| Alfred H. Miles, ed. The Sacred Poets of the Nineteenth Century. 1907. | | | | The Christian’s “Good-night” (“Sleep on, beloved”) | | By Sarah Doudney (1841–1926) |
| | | | The early Christians were accustomed to bid their dying friends “Good-night,” so sure were they of their awaking at the Resurrection Morning. |
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SLEEP on, beloved, sleep on and take thy rest, | |
| Lay down thy head upon thy Saviour’s breast; | |
| We love thee well, but Jesus loves thee best;— | |
| Good-night! | |
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| Calm is thy slumber as an infant’s sleep; | 5 |
| But thou shalt wake no more to toil and weep; | |
| Thine is a perfect rest, secure and deep;— | |
| Good-night! | |
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| Until the shadow from this earth is cast, | |
| Until He gathers in His sheaves at last, | 10 |
| Until the Lenten gloom is overpast;— | |
| Good-night! | |
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| Until the Easter glory lights the skies, | |
| Until the dead in Jesus shall arise, | |
| And He shall come—but not in lowly guise;— | 15 |
| Good-night! | |
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| Until, made beautiful by love divine, | |
| Thou, in the likeness of Thy Lord, shalt shine, | |
| And He shall bring that golden crown of thine;— | |
| Good-night! | 20 |
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| Only “Good-night,” beloved, not “Farewell”! | |
| A little while, and all His saints shall dwell | |
| In hallowed union, indivisible;— | |
| Good-night! | |
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| Until we meet again before His throne, | 25 |
| Clothed in the spotless robe He gives His own; | |
| Until we know, even as we are known;— | |
| Good-night! | | | |
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