Scripture Verse

There be many that say, Who will show us any good? Lord, lift Thou up the light of Thy countenance upon us. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for Thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:6–8

Introduction

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James Montgomery (1771–1854)
National Portrait Gallery

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Words: James Mont­go­me­ry, Songs of Zi­on (Lon­don: Long­man, Hurst, Rees, Orme & Brown, 1822).

Music: Lou­van Vir­gil C. Tay­lor, Cho­ral An­thems (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: 1850) (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

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

Lyrics

While ma­ny cry, in Na­ture’s night,
Ah! who will show the way to bliss?
Lord, lift on us Thy sav­ing light;
We seek no other guide than this.

Gladness Thy sacr­ed pre­sence brings,
More than the joy­ful reap­er knows;
Or he who treads the grapes, and sings,
While with new wine his vat o’er­flows.

In peace I lay me down to sleep;
Thine arm, O Lord, shall stay my head,
Thine an­gel spread his tent, and keep
His mid­night watch around my bed.