Zinzendorff and Other Poems/Prisoners' Evening Hymn

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4045638Zinzendorff and Other PoemsPrisoners' Evening Hymn1836Lydia Huntley Sigourney


PRISONERS' EVENING HYMN.

Written for the Females in the Connecticut State Prison.

The silent curtains of the night
    Each lonely cell surround,
God's dwelling is in perfect light,
    His mercy hath no bound.


Still on the sinful and the vile
    His daily bounties fall,
Still comes the sun with cheerful smile
    Dispensing good to all.

The way of wickedness is hard,
    Its bitter fruits we know,
Shame in this world is its reward,
    And in the future, woe.

Oh Thou! who see'st us while we pay
    The penance of our guilt,
Cast not our souls condemn'd away,
    Christ's blood for us was spilt.

Deep root within a heart subdued
    May true repentance take,
And be its fruits a life renew'd,
    For the Redeemer's sake.

Uplift our spirits from the ground,
    Give to our darkness, light,
Oh Thou! whose mercies have no bound,
    Preserve us safe this night.