Today’s hymn is one for the evening. Does your church hold evening services? We dropped them many years ago, but about two years ago, we began holding an eventide prayer service monthly. This hymn was written by English architect James Edmeston (1791-1867) of Middlesex. He wrote about 2,000 hymn, many for children. He served at St. Barnabas church in Homerton, Middlesex, and supported the London Orphan Asylum.

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:8 ESV)

1 Saviour, breath an evening blessing,
Ere repose our spirits seal;
Sin and want we come confessing:
Thou canst save, and thou canst heal.

2 Though destruction walk around us,
Though the arrow past us fly,
Angel-guards from thee surround us;
We are safe if thou art nigh.

3 Though the night be dark and dreary,
Darkness cannot hide from thee;
Thou art he who, never weary,
Watchest where thy people be.

4 Should swift death this night o’ertake us,
And our couch become our tomb,
May the morn in heav’n awake us,
Clad in light and deathless bloom.