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The shortness and uncertainty of life.

1 SOON with resistless arm shall Death
Assert its sovereign claim,

And summon man to yield his breath
TO HIM whence first it came.

2 Like crowded forest trees we stand,
-And some are mark'd to fall;
The axe will smite at God's command,
And soon shall smite us all.

3 Green as the bay-tree, ever green,
With its new foliage on,

The gay, the thoughtless, I have seen:
I pass'd-and they were gone.*

4 No present health can health insure
For yet an hour to come;

No human power at length secure,
And save us from the tomb.

5 Lord! teach us henceforth so to live,
And number all our days,

That in thy strength we now may strive
To walk in wisdom's ways.

6 And since the fatal shafts of death
Are flying all around,

Prepare us to resign our breath,
Nor dread the threatened wound.

* Ps. xxxvii. 35-38.

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On hearing a passing-bell.

1 HARK! 'tis the bell with solemn toll,
That speaks the spirit's flight

From earth, to realms of endless day,
Or everlasting night.

2 "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust,"
Sin's awful curse demands:
O well! if pure before the throne
The soul accepted stands.

3 O well! for if uncleansed from guilt
Through Christ's atoning blood,
With what dismay she now beholds
The presence of her God!

4 To live through an eternal death,
Eternal woe to bear!

Father of mercy! God of Grace!
Inspire and hear our prayer.

5" From sin, the sting of death and hell, From enmity to Thee,

Extend thine own all-powerful arm,
And set us bond-slaves free."

6 So when the bell with solemn toll
Shall speak our spirit's flight,
Angels their glad approach shall hail
To realms of bliss and light.

HYMN 108.

(C. M. BROMSGROVE.)

Exhortation against the fear of death.

1 BEHOLD, ye saints! the purchased gift Of your Redeemer's blood!

A crown of life, reserved in heaven,
For all the sons of God.

2 A sinful world and wicked heart
Against you join their power;
And Satan, like a roaring lion,
Seeks whom he may devour.

2 But fear not ye, who trust in Christ
To save your souls from death:
Look more and more to Him for help;
Live more and more by faith.

4 Take the whole armour of your God;
Salvation's helmet take;

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Gird on the Spirit's conquering sword;
And prayer unceasing make.

5 Under the banners of your King,
Thus arm'd, resist your foes;

And you shall more than conquerors prove, Though death and hell oppose.

6 Then courage take, ye fearful saints! Your future triumphs sing!

66

"O grave! where is thy victory? O death! where is thy sting?"

HYMN 109.

(C. M. OLNEY.)

For a new year.

1 Now, gracious Lord! thine arm reveal,
And make thy glories known;
Now let us all thy presence feel;
Oh! melt each heart of stone.

2 Help us to come before thy throne,
And plead the Saviour's name;
For all, that we can call our own,
Is vanity and shame.

3 From all the guilt of former sin
May mercy set us free;
And let the year we now begin,
Begin, and end, with Thee.

4 Send down thy Spirit from above,
That saints may love Thee more;
And sinners now may learn to love,
Who never loved before.

5 And when before Thee we appear
In our eternal home,

May growing numbers worship here,
And praise Thee in our room.
HYMN 110.

(L. M. ROME.)

On the new year.

1 How many kindred souls are fled To the vast regions of the dead, Since from this day the changing sun Through his last yearly period run! 2 We yet survive :-but who can say, "Or through this year, or month, or day, I will retain this vital breath,

Thus far at least in league with death ?" 3 That breath is thine, Eternal God 'Tis thine to fix the soul's abode : It holds its life from Thee alone, On earth, or in the world unknown.

4 To Thee our spirits we resign;
Make them, and own them, still as thine:
So shall they rest secure from fear,
Though death should blight the rising year,

HYMN 111.

(s. M. CRANBROOK.)

At the close of a year.

1 LET hearts and tongues unite,
And loud thanksgivings raise!
'Tis duty, mingled with delight,
To sing the Saviour's praise.
2 When on the breast we hung,
Our help was in the Lord;
'Twas He first taught our infant tongue
To form the lisping word.

3 In childhood, and in youth,
His eye was on us still,
Though strangers to his love and truth,
And prone to thwart his will.

4 Now through another year
Supported by his care,

We raise our Ebenezer here;
"The Lord hath help'd thus far."*

5 Our state in future years,

Since we cannot forsee,
He kindly, to prevent our fears,
Says, "leave it all to me."

6 O may we all then cast

Our care upon the Lord!

*Sam. vii. 12.

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