American Baptist preacher John Leland, known as Elder Leland, was quite active during the revival period of 1787-89 and baptized four hundred people. By the end of his ministry, he’d baptized more than fifteen hundred people and preached over eight thousand sermons.
Leland was born in Massachusetts in 1754. It was said that his prayers "brought heaven and earth together." He ministered in Virginia during the Revolutionary War and was close friends with James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe. Without Leland’s influence on these men, the Bill of Rights may not have been written and included in the United States Constitution.
After nearly fifteen years as an itinerant preacher traveling by horseback a total of almost seventy thousand miles throughout Virginia, Leland moved back home to Massachusetts and assumed pastoral duties there. He was well-known and highly respected everywhere in New England and was asked by the people to serve as a representative in the Massachusetts legislature. Elder Leland died in 1844.
In addition to all his duties, Leland wrote poetry and essays. He also wrote hymns often to accompany his sermons, but only a few of those appear in hymnals today. “The Day is Past and Gone” (1790) was his most published hymn and was originally titled “Evening Hymn.” Many children were sung to sleep by this hymn. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety (Psalm 4:8).
The day is past and gone,
The evening shades appear;
O may we all remember well
The night of death draws near.
We lay our garments by,
Upon our beds to rest;
So death will soon disrobe us all
Of what is here possessed.
Lord, keep us all this night,
Secure from all our fears;
May angels guard us while we sleep,
Till morning light appears.
And if we early rise,
And view th'unwearied sun,
May we set out to win the prize
And after glory run.
And when our days are past,
And we from time remove,
O may we in thy bosom rest,-
The bosom of thy love.
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