Scripture Verse

The smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God. Revelation 8:4

Introduction

portrait
Luther O. Emerson (1820–1915)

Words: Ju­lia A. El­li­ott, 1835. First pub­lished ano­ny­mous­ly in her hus­band’s Psalms and Hymns. Her au­thor­ship was ac­know­ledged in the 1839 Third Thou­sand by the ad­di­tion of her in­i­tials in the in­dex. Some hym­nals er­ro­neous­ly cre­dit the words to James Mar­ti­neau (they ap­peared in a lat­er col­lect­ion of his).

Music: Craw­ford (Em­er­son) Lu­ther O. Em­er­son, in the Hymn and Tune Book for the Church and the Home, re­vised edi­tion (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: Am­er­ican Uni­ta­ri­an As­so­cia­tion, 1883), page 67 (🔊 pdf nwc) (re­peats first two lines of each verse).

Alternate Tune:

  • Emerald Eng­lish tune, in the Ply­mouth Col­lect­ion of Hymns and Tunes, by Hen­ry W. Beech­er (New York: A. S. Barnes, 1855), page 430 (🔊 pdf nwc) (re­peats first two lines of each verse)

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of El­li­ott (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

On the dewy breath of even
Thousand odors mingling rise,
Borne like incense up to Hea­ven,
Nature’s evening sacrifice.

With her fragrant offerings blending,
Let our glad thanksgivings be—
To Thy throne, O lord, ascending—
Incense of our hearts to Thee.

Thou, whose favors, without number,
All our days with gladness bless,
Let Thine eye, that knows no slumber,
Guard our hours of helplessness.

Then, though conscious we are sleeping
In the outer courts of death,
Safe beneath a Fa­ther’s keeping
Calm we rest in perfect faith.