9. My loved ones, rest securely, From every peril surely Our God will guard your heads. May He sweet slumbers send you And bid His hosts attend you, And golden-armed, watch o’er your beds! Paul Gerhardt, 1653. 34 L. M. Christ, everlasting Source of light, All things are open to Thy sight; Thou Splendor of Thy Father’s face, Show us the path of truth and grace. 2. We now implore Thy sovereign might To keep us, Lord, the coming night; Preserve us, Lord, from all distress; O God, Thy mercy we address. 3. Remove our sinful drowsiness; Let Satan not our soul oppress; Our feeble flesh keep chaste and pure And let us rest in Thee secure. 4. And when our eyes are bound in sleep, The lamp of faith still burning keep; Thy hand sustain us while we rest; Remove our sin, and we are blest. 5. Great Guardian of Thy Christian flock, Thy presence be our saving rock; Thine agony and holy blood Be always our support, O God! 6. Remember, Lord, the woes and pains Which here our body hold in chains; Our soul, which Thou hast ransomed, Lord, O comfort with Thy holy Word. 7. To God the Father and the Son And Holy Spirit, Three in One, Be glory, praise, and majesty Now, ever, and eternally. From Ambrose’s _Christe, qui lux es et dies_: W. Meusslin, 1527. 35 L. M. Before Thy throne I now appear, O Lord, bow down Thy gracious ear To me and cast not from Thy face Thy sinful child, that sues for grace. 2. Thou, Father of eternity, Thine image hast impressed on me; In Thee I am and live and move, Nor can exist without Thy love. 3. Oft hast Thou snatched me from distress And raised me oft when comfortless, When but a step, nay, one hair’s breadth, Was ’twixt my tottering life and death. 4. My sense and reason come from Thee, And sustenance Thou givest me; A faithful friend Thou dost bestow To prove his love in weal and woe. 5. Thou hast redeemed me, Son of God, Hast shed for me Thy precious blood, The Law for my sake hast fulfilled, And thus Thy Father’s wrath hast stilled. 6. When sin and Satan witness bear Against me that I must despair, As Mediator step Thou in And save me from the curse of sin. 7. Thou art my Advocate for aye, My Savior, Comfort, and my Stay. Thine all-sufficient merit is On earth my peace, in heaven my bliss. 8. God Holy Spirit, Power Divine, Thou workest in this heart of mine; Naught can be counted good in me But what proceeds alone from Thee.