Thou art gone up on high:
But Thou dost come again,
That every long expecting eye
May see Thee come to reign.
O Lord, Thy richest boon
Of love and light, send forth;
That as in heav'n Thy will is done,
So be it done on earth!
1 FOR Thy mercy and Thy grace,
Faithful through another year
Hear our song of thankfulness,
Father and Redeemer, hear!
2 In our weakness and distress,
Rock of strength! be Thou our stay!
In the pathless wilderness
Be our true and living way!
3 Who of us death's shaded road
In the coming year shall tread-
With Thy rod and staff, O God,
Comfort Thou his dying head!
4 Keep us faithful, keep us pure,
Keep us evermore Thine own!
Help, O help us to endure !
Fit us for the promised crown!
5 So within Thy palace gate,
We shall praise, on golden strings,
Thee, the only Potentate,
Lord of lords, and King of kings!
The year that now begins!
All hail to Him who led us here,
Through dangers and through sins.
2 Hail to another year!
Peace to the year now past!
May this one at its close appear
Less worthless than the last.
Hail to another year!
Though yet unknown, untrod,
Whate'er may come we need not fear,-
Our Father is our God.
Hail to another year,
year of peace and love! may it prove a foretaste here Of endless years above!
1 SUNLIGHT of the heavenly day,
Mighty to revive and cheer,
Shine on our untrodden way;
Light us through the opening year!
Where the shades of death we see,
Let Thy living brightness be;
Teach us, as we pass along,
Many a sweet thanksgiving song.
2 Forward, though the path be hid,
Though we pass the lurking foe,
Though the sound of war forbid,
Girt with gladness, let us go:
Bold in Thy protecting care,
Strong to prove Thee faithful there,
Through the desert or the sea,
On, to reign in life with Thee.
3 While with firm, unyielding will,
For the victor's crown we strive;
Gracious Saviour, keep us still
To Thy gentlest signs alive;-
Where the stormy wind is heard,
Quick to every tender word;
And, through all our journey's length,
Armed with meekness as with strength.
4 Lord of all! we cannot know
What our paths may yet unfold ;
But the part that love would show-
Life's great purpose-Thou hast told.
By our souls' unmeasured price,
By Thy life-long sacrifice,
By Thy death to set us free-
Lead us on to joy in Thee!
1 AND now, my soul, another year
Of thy short time is past!
I cannot long continue here,
And this may be my last.
2 Much of my life may now be gone,
Nor will return again,
And swift my passing moments run,—
The few that still remain.
3 Awake, my soul, with earnest care,
Thy true condition learn;
What are thy hopes, how sure, how fair,
And what thy great concern?
4 Devoutly yield thyself to God,
And on His power depend:
Walk on the path thy Saviour trod,
Enduring to the end.
240. 10s.
New Year's aspirations.
1 LORD, I aspire, through all this new-born year,
My days in holy love and fear to spend :-
In love to Thee, my God, for ever dear;
In fear of all that would Thy will offend.
2 Lord, I aspire to break the chains of sin,
To still its inner tumult and its strife-
Help me, O Lord, the duty to begin,
And guide me to a purer, holier life.
3 Lord, I aspire to love my fellow man,
To feel his sympathy, and give him mine— Without Thy help, O Lord, 1 never can: Vouchsafe to me Thy gracious aid divine!
4 Lord, I aspire to be Thy docile child,
Trusting in Thee whatever may betide-
O make me humble, teachable and mild,
And be my Saviour, Counsellor, and Guide!
1 GREAT God! as seasons disappear,
And changes mark the rolling year,
Thy favour still has crowned our days,
And we would celebrate Thy praise.
2 The harvest song would we repeat;
Thou givest us the finest wheat;
The joy of harvest we have known:
The praise, O Lord, is all Thine own!
3 Our tables spread, our garners stored,
O give us hearts to thank Thee, Lord;
Forbid it, Source of light and love,
That hearts and lives should barren prove!
4 Another harvest comes apace ;——
Our spirits ripen by Thy grace,
That we may calmly meet the blow
The sickle gives to lay us low.
50 grant, when angel-reapers come,
To gather sheaves to Thy bright home,
Our spirits may be borne on high,
To Thy safe garner in the sky!
1 LORD of the harvest, Thee we hail ! Thine ancient promise doth not fail;
|