2 The year rolls round, and steals away The breath that first it gave; Whate'er we do, where'er we be,

We're travelling to the grave.

3 Great God, on what a slender thread Hang everlasting things;

The eternal state of all the dead
Upon life's feeble strings.

4 Infinite joy, or endless woe,

Attends on every breath;
And yet how unconcerned we go
Upon the brink of death.

5 Waken, O Lord, our drowsy sense,
To walk this dangerous road;
And if our souls are hurried hence,
May they be found with God.

14 Ye wheels of nature, speed your course, Ye mortal powers, decay,

Fast as ye bring the night of death,
Ye bring eternal day.

1252

Rev. Philip Doddridge. (1702-1751.) 1755

God in Nature.

Ps. lxv.

1 'TIS by Thy strength the mountains stand, God of eternal power;

The sea grows calm at Thy command,
And tempests cease to roar.

2 Thy morning light and evening shade
Successive comforts bring;

Thy plenteous fruits make harvest glad, Thy flowers adorn the spring.

3 Seasons and times, and moons and hours,
Heaven, earth, and air are Thine;
When clouds distil in fruitful showers,
The author is divine.

4 Those wandering cisterns in the sky,
Borne by the winds around,
With watery treasures well supply
The furrows of the ground.

5 The thirsty ridges drink their fill,
And ranks of corn appear;
Thy ways abound with blessings still,
Thy goodness crowns the year.
Rev. Isaac Watts. 1719.

2 Wide as the wheels of nature roll,
Thy hand supports and guides the whole;
The sun is taught by Thee to rise,
And darkness when to veil the skies.
3 The flowery spring, at Thy command,
Perfumes the air and paints the land;
The summer rays with vigor shine,
To raise the corn and cheer the vine.
4 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.

5 Seasons, and months, and weeks, and days,
Demand successive songs of praise;
And be the grateful homage paid,
With morning light and evening shade.
6 Here in Thy house let incense rise,
And circling sabbaths bless our eyes;
Till to those lofty heights we soar,
Where days and years revolve no more.
Rev. Philip Doddridge (1702-1751.) 1755. ab. and alt.

3 With grateful hearts the past we own;
The future, all to us unknown,
We to Thy guardian care commit,
And peaceful leave before Thy feet.
4 In scenes exalted or deprest,

Be Thou our joy, and Thou our rest;
Thy goodness all our hopes shall raise,
Adored through all our changing days.
Rev. Philip Doddridge. 1755. ab. and alt.

I ANOTHER year, another year

2

Hath sped its flight on silent wing; And all that marked its brief career Hath passed from mortal reckoning. Lord, for Thy grace and patient love, Unwearied still, and still the same, For all our hopes of joy above,

We laud and bless Thy Holy Name.

3 We bless Thee for each happy soul,
Throughout another fleeting year,
Or by Thy quickening grace made whole,
Or parted in Thy faith and fear.

4 Still bear with us, and bless us still;
And, while in this dark world we stay,
O let us love Thy sacred will,

O let us keep Thy narrow way.

5 So, when the rolling stream of time
Hath opened to a boundless sea,
Loud will we raise that song sublime,
"All power and glory be to Thee."
Rev. Richard Frederick Littledale. (1833-) 186

COME, LET US ANEW. 11, 5.

Samuel Webbe. (1740-1816.) C. 1770.

1st time. 2d time.

.

2 As the wingéd arrow flies
Speedily the mark to find;

As the lightning from the skies
Darts, and leaves no trace behind;
Swiftly thus our fleeting days.

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

3 Thanks for mercies past receive;
Pardon of our sins renew;
Teach us henceforth how to live
With eternity in view:

Bless Thy word to young and old;

Fill us with a Saviour's love;
And when life's short tale is told,
May we dwell with Thee above.

Yet to be revived at last

At the solemn judgment-day.

3 All our follies, Lord, forgive;

Cleanse each heart and make us Thine; Let Thy grace within us live,

As our future suns decline;

Then, when life's last eve shall come,
Happy spirits, let us fly

To our everlasting home,

To our Father's house on high.
Rev. Ray Palmer. (1808-) 1832.

Rich Thy gifts to us abound,

Warm our thanks shall rise to Thee: Kindly to our worship bow,

While our grateful praises swell, That, sustained by Thee, we now Bid the parting year farewell.

2 All its numbered days are sped, All its busy scenes are o'er, All its joys for ever fled,

All its sorrows felt no more: Mingled with th' eternal past, Its remembrance shall decay;

In the coming year shall tread? With Thy rod and staff, O God, Comfort Thou his dying bed.

4 Keep us faithful, keep us pure, Keep us evermore Thine own; Help Thy servants to endure,

Fit us for the promised crown. 5 So within Thy palace gate

We shall praise, on golden strings, Thee, the only Potentate,

Lord of lords, and King of kings.

Rev. Henry Downton. (1818-) 1839 ab