Religion

Evening (Trim the lamp, its light is fading.)

by John S. B. Monsell 1811–1875

From Hymns of Love and Praise (1866)

Religion

Trim the lamp, its light is fading.
Slowly steals the night away,
From the blast its flicker shading,
Round it watch, and near it pray;
my blessed Saviour! yearning
As my spirit doth for Thee,
May my lamp be bright and burning
When Thou comest unto me.

Feed with oil the languid taper.
Faintly by the night-wind fanned.
Hide it from the rising vapour
In the hollow of Thy hand;
my blessed Saviour! yearning
As my spirit doth for Thee,
May my lamp be bright and burning
When Thou comest unto me.

Every weight that would encumber
Lay aside, my soul, and rise.
Shake from off thy heart the slumber
That is stealing o'er thine eyes;
ray blessed Saviour! yearning
As my spirit doth for Thee,
May my lamp be bright and burning
When Thou comest unto me.

Lo! the Bride, in all her beauty,
Bending toward the eastern gate.
Clothed in praise, and girt with duty.
Doth upon her threshold wait;
my blessed Saviour! yearning
As my spirit doth for Thee,
May ray lamp be bright and burning
When Thou comest unto me.

Though the Bridegroom be delaying.
Yet His hand is on the door;
When He comes. His second staying
Will be with us evermore;
my blessed Saviour! yearning
As my spirit doth for Thee,
May my lamp be bright and burning
When Thou comest unto me.

✦ ✦ ✦

Text: At midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the Bridegroom cometh ; go ye out to meet Him. — S. Matt. xxv. 6.

MLA

Monsell, John S. B. “Evening (Trim the lamp, its light is fading.).” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/monsell/93/.

Chicago

Monsell, John S. B. “Evening (Trim the lamp, its light is fading.).” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/monsell/93/.

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