His adorable will Let us gladly fulfil, . And our talents improve By the patience of hope, and the labor of love. 2 Our life is a dream; Our time, as a stream, Glides swiftly away, The arrow is flown ; The millennial year 3 O, that each, in the day Of his coming, may say, “I have fought my way through ; I have finished the work thou didst give me to do "; O, that each from his Lord "Well and faithfully done ; C. M. DODLRIDGE. And lift your voices high ; That shows salvation nigh. Each moment brings it near : Welcome each closing year. Nor many mornings rise, 4 Ye wheels of nature, speed your course ; Ye mortal powers, decay ; Ye bring eternal day. 720. C. M. ANONYMOUS. Of thy short life is past ; And this may be my last. Nor will return again ; The few that yet remain. Thy true condition learn : What is thy great concern ? Set out afresh for heaven ; In Christ so freely given. And on his grace depend ; Nor doubt a happy end. 721. L. M. DODDRIDGE. Begin, and crown, and close the year. And see, when we review our ways, Ten thousand monuments of praise. Thus far we make his mercy known ; New mercies shall new songs demand. Shall raise one sacred pillar more, 722. C. M. DODDRIDGE. Of each revolving year ; How short the months appear ! And that important day God's judgment shall survey. The swift-revolving year, The speed of its career. Its great concerns to see, And give the year to thee. If future years arise ; 723. 10s. M. E. TAYLOR. The changing Year. 1 GOD of the changing year, whose arm of power In safety leads through danger's darkest hour, To bless thy mercy, and thy might to own. To cheer its hours of darkness, — all are thine. 3 If round our path the thorns of sorrow grew, And mortal friends were faithless, thou wert true; Did sickness shake the frame, or anguish tear The wounded spirit, thou wert present there. 4 Yet when our hearts review departed days, How vast thy mercies ! how remiss our praise ! Bend at thy throne, and worship at thy feet. 5 0, lend thine ear, and lift our voice to thee; Where'er we dwell, still let thy mercy be ; 7s. M. NEWTON. Quickly have the seasons past ! Will to many prove their last. But have mercies been improved ? Should I be this year removed ? Who their mortal race have run, Seemed as fair for life as we, When the former year begun. That are here assembled now, To the stroke of death must bow. By the knowledge of thy grace, To depart and see thy face. With new years new mercies come Is the last, that leads them home. BEDDOME. How swift they glide away ! When past, — but as a day! Clouded by grief and sin ; Distressing fears within. If thou permit my stay, The true and living way! DODDRIDGE. The Flight of Time. 1 GOD of eternity, from thee Did infant Time his being draw ; Moments, and days, and months, and years Revolve by thine unvaried law. |