A Small Collection of Hymns :: :: University of Virginia Library

Perronet, Edward (1721-1792)

Midnight Thoughts, Ps. cxix. 62.

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Rising from my sleepless bed,
To thy will I bow my head;
Leave the couch whereon I lay,
Waiting for the dawn of day.

Sleep, however sweet it be,
Cannot be compar'd to thee;
Sweetest sleep without thy breath,
Is but one remove from death.

And tho' nature should complain,
Wishing to repose again:
Thou can'st sweeter rest bestow,
Than the softest down can know.

Rest from danger and distress,
Pledge of endless happiness:
Rest that may at once renew,
Both the mind and body too.

But however she repine,
Only let thy will be mine;
And whatever that shall be,
Be it all alike to me.

So while thus I cease from sleep,
Let thy grace the vigil keep;
Heav'nly things and thoughts suggest,
That may guard and cleanse my breast.

Thoughts of Jesu's dying love,
Thoughts that waft the soul above;
Where no other rest is known,
Than the worship of thy throne.

There while thus my thoughts aspire,
Let thy strength my passion fire,
And with Israel on his road,
Wrestle on with Israel's God!

Till with thee, thou man of care,
I exhaust the night in pray'r;
And at morning's bright return,
Rise to labour or to mourn.

Like thine own, the life be mine,
With thine own, in death be thine;
While the shadows melt away,
And the night be perfect day!