1

6-8 s.

HOW many pass the guilty night

In revellings and frantic mirth ! The creature is their sole delight, Their happiness the things of earth: For us suffice the seasor past; We choose the better part at last.

2 We will not close our wakeful eyes, We will not let our eyelids sleep, But humbly lift them to the skies, And all a solemn vigil keep; So many years on sin bestowed, Can we not watch one night for God? 3 We can, O Jesus, for thy sake,

Devote our every hour to thee: Speak but the word, our souls shall wake,

And sing with cheerful melody; Thy praise shall our glad tongues employ,

And every heart shall dance for joy. 4 Shout in the midst of us, O King

Of saints, and make our joys abound; Let us exult, give thanks, and sing, And triumph in redemption found: We ask for every waiting soul, O let our glorious joy be full!

5 O may we all triumphant rise, With joy upon our heads return, And far above those nether skies,

By thee on eagles' wings upborne, Through all yon radiant circles move, And gain the highest heaven of love!

978 For New-Year's Day.

L. M.

1 ETERNAL Source of every joy, Well may thy praise our lips em ploy,

While in thy temple we appear, Whose goodness crowns the circling year.

2 The flowery spring at thy command
Embalms the air, and paints the land;
The summer rays with vigour shine
To raise the corn, and cheer the vine.
3 Thy hand in autumn richly pours
Through all our coasts redundant
stores;

And winters softened by thy care
No more a face of horror wear.

4 Seasons, and months, and weeks, and days,

Demand successive songs of praise: Still be the cheerful homage paid With opening light, and evening shade. 5 Here in thy house shall incense rise, As circling Sabbaths bless our eyes; Still will we make thy mercies known Around thy board, and round our own. 6 O may our more harmonious tongue In worlds unknown pursue the song; And in those brighter courts adore, Where days and years revolve no more!

2 His providence hath brought us through

Another various year:

We all with vows and anthems new
Before our God appear.

3 Father, thy mercies past we own;
Thy still continued care;

To thee presenting, through thy Son,
Whate'er we have or are.

4 Our lips and lives shall gladly show
The wonders of thy love,
While on in Jesu's steps we go
To see thy face above.

5 Our residue of days or hours
Thine, wholly thine, shall be;
And all our consecrated powers
A sacrifice to thee:

6 Till Jesus in the clouds appear
To saints on earth forgiven,
And bring the grand sabbatic year,
The jubilee of heaven.

praise,

To God, who lengthens out our days;
Who spares us yet another year,
And makes us see his goodness here :
O may we all the time redeem,
And henceforth live and die to him!

2 How often, when his arm was bared,
Hath he our sinful Israel spared!
"Let them alone," his mercy cried,
And turned the vengeful bolt aside;
Indulged another kind reprieve,
And strangely suffered us to live.
3 Merciful God, how shall we raise

Our hearts to pay thee all thy praise ?
Our hearts shall beat for thee alone;
Our lives shall make thy goodness
known;

Our souls and bodies shall be thine,
A living sacrifice divine.

1

THE Lord of earth and sky,
The God of ages, praise;
Who reigns enthroned on high,
Ancient of endless days;
Who lengthens out our trial here,
And spares us yet another year.
2 Barren and withered trees,

We cumbered long the ground;
No fruits of holiness

On our dead souls were found: Yet doth he us in mercy spare Another and another year.

3 When justice bared the sword,
To cut the fig-tree down,
The pity of our Lord

Cried, "Let it still alone;"
Our gracious God inclines his ear,
And spares us yet another year!
4 Jesus, thy speaking blood

From God obtained the grace,
Who therefore hath bestowed
On us a longer space:
Thou didst in our behalf appear,
And lo, we see another year!
5 Then dig about our root,

Break up the fallow ground,
And let our gracious fruit

To thy great praise abound:
O let us all thy praise declare,
And fruit unto perfection bear!

2 Time to repent thou dost bestow;

But O the power impart !
And let my eyes with tears o'erflow,
And break my stubborn heart!
To-day, while it is called to-day,
The hindering thing remove;
And lo, I now begin to pray
And wrestle for thy love!

3 I now from all my sins would turn
To my atoning God;

And look on him I pierced, and mourn,
And feel the sprinkled blood;
Would nail my passions to the cross,
Where my Redeemer died;

And all things count but dung and loss,
For Jesus crucified.

4 Giver of penitential pain,
Before thy cross I lie,

In grief determined to remain,
Till thou thy blood apply.
Forgiveness on my conscience seal,
Bestow thy promised rest;
With purest love thy servant fill,
And number with the blest.

983

YE

S. M.

1 worms of earth arise,
Ye creatures of a day,
Redeem the time, be bold, be wise,
And cast your bonds away;

2 Shake off the chains of sin,
Like us assembled here,

With hymns of praise to usher in
The acceptable year.

3 The year of gospel-grace,
Like us, rejoice to see,

And thankfully in Christ embrace
Your proffered liberty.

4 Saviour and Lord of all, Thy proffer we receive, Obedient to thy gospel-call,

That bids us turn and live:

987

COME, ye thankful people, come,
Raise the song of harvest-home:
All is safely gathered in,
Ere the winter storms begin:
God our Maker doth provide
For our wants to be supplied:
Come to God's own temple, come,
Raise the song of harvest-home!
2 We ourselves are God's own field,
Fruit unto his praise to yield;
Wheat and tares together sown,
Unto joy or sorrow grown:
First the blade, and then the ear,
Then the full corn shall appear:
Grant, O harvest Lord, that we
Wholesome grain and pure may be.
3 For the Lord our God shall come,
And shall take his harvest home;
From his field shall in that day
All offences purge away;
Give his angels charge at last
In the fire the tares to cast;
But the fruitful ears to store
In his garner evermore.

4 Then, thou Church triumphant, come,
Raise the song of harvest-home!
All are safely gathered in,
Free from sorrow, free from sin;
There for ever purified,

In God's garner to abide :
Come, ten thousand angels, come,
Raise the glorious harvest-home!

For all his love!

(See also Hymns 578, 579.)