Adventist Pioneer Library

The Christian — Family Devotion

Softly fades the twilight ray

  • No. 564
  • Words Samuel F. Smith.
  • 5 stanzas
  • Words only in the original

Words

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1

Softly fades the twilight rayOf the holy Sabbath-day,Gently as life's setting sunWhen the Christian's course is run.

2

Night her solemn mantle spreadsO'er the earth as daylight fades,All things tell of calm reposeAt the holy Sabbath's close.

3

Peace is on the world abroad;'Tis the holy peace of God,Symbol of the peace withinWhen the spirit rests from sin.

4

Still the Spirit lingers near,Where the evening worshiperSeeks communion with the skies,Pressing onward to the prize.

5

Saviour, may our Sabbaths beDays of joy and peace in thee,Till in heaven our souls repose,Where the Sabbath ne'er shall close.

About this hymn

As printed Words only. As printed: hymn number «564» (large) in the left column of p. 184, under «George W. Doane.» of hymn 563, with the italic reference line «720, 457, 953.» (= sing to the tunes of hymns 720, 457 or 953) beside the number; five stanzas of four lines, numbered «1»–«5» without periods (written «1.»–«5.» here, as in the other deliveries of this book), all lines flush; «Samuel F. Smith.» in italics, right-aligned, after stanza 5. The first word «SOFTLY» is set in capitals and small capitals (written «Softly» here). Stanza 5 is printed over a patch of specks of the exemplar; every word is legible. The print sets a thin space before «;» («abroad ;»); it is closed up here. No meter is printed (the text is 7s, like the three reference tunes). Spelling («Sabbath-day», «worshiper», «Saviour», «ne'er»), punctuation and capitals are the print's.

Source
The Seventh-day Adventist Hymn and Tune Book (Battle Creek: Review & Herald, 1886/1888)
Where
The Christian — Family Devotion · No. 564 · printed page 184
Checked
lyrics verified (fork reading; parent check pending) · 2026-10-01