466 THE METHODIST HYMN-BOOK ILLUSTRATED
to us whatever may be a means of increasing our holiness or our happiness ! So that we may well say, with Bishop Ken, " O may Thy angels while we sleep."
Hymn 910. Sun of my soul, Thou Saviour dear.
JOHN KEBLE, M.A. (85).
Part of the second poem of The Christian Year, headed Evening. "Abide with us, for it is towards evening, and the day is far spent." Luke xxiv. 29 ; dated November 25, 1820. It begins
Tis gone, that bright and orbed blaze, Fast fading from our wistful gaze ; Yon mantling cloud has hid from sight The last faint pulse of glimmering light.
In darkness and in weariness The traveller on his way must press, No gleam to watch on tree or tower, "VVhiling away the lonesome hour.
Hymn 911. Abide with me! fast falls the eventide. HENRY F. LYTE (7).
In September, 1847, when Lyte s health was failing, and he was ordered to leave for Nice, his family were surprised and somewhat alarmed by his announcing that he was about to preach to his people again. He was confident, however, that he could do it. He preached on the Holy Communion on Sunday morning, September 4, amid breathless attention, and afterwards assisted at the Sacrament. His daughter says, Though necessarily much exhausted by the exertion and excite ment of this effort, yet his friends had no reason to believe it had been hurtful to him. In the evening of the same day he placed in the hands of a near and dear relative the little hymn " Abide with me," with an air of his own composing, adapted to the words. He had walked down the garden path to the sea shore, and then retired to his study, where he seems to have written the hymn. Next morning he left Brixham.
Lyte s music is seldom sung; Dr. Monk s Eventide has taken its place with the glorious words. He had left the house one morning with Sir Henry Baker, at the time they were work ing together in the preparation of Hymns Ancient and Modern,
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