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4 Yet, while the shore on either side
Presents a gaudy, flatt'ring 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 pow'r.

361

Welcome eternal day.

Rom. xiii, 11-14. 1 Pet. iv, 7.

1 SERVANTS of God! awake! arise!
And lift your voices high!

Praise and adore that boundless love,
Which brings salvation nigh!

2 Swift on the wings of time it flies,
Each moment brings it near;
Then gladly view each closing day,
Gladly each closing year.

3 For few indeed their round shall run,
Few future mornings rise,

Ere all its glories stand reveal'd
To our admiring eyes,

C. M.

4 Ye wheels of nature, speed your course! Ye mortal powers, decay!

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

362

L. M.

Praise for the mercies of the revolving year.

Ps. lxv, 11.

1 ETERNAL Source of every joy!
Praise shall our hearts and lips employ,
While in thy temple we appear,
Whose goodness crowns the circling year.

2 Wide as the wheels of nature roll,
Thy hand supports and guides the whole;
The sun is taught by Thee to rise;
Darkness by Thee to veil the skies.

3 Seasons, and months, and weeks, and days,
Demand successive songs of praise;
Oh! be the grateful homage paid,
With morning light, and evening shade!

4 Here in thy house let incense rise,
As circling Sabbaths bless our eyes,
Till to those glorious realms we soar,
Where days and years revolve no more.

363

C. M.

Preparation for eternity.

Job xvi, 22. Ps. xxxix, 4.

1 REMARK, my soul, the narrow bounds Of the revolving year!

How swift the weeks complete their rounds! How short the months appear!

2 So fast eternity comes on,

And that important day,

When all that mortal life has done
God's judgment shall survey.

3 Waken, O God! my trifling heart
Its great concern to see;

That I may act the Christian's part,
And give the year to Thee.

4 So shall their course more grateful roll,
If future years arise;

Or this shall bear my happy soul
To joy that never dies.

364

Uncertainty of Life.

Prov. xxvii, 1. Isa. xxviii, 15.

L. M.

Zech. i, 5. 1 GOD of our life! thy constant care With blessing crowns the op'ning year; This transient state Thou dost prolong, And wake anew our annual song.

2 How many kindred souls are fled
To swell the millions of the dead,
Since from this day the changing sun
Through his last yearly course has run!
3 We yet survive; but who can say,
Or through the year, or month, or day,
We shall retain this vital breath,

Thus far at least in league with death?
4 That breath is thine, eternal God!
"Tis thine to fix our soul's abode;
We hold our life from Thee alone,
On earth, or in the world unknown.
5 To Thee our spirits we resign;

365

Make them and own them still as thine;
So shall we smile, secure from fear,
Though death should blast the rising year.

Life but a dream.

Ps. xc, 9.

1 WHILE with ceaseless course the sun
Hasted through the former year,
Many souls their race have run,

Never more to meet us here:
Fix'd in an eternal state,

They have done with all below;

We a little longer wait,

But how little none can know.

D. 7's.

2 As the winged 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;
Upwards, 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:

366

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.

God our Guardian through the year.
Gen. xvii, 7. Deut. xi, 12.

Josh. iii, 4.

L. M.

1 GREAT God! we sing that mighty hand,
By which supported still we stand:
The op'ning year thy mercy shows;
Let mercy crown it till the close.

2 By day, by night, at home, abroad,
Still we are guarded by our God;
By his incessant bounty fed;
By his unerring counsel led.

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