2 Silent and swift they glide away; Steady and strong the current flows, Lost in eternity's wide sea,
The boundless gulf from whence it rose. 3 With it the thoughtless sons of men Upon the rapid stream are borne Swift on to their eternal home,
Whence not one soul can e'er return. 4 Yet, while the shore, on either side, Presents a gaudy, flattering show, We gaze, in fond amazement lost, Nor think to what a world we go. 5 Great Source of wisdom, teach my heart To know the price of every hour, That time may bear me on to joys Beyond its measure and its power.
10 & 11s. M.
For New Year's Day.
1 HOUSE of our God, with cheerful anthems ring, While all our lips and hearts his graces sing; The opening year his bounties shall proclaim, And all its days be vocal with his name. The Lord is good, his mercy never-ending, His blessings in perpetual showers descending. 2 Thou earth, enlightened by his rays divine, Pregnant with grass, and corn, and oil, and wine; Crowned with his goodness, let the nations meet, And lay their crowns at his paternal feet; With grateful love that liberal hand confessing, Which through each heart diffuseth every blessing. 3 His mercy never ends; the dawn, the shade, Still see new beauties through new scenes displayed; Succeeding ages bless this sure abode,
And children lean upon their father's God.
The soul of man, through its immense duration, Drinks from this source immortal consolation. 4 Burst into praise, my soul ! all nature join; Angels and men in harmony combine; While human years are measured by the sun, And while eternity its course shall run, His goodness, in perpetual showers descending, Exalt in songs and raptures never-ending.
The Providence of God in the Seasons.
1 THE rolling year, Almighty Lord!
Obeys thy powerful nod;
Each season, as it silent moves,
Declares the present God.
2 Waked by thy voice, blooms forth the spring, In living verdure dressed;
On hills, in vales, through fields and groves, Thy beauties stand confessed.
3 The sun calls forth the summer months, Nor do the hours delay;
The fruits with varied colors glow Beneath his ripening ray.
4 Thy bounty, Lord! in autumn shines, And spreads a general feast;
In which thy creatures all partake, The greatest and the least.
5 When winter rears her hoary head, And shows her furrowed brow,
In storms and tempests, frosts and snows, How awful, Lord, art thou!
6 The rolling year, Almighty Lord! Obeys thy powerful nod; Each season, as it silent moves, Declares the present God.
The Goodness of God in the Seasons.
1 GREAT God! at whose all-powerful call At first arose this beauteous frame, By thee the seasons change, and all The changing seasons speak thy name. 2 Thy bounty bids the infant year,
From winter storms recovered, rise; When thousand grateful scenes appear, Fresh opening to our wondering eyes.
3 O, how delightful 't is to see
The earth in vernal beauty dressed! While in each herb, and flower, and tree, Thy bright perfections shine confessed! 4 Indulgent God! from every part, Thy plenteous blessings largely flow; - let every heart With grateful love and duty glow.
1 WITH songs and honors sounding loud, Address the Lord on high ;
O'er all the heavens he spreads his cloud, And waters veil the sky.
2 He sends his showers of blessings down, To cheer the plains below;
He makes the grass the mountains crown, And corn in valleys grow.
3 His steady counsels change the face Of each declining year;
He bids the sun cut short his race, And wintry days appear.
4 On us his providence has shone, With gentle, smiling rays;
O, may our lips and lives make known His goodness and his praise.
1 WHEN brighter suns and milder skies Proclaim the opening year, What various sounds of joy arise ! What prospects bright appear! 2 Earth and her thousand voices give Their thousand notes of praise; And all, that by his mercy live, To God their offering raise.
3 The streams, all beautiful and bright, Reflect the morning sky;
And there, with music in his flight, The wild bird soars on high.
4 Thus, like the morning, calm and clear, That saw the Saviour rise, The spring of heaven's eternal year Shall dawn on earth and skies.
5 No winter there, no shades of night, Obscure those mansions blest, Where, in the happy fields of light, The weary are at rest.
1 WHEN verdure clothes the fertile vale, And blossoms deck the spray,
And fragrance breathes in every gale, How sweet the vernal day!
2 Hark! how the feathered warblers sing! 'T is nature's cheerful voice; Soft music hails the lovely spring, And woods and fields rejoice.
3 O God of nature and of grace, Thy heavenly gifts impart ; Then shall my meditation trace Spring, blooming in my heart. 4 Inspired to praise, I then shall join Glad nature's cheerful song, And love and gratitude divine Attune my joyful tongue.
The Seasons. Summer.
1 GREAT God, at thy command Seasons in order rise :
Thy power and love in concert reign Through earth, and seas, and skies.
2 How balmy is the air!
How warm the sun's bright beans! While, to refresh the ground, the rains Descend in gentle streams.
3 With grateful praise we own
Thy providential hand,
While grass, and herbs, and waving corn,
Adorn and bless the land.
4 But greater still the gift
Of thy beloved Son;
By him forgiveness, peace, and joy, Through endless ages run.
1 THE leaves around me falling
Are preaching of decay;
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