4 What harm can sin and death then do?
The true God now abides with you.
Let hell and Satan rage and chafe,
God is your brother-ye are safe.

5 Not one He will, nor can, forsake
Who Him his confidence doth make;
E'en if their worst your en'mies try,
Ye may their pow'rless rage defy.

6 Ye must prevail at last, for ye
Have now become God's family;
To God forever give ye praise,
Patient and cheerful all your days.

163

END OF YEAR

7s 81

WHILE with ceaseless course the sun

Hasted through the former year,

Many souls their race have run,
Nevermore 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 wingèd 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.

3 Thanks for mercies past receive,
Pardon of our sins renew,
Teach us henceforth how to live
With eternity in view.

Bless Thy Word to young and old,
Fill us with a Savior's love;
And when life's short tale is told,
May we dwell with Thee above.

164

8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7 (Iambic)

ACROSS the sky the shades of night
This winter's eve are fleeting:
We deck Thine altar, Lord, with light,
In solemn worship meeting;

And as the year's last hours go by,
We raise to Thee our earnest cry,
Once more Thy love entreating.

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

And crown us with Thy blessing.

3 And while we pray, we lift our eyes
To dear ones gone before us,
Safe home with Thee in Paradise,

Whose peace descendeth o'er us:
And beg of Thee, when life is past
To re-unite us all at last

With those who've gone before us.

4 We gather up, in this brief hour, The memory of Thy mercies:

Thy wondrous goodness, love, and power, Our grateful song rehearses:

For Thou hast been our strength and

stay

In many a dark and dreary day

Of sorrows and reverses.

5 In many an hour, when fear and dread,
Like evil spells have bound us,
And clouds were gathering overhead,
Thy providence hath found us:

In many a night, when seas ran high,
Thy gracious presence, drawing nigh,
Hath made all calm around us.

6 Then, O great God, in years to come, Whatever may betide us,

Right onward through 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 enfold and hide us.

165

7, 7, 7, 7 THOU who roll'st the year around, Crowned with mercies large and free, Rich Thy gifts to us abound,

Warm our praise shall rise to Thee.

2 Kindly to our worship bow,

While our grateful thanks we tell, That, sustained by Thee, we now Bid the parting year-farewell!

3 All its numbered days are sped, All its busy scenes are o'er, All its joys for ever fled,

All its sorrows felt no more.

4 Mingled with th' eternal past, Its remembrance shall decay;

Yet to be revived at last

At the solemn judgment-day.

All our follies, Lord, forgive!

Cleanse us from each guilty stain; Let Thy grace within us live,

That we spend not years in vain.

Then, when life's last eve shall come,
Happy spirits, may we fly

To our everlasting home,

To our Father's house on high!

NEW YEAR

166

FATHER, let me dedicate
All this year to Thee,

In whatever earthly state
Thou wilt have me be.

Not from sorrow, pain, or care,
Freedom dare I claim;

This alone shall be my prayer:
Glorify Thy name.

2 Can a child presume to choose
Where or how to live?

Can a Father's love refuse
All the best to give?
More Thou givest every day
Than the best can claim,
Nor withholdest aught that may
Glorify Thy name.

3 If in mercy Thou wilt spare Joys that yet are mine;

7, 5, 81

If on life, serene and fair,
Brighter rays may shine,—
Let my glad heart, while it sings,
Thee in all proclaim,

And, whate'er the future brings,
Glorify Thy name.

4 If Thou callest to the cross,
And its shadow come,
Turning all my gain to loss,
Shrouding heart and home,—
Let me think how Thy dear Son
To His glory came,

And in deepest woe pray on:
"Glorify Thy name."

167

L. M.

GREAT God, we sing that mighty Hand
By which supported still we stand;
The opening year Thy mercy shows;
Let mercy crown it, till it close.

2 By day, by night, at home, abroad,
Still we are 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,
And, peaceful, leave before Thy feet.

4 In scenes exalted or depressed,

Be Thou our Joy, and Thou our Rest, Thy goodness all our hopes shall raise, Adored through all our changing days

5 When death shall interrupt our songs, And seal in silence mortal tongues;