4

And may the bright'ning hope
Shine full before our eyes,

That we shall summon'd be, to meet

A Saviour in the skies.

NEW YEAR.

292 NOW, gracious Lord, Thine arm reveal, And make Thy glory known;

O make us all Thy presence feel,
And soften hearts of stone.

2 Help us to venture near Thy throne,
And plead a Saviour's name;
For all that we can call our own
Is vanity and shame.

3 From all the guilt of former sin
May mercy set us free;
And let the year we now begin,
Begin and end with Thee.

4 Send down Thy Spirit from above,
That saints may love Thee more,
And sinners now may learn to love,
Who never loved before.

5 And when before Thee we appear
In our eternal home,

May growing numbers worship here,
And praise Thee in our room.

293 BLESS, O Lord, the opening year,

To each soul assembled here;
Clothe Thy Word with power divine,
Make us willing to be Thine.

2 Shepherd of Thy blood-bought sheep!
Teach the stony heart to weep ;
Let the blind have eyes to see,

See themselves and look on Thee.

3 Where Thou hast Thy work begun,
Give new strength the race to run;
Scatter darkness, doubts, and fears,
Wipe away the mourner's tears.

4 Bless us all, both old and young,
Call forth praise from every tongue,
Let this whole assembly prove

All Thy power and all Thy love,

294 GOD! our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,

Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home!

2 Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth receiv'd her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God:
To endless years the same.

3 A thousand ages in Thy sight,
Are like an evening gone ;

Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun,

4 Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They fly forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day.

5 O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,

Be Thou our guard while troubles last,
And our eternal home.

295 Lo, another year is gone;

Quickly have the seasons pass'd;

This we enter now upon
Will to many prove the last.

2 Swiftly all our fleeting days
Bear us down life's rapid stream:
Upward, Lord, our spirits raise,
All below is but a dream.

3 If from guilt and sin set free,
By the knowledge of Thy grace,
Welcome then the call will be,
To depart and see Thy face.

4 Thanks for mercies past we give;
Pardon of our sins renew:

Help us henceforth, Lord, to live,
With eternity in view.

296 REMARK, my soul, the narrow bounds

Of each revolving year;

How swift the months complete their rounds,

How swiftly disappear.

2 Time, fleeting time, still hastens on
That all-important day,

When God, what heedless man has done,
In judgment will survey.

3 Waken, O Lord, my slumb'ring heart,
It's great concern to see;

To choose the faithful, better part,
And give itself to Thee.

4 More grateful then the years shall roll,
If future years be giv'n;
Or this shall bear my willing soul
To endless joys in heav'n.

297 LORD! by whose providence once more We greet the op'ning year, Fresh grace and mercy to implore,

Thy children now draw near!

2 We know not what this year may bring,
Or who its close shall see;

Oh, grant us grace, Thou heavenly King,
To live or die to Thee!

3 If 'tis Thy will that joy and peace
Should crown our happy days,
Let love and gratitude increase;
Give thankful hearts to praise.

4 If grief or poverty assail,
Or lowly be our state,

Let not our faith or patience fail,
Give trusting hearts to wait.

5 And oh! when sin, with subtle pow'r,
Would lure our souls astray,
Be Thou our help in danger's hour;
Give watchful hearts to pray.

6 So, through Thy grace, th' op'ning year
Shall rich in blessings be,

And bring us, day by day, more near
To glory and to Thee.

FOR CHARITY SERMONS.

298 THOU, whose care our footsteps guides, Whose arm is all our stay, Whose goodness for our want provides,

And wipes our tears away.

2 To Thee, O Lord, in all distress,
For help and peace we flee;

O teach us rightly to express
Our gratitude to Thee.

3 To beds of pain, and scenes of woe,
Thy bounty we will bear;
And sympathy and love bestow,
To soothe the sufferers there.

4 Freely to us Thy love imparts
The gifts we could not claim;
Then, Lord, incline our thankful hearts
To own a brother's name.