11. O Thou mighty God, now hearken To the prayer Thy child hath made; Jesus, while the night-hours darken, Be Thou still my hope, my aid; Holy Ghost, on Thee I call, Friend and Comforter of all, Hear my earnest prayer, O hear me! Lord, Thou hearest, Thou art near me. J. Rist, 1642. 32 L. M. The happy sunshine now is gone, The gloomy night comes swiftly on; But shine Thou still, O Christ, our Light, Nor let us lose ourselves in night. 2. We thank Thee that throughout the day Thy angels watched around our way And free from harm and vexing fear Have led us on in safety here. 3. Whate’er of wrong we’ve done or said, Let not the charge on us be laid; That, through Thy free forgiveness blest, In peaceful slumber we may rest. 4. Thy guardian angels round us place, All evil from our couch to chase; Our soul and body, while we sleep, In safety, gracious Father, keep. Nikolaus Herman, 1560. 33 7, 7 Now rest beneath night’s shadows, Man, beast, town, woods, and meadows, The world in slumber lies; But thou, my heart, awake thee, To prayer and song betake thee, Let praise to thy Creator rise. 2. O sun, where art thou vanished? The night thy reign hath banished, The foe of day, the night. Farewell! For now appeareth Another Sun and cheereth My heart—’tis Jesus Christ, my Light. 3. The last faint beam is going, The golden stars are glowing In yonder dark-blue deep; Such is the glory given When, called of God to heaven, On earth no more we pine and weep. 4. To rest my body hasteth, Aside its garments casteth, Types of mortality; These I put off and ponder How Christ shall give me yonder A robe of glorious majesty. 5. Head, hands, and feet, reposing, Are glad the day is closing, That work came to an end; Cheer up, my heart, with gladness! For God from all earth’s sadness And from sin’s toil relief will send. 6. Ye weary limbs, now rest you, For toil hath sore oppressed you, And quiet sleep ye crave; A sleep shall once o’ertake you From which no man can wake you, In your last narrow bed—the grave. 7. My heavy eyes are closing; When I lie deep reposing, Soul, body, where are ye? To helpless sleep I yield them; O let Thy mercy shield them, Thou sleepless Eye, their Guardian be! 8. Lord Jesus, who dost love me, O spread Thy wings above me And shield me from alarm! Though Satan would devour me, Let angel-guards sing o’er me: “This child of God shall meet no harm!”