In sleep's serene oblivion laid

Representative Text

1 In sleep's serene oblivion laid,
I safely pass'd the silent night:
Again I see the breaking shade,
I drink again the morning light.

2 New-born, I bless the waking hour,
Once more, with awe, rejoice to be:
My conscious soul resumes her pow'r,
And springs, my guardian God! to thee.

3 O guide me through the various maze
My doubtful feet are doom'd to tread;
And spread thy shield's protecting blaze,
Where dangers press around my head.

4 A deeper shade shall soon impend:
A deeper sleep my eyes oppress:
Yet then thy strength shall still defend,
Thy goodness still delight to bless.

5 That deeper shade shall break away;
That deeper sleep shall leave my eyes:
Thy light shall give eternal day;
Thy love, the raptures of the skies.

Source: Hymns, Selected and Original: for public and private worship (1st ed.) #617

Author: J. Hawkesworth

Hawkesworth, John, LL.D. (b. 1715, and d. Nov. 1773), a writer in the Gentleman's Magazine, proprietor and editor of the Adventurer, and friend of Johnson, Warton, and other literary men of note, published, in 1760, Poems and Translations, and was the author of the well-known Morning hymn "In sleep's serene oblivion laid." This hymn was composed in 1773, "about a month before his death, in a wakeful hour of the night, and dictated to his wife on rising. It appeared in the Universal Theological Magazine for March, 1802." (Miller's Singers & Songs, &c, p. 210.) It was given in Collyer's Selection, 1812; the Leeds Hymn Book, 1853; and others; and is in somewhat extensive use in America. It sometimes begins, as in the American Unitarian Hymns… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: In sleep's serene oblivion laid
Author: J. Hawkesworth
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

GERMANY (Gardiner)


TALLIS' CANON

TALLIS CANON is one of nine tunes Thomas Tallis (PHH 62) contributed to Matthew Parker's Psalter (around 1561). There it was used as a setting for Psalm 67. In the original tune the melody began in the tenor, followed by the soprano, and featured repeated phrases. Thomas Ravenscroft (PHH 59) publish…

Go to tune page >


DAWN (Burgk)


Timeline

Instances

Instances (101 - 117 of 117)
Page Scan

The New Hymn Book, Designed for Universalist Societies #514

The Olive Branch #d66

Page Scan

The Palm #106a

Page Scan

The Palm #119

The Plymouth Hymnal #d221

Page Scan

The Praise Hymnary #268

Page Scan

The Sabbath Hymn and Tune Book #389a

The Sabbath Hymn Book. Baptist ed. #d473

The Sacred Lyre #d131

The School Hymn and Tune Book #d91

The School Hymn Book #d30

Page Scan

The School Hymn-Book #37

The School Psalter #d136

The Service of Song for Baptist Churches #d391

Page Scan

The Springfield Collection of Hymns for Sacred Worship #434

Vestry Songs #d104

Pages

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us