4 In scenes exalted or depress'd, Our helper, God, in whom we trust, 1 ETERNAL God! I bless thy name, Begin, and close, and crown the year. 1 WHILE with ceaseless course the sun Hasted through the former year, Many souls their race have run, Never more to meet us here: Fixed in an eternal state, They have done with all below; We a little longer wait, But how little-none can know. 2 Spared to see another year, Let thy blessing meet us here; FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. Sun of righteousness, arise! Warm our hearts, and bless our eyes: Make this year a time of love. 3 Thanks for mercies past receive, Bless thy word to old and young, 68 1 2 3 4 5 HYMN. 5's and 11's. COME, let us anew Our journey pursue, Roll round with the year, And never stand still, till the Master appear. Our life is a dream, Our time as a stream Glides swiftly away; And the fugitive moment refuses to stay. The arrow is flown, The moment is gone; The millennial year Rushes on to our view, and eternity's here. O that each in the day Of his coming may say, "I've fought my way through, 289 I've finish'd the work thou did'st give me to do!" O that each from his Lord Enter into my joy, and sit down on my throne!” 2 B FOR THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR. 69 HYMN. C. M. Reflections at the End of the Year. 1 AND now, my soul, another year I cannot long continue here, 2 Much of my dubious life is gone, And swift my passing moments run, 3 Awake, my soul-with utmost care What are thy hopes?-how sure? how fair? 4 Behold, another year begins! 5 Devoutly yield thyself to God, With zeal pursue the heav'nly road, 70 HYMN. S. M. Rapid flight of Time. MY few revolving years, How swift they glide away! 2 A dark and cloudy day, Made up of grief and sin; 3 Lord, through another year, pursue 71 HYMN. C. M. Praise for Providential Goodness. 1. GOD of our lives, thy various praise Our voices shall resound: Thy hand directs our fleeting days, And brings the seasons round. 2 To thee shall grateful songs arise, Our Father and our Friend; Whose constant mercies from the skies, In genial streams descend. 3 In ev'ry scene of life, thy care, And, constant as thy favours are, 4 Still may thy love, in every scene, HYMN. C. M. 72 The House appointed for all living. Th' appointed house, by heav'n's decree, 2 The wicked there from troubling cease- 3 All, levell'd by the hand of death, Till God in judgment calls them forth, Bright suns arise, Thro' earth and skies. 2 The morn, with glory crown'd, In flow'rs and trees. 3 With life he clothes the spring, 74 Thro' all appear; HYMN. L. M. THE flow'ry spring, at God's command, 3 The changing seasons, months and days 1 WHEN verdure clothes the fertile vale, And blossoms deck the spray, |