Evening Rest, Forgiveness, and Mortality

O THOU, Who dost neither slumber nor sleep, be Thou our Keeper while we rest. When dead in sleep even to ourselves, let us be alive unto Thee. Watch over us as mothers watch their sleeping babes; and wake us in the morning, again to praise Thee, again to renew our daily work. If strength or success,—if the praise of others or self-content have made us boastful, vain, or proud, may the helplessness of our sleeping hours teach us lowliness, and remind how us our lives hang altogether upon Thee.

If sleep forsake us, or slumber come not, may sweet thoughts be ours; thoughts of Thee and Thine ever-watchful eye; thoughts of Christ and His undying love; thoughts of the Spirit, the Comforter; thoughts of those that loved us in our youth, of those who love us now; thoughts of the great Day of waking, when we shall meet, never to part again.

In our warm bed let us not fear to think of that cold and narrow bed in which we shall all one day be laid. And when our last hour draws nigh, may we in peace lie down, to sleep the Sleep that men call Death; sure that, if we have lived to Thee, we shall die in Thee, to rise again in newness of life.

Forgive the sins of this day, and of all our past days; help us to cast the cares of to-morrow upon Thee, that thus, freed from sin and free from care, we may, as Thy little children, lie down in perfect peace. Help us to forgive all who have hurt us, or given us offence: we would not have the sun go down upon our wrath.

If it be Thy Will, let us wake in health and strength; but if this poor prayer shall be our last, and not for us again shall shine the morning light, Thy Will be done! Let us depart in peace, our hearts being stayed upon Thee.—AMEN.