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233

OW long the time since Christ began

HOW To call in vain on me:

Deaf to His warning voice I ran,
I would not hear nor see.

2 He called me when my thoughtless prime Was early ripe to ill:

I passed from folly on to crime;
And yet He called me still.

3 He called me in the time of dread,
When death was full in view:
I trembled on my feverish bed,
And rose to sin anew.

4 Yet could I hear Him once again,
As I have heard of old,

Methinks He should not call in vain
His wanderer to the fold.

5 O Thou! that every thought canst know,
And answer every prayer,
O give me sickness, want, or woe,
But snatch me from despair.

6 My struggling will by grace control!
Renew my broken vow!

What blessed light breaks on my soul?
My God! I hear Thee now!

234

MAK

AKE haste, my soul, to live; Soon comes the hour to die : Time hurries past thee like the breeze; How swift its moments fly!

2 To breathe, and wake, and sleep,
To smile, to sigh, to grieve,
To move in idleness through earth,
This, this is not to live.

3 Make haste, my soul, to do
Whatever must be done :

Thou hast no time to lose in sloth;
Thy day will soon be gone.

4 Up then with speed, and work;
Fling ease and self away:
This is no time for thee to sleep;
Up, watch and work and pray!

5 The useful, not the great,

The thing that never dies,
The silent toil that is not lost,-
Set these before thine eyes.

6 Make haste, my soul, to live;
Thy time is almost o'er:

Oh, sleep not, dream not, but arise!
The Judge is at the door!

235

behold us blessing,

Once again assembled here!

Onward be our footsteps pressing,
In Thy love, and faith, and fear!
Still protect us

By Thy presence ever near!

2 For Thy mercy we adore Thee,
For this rest upon our way:
Lord, again we bow before Thee;
Speed our labours day by day!
Mind and spirit

With Thy choicest gifts array!

3 Keep the spell of home-affection
Still alive in every heart!

May its power, with mild direction,
Draw our love from self apart;
Till Thy children

Feel that Thou their Father art!

4 Break temptation's fatal power,
Shielding all with guardian care,
Safe in every careless hour,
Safe from sloth and sensual snare:
Thou, our Saviour,

Still our failing strength repair!

236

ORD, dismiss us with Thy blessing;
Thanks for mercies past receive;

Pardon all, their faults confessing,
Time that's lost may all retrieve:
May Thy children

Ne'er again Thy Spirit grieve!

2 Bless Thou all our days of leisure;
Help us selfish lures to flee;
Sanctify our every pleasure,

Pure and blameless may it be:
May our gladness

Draw us evermore to Thee!

3 By Thy kindly influence cherish
All the good we here have gained;
May all taint of evil perish,

By Thy mightier power restrained:
Seek we ever

Knowledge pure and love unfeigned!

4 Let Thy father-hand be shielding

All who here shall meet no more;
May their seed-time past be yielding
Year by year a richer store :
Those returning

Make more faithful than before!

237

FA

ATHER, hear Thy children's praises
For the boon we own to-day;
Grateful love our hearts upraises,
This our sacrifice to pay :

2 Thanks for all Thy mercies given--
Stores of knowledge here unrolled,
Means of grace and hopes of heaven-
Unto us, Thy chosen fold!

3 Lord, Thy servants' spirits turning,
Mould them by Thy gracious sway:
Godliness and all good learning

May we follow, day by day!

4 May we, these Thy bounties sharing,
Every talent use aright,
Still by earthly lore preparing,
Till our faith be turned to sight:
5 Till, undimmed by dark reflection,
Face to face shall Christ be shown;
Knowledge rise to full perfection-
Knowing e'en as we are known.

238

Y

My soul, triumphant in the Lord,

Shall tell its joys abroad;

And march with holy vigour on,
Supported by its God.

2 Through all the winding maze of life
His hand hath been my guide;

And in that long-experienced care
My heart shall still confide.

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