539.

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, Here in thy temple bow thy creatures down, To bless thy mercy, and thy might to own. 2 Thine are the beams that cheer us on our way, And pour around the gladdening light of day; Thine is the night, and the fair orbs that shine 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! Well may we dread thine awful eye to meet, Bend at thy throne, and worship at thy feet. 5 O lend thine ear, and lift our voice to thee; Where'er we dwell, still let thy mercy be; From year to year, still nearer to thy shrine Draw our frail hearts, and make them wholly thine.

540.

L. M.

DODDDIDGE.

The Year crowned with Divine Goodness. Ps. 65.

1 ETERNAL Source of every joy!

Well may thy praise our 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 the steady pole:
The sun is taught by thee to rise,
And darkness when to veil the skies.

3 The flowery spring, at thy command,
Embalms the air, and paints the land;
The summer rays with vigor shine,
To raise the corn, and cheer the vine.
4 Thy hand in autumn richly pours
Through all our coasts redundant stores;
And winters, softened by thy care,

No more a face of horror wear.

5 Seasons, and months, and weeks, and days,
Demand successive songs of praise;
Still be the cheerful homage paid,
With opening light and evening shade.
6 0 may our more harmonious tongues
In worlds unknown pursue the songs;
And in those brighter courts adore,
Where days and years revolve no more!

541.

C. M.

DODDRIDGE.

Reflections for a New Year. Ps. 90.

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 Yet like an idle tale we pass
The swift advancing year,
And study artful ways t' increase
The speed of its career.

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

That I may act the Christian part,
And give the year to thee.

5 Thus shall their course more grateful roll, If future years arise;

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

542.

L. M.

DODDRIDGE.

For the Beginning or End of the Year. 1 My helper, God! I bless his name; The same his power, his grace the same: The tokens of his friendly care

Open, and crown, and close the year.

2 I midst ten thousand dangers stand,
Supported by his guardian hand;
And see, when I survey my ways,
Ten thousand monuments of praise.
3 Thus far his arm hath led me on;
Thus far I make his mercy known;
And, while I tread this desert land,
New blessings shall new songs demand. '

36

421

543.

S. M.

Beddome.

Purposes on Beginning a New Year.

1 My few revolving years,
How swift they glide away!
How short the term of life appears,
When past but as a day!

2 A dark and cloudy day,
Clouded by grief and sin;
A host of enemies without,
Distressing fears within.

3 Lord, through another year
If thou permit my stay,
With diligence may I pursue
The true and living way!

544.

7s. M.

J. NEWTON.

Uncertainty of Life. New Year.

1 SEE! another year is gone!
Quickly have the seasons past!
This we enter now upon
Will to many prove their last.
Mercy hitherto has spared,
But have mercies been improved?
Let us ask, Am I prepared,
Should I be this year removed?

2 Some we now no longer see,
Who their mortal race have run,
Seemed as fair for life as we,
When the former year begun.

Some but who God only knowsWho are here assembled now, Ere the present year shall close, To the stroke of death must bow. 3 If from guilt and sin set free By the knowledge of thy grace, Welcome, then, the call will be To depart and see thy face. To thy saints while here below, With new years new mercies come; But the happiest year they know, Is the last that leads them home.

545.

7s. M. J. NEWTON.

Swiftness of Time. New 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 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;
Upward, Lord, our spirits raise;
All below is but a dream.