1. OUR God, our help in

sure.

2 Before the hills in order stood,
Or Earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.
A thousand ages, in Thy sight,
Are like an evening gone,-
Short as the watch that ends the night,
Before the rising Sun.

3 Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away.

They fly, forgotten, as a dream
Dies, at the opening day.
Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,

Be Thou our Guard while troubles last,
And our eternal Home!

3 Lord! teach us so to mark our days
That we may prize them duly;
So guide our feet in wisdom's ways
That we may love Thee truly;
Return, O Lord, our griefs behold,
And with Thy goodness, as of old,
Oh satisfy us early!

4 Restore our comforts as our fears,

Our joy as our affliction;

Give to Thy Church thro changing years,

Increasing benediction.

Thy glorious beauty there reveal,
And with Thy perfect image seal
Thy servants and their labors.

117
I ACROSS the sky the shades of night

This winter's eve are fleeting;

We come to Thee the Life and Light,

In solemn worship meeting; And as the year's last hours go by We lift to Thee our earnest cry,

Once more Thy love entreating.

2 Before Thee, Lord, subdued we bow, To Thee our prayers addressing; Recounting all Thy mercies now, And all our sins confessing; Beseeching Thee, this coming year, To hold us in Thy faith and fear,

And crown us with Thy blessing.

3 And while we kneel, we lift our eyes
To dear ones gone before us;
Safe housed with Thee in Paradise,
Their spirits hovering o'er us;
And beg of Thee, when life is past,
To re-unite us all, at last,

And to our lost restore us.

119

4 We gather up, in this brief hour,
The memory of Thy mercies;
Thy wondrous goodness, love, and power,
Our grateful song rehearses; [Stay
For Thou hast been our Strength and
In many a dark and dreary day

Of sorrow and reverses.

5 Then, O great God, in years to come, Whatever fate betide us,

Right onward thro our journey home
Be Thou at hand to guide us;
Nor leave us till, at close of life,
Safe from all perils, toil, and strife,
Heaven shall unfold and hide us.
JAMES HAMILTON, 1865. Abr.

118

2 He by Himself hath sworn; I on His oath depend;

I shall, on eagle wings upborne,
To Heav'n ascend;

I shall behold His face,

I shall His power adore,

And sing the wonders of His grace For evermore.

121

IO THOU who didst prepare

The ocean's caverned cell,

And teach the gathering waters there To meet and dwell,

Tossed in our reeling bark

Upon the treacherous sea,

Thy wondrous ways, O Lord, we mark, And sing to Thee.

and glory due.

2 The Father's love shall run Thro our immortal songs; We bring to God, the Son,

Hosannas on our tongues; Our lips address the Spirit's name, With equal praise, and zeal the same.

3 Almighty God! to Thee
Be endless honors done,-
The undivided Three,

The great, mysterious One!
Where reason fails with all her powers,
There faith prevails and love adores.