BOYS OF THE BIBLE. 87

Then the voice became silent. The luminous presence
grew less and less clear, the angel forms began to fade into
dim outlines, the mountain ladder shimmered and trembled
in the growing dawn. Jacob awoke, wondering, fearing,
astonished, as well he might—and he said, “Surely God is
in this place and I knew it not! How dreadful is this place;
this is none other but the House of God, and this is the
gate of Heaven!”

The story of this memorable night at Bethel inspired Mrs.
Adams to sing that sweet, sacred song, “Nearer My God to
Thee.” Outside the sacred Scriptures there is scarcely any-
thing more touching and beautiful than this tender Christian
hymn. It is sung in hours of sorrow, and in hours of deep,
quiet joy. We sing it in the sanctuary and the home, in the
hour of sacred consecration, and when the solemn death-bell
tolls. It is sung in all lands, and will be sung by devout
souls to the very end of time. The whole story of that blissful
night, of the ascending and descending angels, and of the
morning bright with new-born hope, is told so tenderly that
it will never be forgotten.

Though like a wanderer,
The sun gone down,

Darkness comes over me,
My rest a stone,

Yet in my dreams I’d be

Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!

There let my way appear
Steps unto heaven;
All that Thou sendest me
In mercy given;
Angels to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!