621

L.M.

"Hitherto hath the Lord helped us."-1 Sam. vii. 12.

1 OUR Helper, God, we bless His name,

Whose love for ever is the same;
The tokens of whose gracious care
Open and crown and close the year.
2 Amidst ten thousand snares we stand,
Supported by His guardian hand;
And see, when we review our ways,
Ten thousand monuments of praise.
3 Thus far His arm hath led us on;
Thus far we make His mercy known;
And while we tread this desert land,
New mercies shall new songs demand.
4 Our grateful souls, on Jordan's shore,
Shall raise one sacred pillar more;
Then bear in His bright courts above
Inscriptions of immortal love.

PHILIP DODDRIDGE.
L.M.

622 "Having obtained help of God."–

1

Acts xxvi. 22.

GREAT God, we sing that mighty

hand,

By which supported still we stand; The opening year Thy mercy shows, That mercy crowns it till it close. 2 By day, by night, at home, abroad, Still are we guarded by our God; By His incessant bounty fed, By His unerring counsel led.

3 With grateful hearts the past we own, The future, all to us unknown, We to Thy guardian care commit, Content with what Thou deemest fit. 4 In scenes exalted or depressed

Thou art our joy, and Thou our rest; Thy goodness all our hopes shall raise, Adored throughout our changing days. 5'When death shall interrupt these songs,

And seal in silence mortal tongues,

Our Helper, God, in whom we trust, Shall keep our souls, and guard our dust.

623

1

PHILIP DODDRIDGE.

86.86.76.

"Come before His presence with
singing."-Ps. c. 2.

ANOTHER year has passed away,
Time swiftly speeds along;
We come again to praise and pray,
And sing our joyous song.

We come with song of greeting,
We come with song again.

2 We come, the Saviour's name to praise,
To sing the wondrous love
Of Him who guards us all our days,
And guides to heaven above.
We com-, &c.

3 We'll sing of mercies daily given,
Through every passing year;
We'll sing the promises of heaven,
With voices loud and clear.
We come, &c...

Still by Thy goodness, Lord, upheld,
The path of life we tread..

3 And though we're hasting to the tomb,
While days and years are given,
We learn amidst our youthful bloom
The way that leads to heaven.

4 Lord, help our youthful feet to tread In that delightful way,

That we, by Thy good counsel led,
May never go astray.

5 And when we reach the land of rest, To which we here aspire,

3

4

Where oft we meet, with sweet accord
To seek Thy gracious face.

To Thee, our God and King,
We glad hosannas raise;

O deign to hear our voices sing
The honours of Thy praise.
Command Thy blessing, Lord,
On all assembled here;

And may we still Thy grace record
Through every circling year.
77.77.77.77.

. In heaven's harmonious choir.

626

1

L.M.

"Every one . shall even go up from year to year to worship."Zec. xiv. 16. FROM year to year in love we meet, From year to year in peace we part,

The tongues of children uttering sweet
The bosom-joy of every heart.

2 But time rolls on; and year by year
We change, grow up, or pass away!
Not twice the same assembly here
Have hailed the children's festal day.
3 Death, ere another year, shall strike
Some of our number marked to fall;
Be young and old prepared alike,
The warning is to cach, to all.
4 This sole occasion then is ours,
This day we ne'er again shall see ;
Lord God, awaken all our powers
To spend it for eternity.

5 Our times, our lives, are in Thy hand,
On Thee for all things we rely;
Assured, while in Thy grace we stand,
To live is Christ, and gain to die.
6 Meanwhile our failing ranks renew;
Send children teachers in our place,
More humble, docile, faithful, true,
More like Thy Son, from race to race.
JAMES MONTGOMERY.
S.M.

1

Christ."-1 Thess. ii. 19.

HAIL the children's festal day!
Glad we sing our opening lay;

Glad we see each other's face
In this happy meeting-place.
But one Friend we ask to stay
In the midst of us to-day:

Jesus, Saviour, near us be
While the children sing to Thee.
2 Gladsome ones are in His sight,
Happy spirits, faces bright!
Light the hearts that gather here,
Where the friends we love appear;
But a cloud is o'er the day
If the Saviour keep away.

Jesus, Saviour, &c.

3 We have learnt to love that Name,
For the children Jesus came,
Bless'd the merry little bands,
Touched them with His gentle hands,
Loved to have them by His side,
And to save them, even died.
Jesus, Saviour, &c.

4 We are young, and little know
Of the way we have to go:
We are dark and need His light,
For we cannot tell the right;
Christ, the children's Friend, is strong,
He will save us from all wrong.

Jesus, Saviour, &c.

5 When our lives on earth shall end,
May we to His home ascend,
May we gather at His feet,
May we there each other meet,
May we sing the glad new song
Sung by all the heavenly throng.
Jesus, saviour, &c.

And grateful homage pay

629

MARIANNE FARNINGHAM. 87.87.47.

"Ebenezer."-1 Sam. vii. 12.

THUS, in holy convocation,

Here again our voice we raise.

In one hymn of jubilation

To our great Redeemer's praise.
Ebenezer !

He hath helped us all our days.
2 Mercies, every want exceeding,
Mercies varied, rich, and free,
Speedy answers to our pleadings,
Gracious Lord, have come from Thee.
Hallelujah!

Let us still Thy goodness see.

3 Throngs who journeyed on before us
Raised their glad hosannas high;
We would still take up the chorus
Till we meet Him in the sky.
May our children

Sing the same until they die.
4 Saviour, on Thy grace depending,
We would tread the paths unknown;
Still Thy holy hill ascending,
Passing upward to our home,

Where they're singing

Ebenezer round the throne.

ROBERT ROBINSON.

64.64.6664.

"Bless the Lord, all IIis works."

630 -Ps. ciii. 22.
COME, join the festive song,

Wake voices all;
Chime with the vernal throng,
List to the call.

Hear we in every breeze,
From vale and mountain trees,
Glad notes of nature say,
Join ye my lay.

2 Lord of the rolling year--
Round and above,
Boundless Thy works appear,
Boundless Thy love.

All, all in earth and sky,
As glide the seasons by,
New glories of Thy name,
Ever proclaim.

3 Joyous we swell the strain.
Thankful to Thee,
Watched by Thy care, again
Spring-tide we see.
Still in this gospel land
Throngs forth the Sabbath band,
Under Truth's canopy,
Happy and free.

4 Onward for ever flow,
Truth's mighty wave;
Soon every clime below
Conquer and save.

632

1

JAMES MONTGOMERY. 664.6664.

"The Lord shall bless all the work
of thine hand."-Deut. xxviii. 12.

GOD bless our Sunday school,
Increase our Sunday school,
God bless our school.

On it in mercy shine,
May every child be Thine,
And love all hearts entwine,
God bless our school.

2 Our teachers likewise bless,
And give them large success
In winning souls.

May they encouraged be,
And oft around them se
Their labours crowned by Thee,
God bless our school.

3 So may our school increase
In knowledge, love, and peace,
God bless our school.
And while death's arrows fly,
And honoured teachers die,
Their places still supply,

633

God bless our school.

1 SPARED to another year, O Lord, Once more within this holy place

We come to tell Thy praise abroad,
To hear Thy word, to seek Thy grace.
2 O may a sense that Thou art nigh
Our youthful hearts with awe inspire;
Check the vain thought, the wandering
And banish every wrong desire. [eye,

3 And whilst, with mingled love and fear,
We in Thy service bear our part,
Give us, O Lord, the hearing ear,
Give us the understanding heart.
4 Give us, through Jesus' dying love,
To feel our countless sins forgiven;
So shall Thine earthly temple prove,
In very deed, the gate of heaven.

66.66.88.

"They sang praises with gladness."

634 -2 Chron. xxix. 30. To Thee, O Lord, we bring

1

2

3

4

Our grateful songs of praise;
The feeblest lips may sing
Thy glorious works and ways.
Though all is Thine in earth and sky,
Thou still wilt hear our youthful cry.
Upon this festal day

Scholars and teachers meet;
Oh, that we always may

In love each other greet!

For we are journeying in one band,
Together, to that happy land,

Here, in Thy temple, Lord,
Here, far from worldly care,
Here, where we read Thy word,
Here offer we our prayer-
That every year we live to see,
O God, may find us nearer Thee.
And when life's toils are past,
And all its sorrows o'er,

May we arrive at last

On Canaan's happy shore;

May all the teachers and the taught Wear the white robe our Saviour wrought.

C.M.

635 "I will sing and give praise."

-Ps. cviii. 1.

3 Why, gracious Saviour, why to us
Is such instruction given?
Why are we trained and fostered thus
And nurtured up for heaven?

4 It is that we may seek Thy face,
And learn to love Thee more!
Then teach us, in this favoured place,
Thy goodness to adore.

636

87.87.6665.

"The God of hope fill you with all joy."-Rom. xv. 13.

1 FATHER, from Thy throne of glory,

Listen to our praise and prayer; Thou hast spared us, in Thy mercy, Here to meet another year.

Crown, crown it, God of love,
With blessings from above:
Fill our hearts, fill our hearts,
With Thy fear and love.

2 Blessings more than we can number
Hitherto have marked our way;
And Thine eye, that knows no slumber,
Hath watched o'er us every day.

Praise, praise unto Thy Name,
Praise, praise we loud proclaim;
Heaven shall ring, heaven shail
With the loud acclaim. [ring

3 Wilt Thou, O Almighty Father,
Bless our meeting here to-day,
Erethe night's dark shades shall gather,
And our praises die away?

Come, Lord, and bless us now,
Thy grace and mercy show;
Evermore, evermore

May Thy blessings flow.

4 May we all, when life is over,
Teachers, children, meet above,
Joining in that song for ever,
Of our risen Saviour's love.

youthful voices raise:

To Thee the glory all belongs,
And we would render praise.

2 Thy daily bounty round us falls
Like manna from above;

And now we meet within these walls, And own Thy special love.

Then shall we sweetly sing, Praise to our Saviour King, Heaven shall ring, heaven shall With the strain we sing.

66.66.88.

[ring

S. L. MOORE.

Kept by the power of God."1 Pet. i. 5.

1

77.77.

"We commend ourselves to the word of His Grace."-Acts xx. 32.

FOR

a season called to part,

Let us now ourselves commend
To the gracious eye and heart
Of our ever-present Friend.
2 Jesus, hear our humble prayer,
Tender Shepherd of Thy sheep,
Let Thy mercy and Thy care
All our souls in safety keep.

8 What we each have now been taught,
Let our memories retain ;
May we, if we live, be brought
Here to meet in peace again.
4 Then, if Thou instruction bless,
Songs of praises shall be given;
We'll our thankfulness express,
Here on earth, and when in heaven.
JOHN NEWTON.

639

66

66.66.66.66.

Then thou shall bless the Lord."
Deut. viii. 10.

1 COME, children, ere we part,

Bless the Redeemer's name, Join every tongue and heart To celebrate His fame. Jesus, the children's Friend, Him whom our souls adore, His praises have no end; Praise Him for evermore. 2 If here we meet no more, May we in realms above, With all the saints, adore Redeeming grace and love. Jesus, the children's Friend, Him whom our souls adore, His praises have no end; Praise Him for evermore,

The meanness of a manger bed.

3 He, who the throne of glory shares, Came down, that we, through sovereign love, [heirs, Might be God's children and God's Joint heirs with Him in bliss above. 4 And here, where simple souls are taught

To know and do His Father's will, Or infants to His arms are brought,

He welcomes all, and blesses still.

5 Come, Holy Ghost, while we draw nigh,
Such life and power to us afford,
That each may Abba, Father, cry,
And young and old call Jesus, Lord.

641

1

JAMES MONTGOMERY.

1010.1111.

"Send now prosperity." -
Ps. cxviii. 25.

HOW good is the Lord! how faith

ful! how wise!

[how free! His bounty, how rich! His mercy, With multitudes praising Thy name [nify Thee. In songs of thanksgiving we mag

in the skies,

2 Thy blessings vouchsafe, the smiles of

Thy face, [peace; Prosperity grant, enrich us with O send Thy good Spirit to dwell in this [increase.

place,

Our hearts to encourage, our joy to

3 May multitudes here be taught in Thy

ways,

[Thee, Convinced of their sin, converted to Constrained through Thy grace in their earliest days, The good to endeavour, the evil to

[flee.