Scripture Verse

He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Luke 24:50

Introduction

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Frederick W. Faber (1814–1863)

Words: Fred­er­ick W. Fa­ber, Je­sus and Ma­ry, alt. Some sourc­es as­sert this hymn is in the 1849 edi­ti­on, but we do not find it there. The ear­li­est in­stance we’ve seen is in the se­cond edi­tion (Lon­don, Ri­chard­son & Son, 1852), num­ber 62, An Ev­en­ing Hymn at the Ora­to­ry.

Music: In Te­ne­bris Lu­men John B. Dykes, in Hymns An­cient and Mo­dern, 1875 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

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John B. Dykes (1823–1876)

Lyrics

Sweet Sav­ior! bless us ere we go;
Thy Word into our minds instill,
And make our lukewarm hearts to glow
With lowly love and fervent will.

Refrain

Through life’s long day and death’s dark night,
O gentle Je­sus, be our light!

The day is done; its hours have run;
And Thou hast taken count of all—
The scanty triumphs grace hath won,
The broken vow, the frequent fall.

Refrain

Grant us, dear Lord! from evil ways
True absolution and release;
And bless us, more than in past days,
With purity and inward peace.

Refrain

Do more than pardon; give us joy,
Sweet fear, and sober liberty,
And simple hearts without alloy
That only long to be like Thee.

Refrain

Labor is sweet, for Thou hast toiled,
And care is light, for Thou hast cared;
Ah! ne­ver let our works be soiled,
With strife, or by deceit ensnared.

Refrain

For all we love, the poor, the sad,
The sinful— unto Thee we call;
O let Thy mercy make us glad:
Thou art our Je­sus, and our All!

Refrain

Sweet Sav­ior! bless us; night is come;
Through night and darkness near us be;
Good angels watch about our home,
And we are one day nearer Thee!

Refrain