A sovereign Protector I have,

Unseen, yet for ever at hand:

Unchangeably faithful to save,

Almighty to rule and command!

He smiles, and my comforts abound;

His grace as the dew shall descend;

And walls of salvation surround

The soul He delights to defend.

Kind Author and ground of my hope,

Thee, Thee, for my God I avow;

My glad Ebenezer set up,

And own Thou hast helped me till now.

I muse on the years that are past,

Wherein my defence Thou hast proved;

Nor wilt Thou relinquish at last

A sinner so signally loved!

Inspirer and Hearer of prayer,

Thou Shepherd and Guardian of Thine

My all to Thy covenant care

I, sleeping and waking, resign.

If Thou art my shield and my sun,

The night is no darkness to me:

And fast as my moments roll on,

They bring me but nearer to Thee.

Thy ministering spirits descend,

To watch while Thy saints are asleep;

By day and by night they attend,

The heirs of salvation to keep:

Bright seraphs despatched from the throne,

Repair to their stations assigned:

And angels elect are sent down

To guard the elect of mankind.

Their worship no interval knows:

Their fervor is still on the wing:

And while they protect my repose,

They chant to the praise of my King.

I, too, at the season ordained,

Their chorus for ever will join:

And love and adore, without end,

Their faithful Creator and mine.

Augustus M. Toplady