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| THE BEAM-REPELLING mists arise, | |
| And evening spreads obscurer skies: | |
| The twilight will the night forerun, | |
| And night itself be soon begun. | |
| Upon thy knees devoutly bow, | 5 |
| And pray the Lord of glory now | |
| To fill thy breast, or deadly sin | |
| May cause a blinder night within. | |
| And whether pleasing vapours rise, | |
| Which gently dim the closing eyes, | 10 |
| Which makes the weary members blest | |
| With sweet refreshment in their rest, | |
| Or whether spirits in the brain | |
| Dispel their soft embrace again. | |
| And on my watchful bed I stay, | 15 |
| Forsook by sleep, and waiting day; | |
| Be God forever in my view, | |
| And never he forsake me too; | |
| But still as day concludes in night, | |
| To break again with new-born light, | 20 |
| His wondrous bounty let me find | |
| With still a more enlightened mind. | |
| When grace and love in one agree, | |
| Grace from God, and love from me, | |
| Grace that will from Heaven inspire, | 25 |
| Love that seals it in desire, | |
| Grace and love that mingle beams, | |
| And fill me with increasing flames. | |
| Thou that hast thy palace far | |
| Above the moon and every star, | 30 |
| Thou that sittest on a throne | |
| To which the night was never known, | |
| Regard my voice, and make me blest | |
| By kindly granting its request. | |
| If thoughts on thee my soul employ, | 35 |
| My darkness will afford me joy, | |
| Till thou shalt call and I shall soar, | |
| And part with darkness evermore. | |
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