How Sweet the Hour of Closing Day

How sweet the hour of clos­ing day!

When all is peace­ful and se­rene;

And the broad sun’s re­tir­ing ray

Sheds a mild lus­ter o’er the scene!

Such is the Christ­ian’s part­ing hour

So peace­ful­ly he sinks to rest;

When faith

re­kind­ling all its pow­er

Lights up the lan­guor of his breast.

There is a ra­di­ance in his eye

A smile up­on his wast­ed cheek

That seems to tell of glo­ry nigh

In lang­uage that no tongue can speak.

A beam from Heav’n is sent to cheer

The pil­grim on his gloo­my road;

And an­gels are at­tend­ing near

To bear him to their bright ab­ode.

Who would not wish to die like those

Whom God’s own Spir­it deigns to bless?

To sink in­to that soft re­pose

Then wake to per­fect hap­pi­ness?

O Lord

that we may thus de­part

Thy joys to share

Thy face to see

Impress Thine im­age on our heart

And teach us now to walk with Thee.