II.

The blessing of a night's repose

Hath been vouchsafed to me:

Mine eyes from slumber I unclose,

And find myself with Thee.

The living, Lord! the living, they

Shall praise Thy name;--the dead

Are silenced till the judgment-day,

Each resting on his bed.

Had death's dark hand at midnight broke

The seal of life, and freed

My spirit from this earthly yoke,

Had I been free indeed?

Free from the flesh, and all its ills,

The world and Satan free,

To range the everlasting hills

In sinless liberty?

Or, having sold myself for nought,

For ever rue the cost,

Bound on the wheel of one dire thought,

"My soul, my soul is lost!"

O God! Thy people's hope of old,

Early I seek Thy face;

And bless Thy name that I behold

Another day of grace.