney-top and it hath suddenly vanished

into the broad sky.

I have seen the cloud come over the face of heaven and it hath been broken up and seen

no more.

I have seen the shadow lie long and dark on the mountain and suddenly it is gone.

I have seen the sun in his course in the heavens and he hath done the work appointed him and is departed.

I have seen the dew in the morning it was bright with innumerable drops.

But the sun ascended in his might and mine eyes desired it in vain.

Hast thou not seen enough, O my

what tokens more wouldst thou desire?

soul :

Is not this thy tabernacle even such : passeth it not away even so suddenly?

It cometh out of the earth: awhile it re

joiceth in beauty and strength.

And then it returneth unto the earth : it mouldereth and is mingled with the dust.

Its appearance and disappearance are alike forgotten and its place is remembered no

more.

But Thou, O Lord, endurest for ever and thy mercies are for everlasting.

Continue them in my memory with thanksgiving and prolong them unto my blessed

ness.

Thou now layest me down in sleep and Thou wilt raise me up again for the morrow. Thou wilt shortly also lay me down in the grave and Thou wilt raise me up to life eternal.

Receive the last lips for this day

morrow and all

my

praise of my heart and my and let me praise thee tolife long.

IX.

AN ENUMERATION OF THE BLESSINGS OF

THE DAY.

O THOU that art our life and light : Thou that art the rock of our salvation;

Author and finisher of our faith: beginning and end of our hope of glory;

Who wast before all worlds: and shalt reign for everlasting.

Thou Prince of life and King of glory.

O Christ, the Son of the living God: the Word from the beginning,

Blessing and praise and thanks to Thee : honour and worship to thy holy name.

Thou hast maintained my life this day : Thou hast crowned me with blessings to body and to soul.

When I was weak Thou didst strengthen me when I was ready to fall Thou didst uphold me.

Thou didst give courage to my faintness : Thou didst give wisdom to the counsels of my heart.

Thou didst make me confident in thy protection and heedful in my watchfulness. And now my journey of the day is over and here I am living to thank Thee.

O from what perils of body hast Thou preserved me who shall declare them?

Who shall unravel the mazes of mischance : who shall number the arrows in the quiver of death?

And from what dangers hast Thou protected my soul what tongue shall describe them?

Shall I tell out the number of the progeny of sin shall I go down to the pit, and reckon up the children of darkness?

Shall I enumerate their transformations into children of light : shall I point out the secret path of each of their host?

Shall I count their arms of violence in the day of battle: or their secret arts in the hour of persuasion?

O with what a song of deliverance do I thank Thee Thou art the joy of my heart and my mind, O my Redeemer.

Let my heart be with Thee through this night be Thou the thought of its waking hours.

Glory be to Thee, O Christ: glory be to Thee, O Lord Christ!

X.

A RENDERING OF ACCOUNT IN CHRIST.

O MERCIFUL Lord and gracious Master : bounteously hast Thou dealt out unto me this day.

To my body and to my soul Thou hast continued thy gifts and added to the riches of thy grace.

I am full, I have nothing to desire : I am as a king, and Thou hast crowned my head with joy.

O how great hath been my stewardship this day how long is the account which I have to render!

Do I come now into thy presence for wages: behold my hands cannot contain thy bounty. Hath my service made Thee a debtor : O Lord, remember not its sin.

If Thou shalt exact an account of it: how shall I stand before Thee?

Shall I not call on the night to hide me : and cry unto the darkness to cover me?

Shall I not say unto the deep, " Overwhelm me" and to the pit, "Swallow me up?

?" But the night is with Thee as the light of day and the darkness as the noonday.

And thy wonders are shown in the deep : and thy judgments are acknowledged in the pit. Whither then shall I flee from thy scrutiny : where shall I hide my guilt and shame ?

Whither but to the refuge which Thou hast ordained where but in the shelter which Thou hast provided?

:

Yea! I will flee to the cross of thy dear Son: in his blood I will seek a covering for my transgressions.