2 As time departs salvation comes,
Each moment brings it near;
Then welcome each declining day;
Welcome each closing year.
3 Not many years their course shall run,
Not many mornings rise,
Ere all its glories stand reveal'd
To our transported eyes.
HYMN 49.
ST. LUKE xiii. 6-9.
SEE, in the vineyard of the Lord,
A barren fig-tree stands;
No fruit it yields, no blossom bears,
Though planted by His hands.
2 From year to year the tree He views,
And still no fruit is found;
Then" cut it down," the Lord commands,
Why cumbers it the ground?"
3 But lo! the gracious Saviour pleads,
"The barren fig-tree spare,
"Another year in mercy wait,
"It yet may bloom and bear:
4" But if my culture prove in vain,
"And still no fruit be found,
"I plead no more; destroy the tree,
"And root it from thy ground."
1HE God of life, whose constant care
With blessings crowns each op'ning year,
My scanty span doth still prolong, And wakes anew mine annual song. 2 How many precious souls are fled To the vast regions of the dead, Since to this day the changing sun Through his last yearly period run! 3 We yet survive; but who can say, "Or through this year, or month, or day, "I shall retain this vital breath,
"Thus far, at least, in league with death?"
4 That breath is thine, eternal God;
"Tis thine to fix my soul's abode;
It holds its life from thee alone,
On earth, or in the world unknown.
5 To thee our spirits we resign,
Make them and own them still as thine;
So shall they live secure from fear,
Though death should blast the rising year.
6 Thy children panting to be gone,
May bid the tide of time roll on,
To land them on that happy shore, Where years and death are known no more. 7 No more fatigue, no more distress,
Nor sin, nor hell, shall reach that place;
No groans, to mingle with the songs
Resounding from immortal tongues:
8 No more alarms from ghostly foes;
No cares to break the long repose;
No midnight shade, no clouded sun,
But sacred, high, eternal noon.
9 O long expected year! begin;
Dawn on this world of wo and sin;
Fain would we leave this weary road,
To sleep in death, and rest with God.
2 The world and worldly things belov'd My anxious thoughts employ'd;
And time unhallow'd, unimprov'd,
Presents a fearful void.
3 Yet, holy Father! wild despair
Chase from my lab'ring breast:
Thy grace it is which prompts the pray'r,
That grace can do the rest.
4 My life's brief remnant all be thine!
And when thy sure decree
Bids me this fleeting breath resign,
O speed my soul to Thee.
OW beauteous are their feet
Who stand on Zion's hill;
Who bring salvation on their tongues,
And words of peace reveal!
2 How charming is their voice!
How sweet their tidings are!
"Zion, behold thy Saviour-King,
"He reigns and triumphs here."
3 How happy are our ears
That hear this joyful sound,
Which kings and prophets waited for,
And sought, but never found.
4 How blessed are our eyes
That see this heav'nly light!
Prophets and kings desir'd it long,
But died without the sight.
5 The watchmen join their voice,
And tuneful notes employ;
Jerusalem breaks forth in songs,
And deserts learn the joy.
6 The Lord makes bare his arm
Through all the earth abroad:
Let every nation now behold
Their Saviour and their God.
ISE, crown'd with light, imperial Salem rise!
Exalt thy tow'ring head and lift thine
eyes!
See heav'n its sparkling portals wide display,
And break upon thee in a flood of day!
2 See a long race thy spacious courts adorn,
See future sons, and daughters yet unborn,
In crowding ranks on ev'ry side arise,
Demanding life, impatient for the skies!
3 See barb'rous nations at thy gates attend,
Walk in thy light, and in thy temple bend!
See thy bright altars throng'd with prostrate kings,
While ev'ry land its joyous tribute brings!
4 The seas shall waste, the skies to smoke decay,
Rocks fall to dust, and mountains melt away;
But fix'd his word, his saving pow'r remains;
Thy realm shall last, thy own Messiah reigns.
Great David's greater Son;
Hail in the time appointed,
His reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression,
To set the captive free,
To take away transgression,
And rule in equity.
2 He comes with succour speedy,
To those who suffer wrong,
To help the poor and needy,
And bid the weak be strong;
To give them songs for sighing,
Their darkness turn to light,
Whose souls, condemn'd and dying,
Were precious in his sight.
3 He shall descend like showers
Upon the fruitful earth;
And love and joy, like flowers,
Spring in his path to birth:
Before him, on the mountains,
Shall peace, the herald, go;
And righteousness, in fountains,
From hill to valley flow.
4 To him shall pray'r unceasing,
And daily vows ascend;
His kingdom still increasing,
A kingdom without end:
The tide of time shall never
His covenant remove;
His name shall stand for ever;
That name to us is Love.
9ER mountain tops the mount of God
In latter days shall rise,
Above the summits of the hills,
And draw the wond'ring eyes.
2 To this the joyful nations round,
All tribes and tongues, shall flow;
"Up to the mount of God," they'll say,
"And to his house we'll go."
3 The beams that shine from Zion's hill
Shall lighten ev'ry land;
The King who reigns in Salem's tow'rs
Shall all the world command.
4 Among the nations he shall judge;
His judgments truth shall guide:
o His sceptre shall protect the just,
And crush the sinner's pride.
5 For peaceful implements shall men
Exchange their swords and spears;
Nor shall they study war again
Throughout those happy years.
6 Come, O ye house of Jacob! come
To worship at his shrine;
And, walking in the light of God,
With holy graces shine.
AVIOUR, when, in dust, to thee
Low we bow th' adoring knee;
When, repentant, to the skies
Scarce we lift our streaming eyes;
O, by all thy pains and wo,
Suffer'd once for man below,
Bending from thy throne on high,
Hear our solemn litany.
2 By thy birth and early years,
By thy human griefs and fears,
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