Lord Jesus, in the Days of Old

Lord Jesus, in the days of old
Two walked with Thee in waning light;
And love’s blind instinct made them bold
To crave Thy presence through the night.
As night descends, we too would pray,
O leave us not at close of day.

Did not their hearts within them burn?
And though their Lord they failed to know,
Did not their spirits inly yearn?
They could not let the Stranger go.
Much more must we who know Thee pray,
O leave us not at close of day.

Author: John Ellerton

Year: 1870

This hymn is a well-known work by the Church of England clergyman and hymnologist John Ellerton (1826–1893). It is sometimes titled 'The Emmaus Road' and was written around 1870; it is frequently paired with the tune 'Abends' by Herbert S. Oakeley.