All Praise to Thee, My God This Night

I.

Teach me to live, that I may dread,
The grave as little as my bed;
Teach me to die, that so I may
Triumphing rise at the last day!

When in the night I sleepless lie,
My soul with heavenly thoughts supply;
Let no ill dreams disturb my rest,
No powers of darkness me molest!

Dull sleep, of sense me to deprive!
I am but half my days alive.
Thy faithful lovers, Lord, are grieved
To lie so long of thee bereaved.

But though sleep o'er my frailty reigns,
Let it not hold me long in chains,
And now and then let loose my heart,
Till it an "Alleluia” dart.

The faster sleep the sense does bind,
The more unfettered is the mind;
O may my soul from matter free,
Thy unveiled goodness waking see!

O, when shall I in endless day,
For ever chase dark sleep away,
And endless praise with th'heavenly choir,
Incessant sing, and never tire?

You my blest guardian, whilst I sleep,
Close to my bed your vigils keep;
Divine love into me instil,
Stop all the avenues of ill!

Thought to thought with my soul converse,
Celestial joys to me rehearse,
And in my stead all the night long,
Sing to my God a grateful song!

This wonderful hymn by Thomas Ken (Tallis’ Canon) is probably well known to you, but did you know that there are a number of verses that didn’t make it into the hymnal?

As a point of interest, we’ve included them below:

II.

Lord, now my sleep does me forsake,
The sole possession of me take,
Let no vain fancy me elude,
No one impure desire intrude.

Blest angels, while we silent lie,
Your Alleluias sing on high,
You, ever wakeful near the throne
Prostrate, adore the Three in One.

I, now awake, do with you join,
To praise our God in hymns divine:
With you in heaven I hope to dwell,
And bid the night and world farewell.

Lord, in thy arms I will entrust
My soul, when I shake off this dust,
O make me thy peculiar care,
Some heavenly mansion me prepare!

Give me a place at thy saints' feet,
Or some fallen angel's vacant seat;
I'll strive to sing as loud as they,
Who sit above in brighter day!

O! may I always ready stand,
With my lamp burning in my hand,
May I in sight of heaven rejoice,
When e'er I hear the Bridegroom's voice!

III.

Glory to thee in light arrayed,
Who light thy dwelling-place hast made;
An immense ocean of bright beams
From thy all-glorious Godhead streams.

The sun in its meridian height,
Is very darkness in thy sight:
My soul, O lighten and enflame,
With thought and love of thy great Name

Shine on me, Lord; new life impart;
Fresh ardors kindle in my heart;
One ray of thy all-quickening light
Dispels the sloth and clouds of night.

Blest Jesu, thou on heaven intent,
Whole nights hast in devotion spent;
But I, frail creature, soon am tired,
And all my zeal is soon expired. 

My soul, how canst thou weary grow,
Of ante-dating heaven below,
In sacred hymns, and divine love,
Which will eternal be above? 

Shine on me, Lord; new life impart;
Fresh ardors kindle in my heart;
One ray of they all-quickening light
Dispels the sloth and clouds of night.

Lord, lest the tempter me surprise,
Watch over thine own sacrifice;
All loose, all idle thoughts cast out,
And make my very dreams devout.