5 But calmly, Lord, on Thee we rest; No fears our trust shall move; Thou knowest what for each is best, And Thou art perfect Love.
1 Bless, O Lord, the opening year
To the souls assembled here:
Clothe Thy word with power divine;
Make us willing to be Thine!
2 Where Thou hast Thy work begun,
Give new strength the race to run;
Scatter darkness, doubts, and fears,
Wipe away the mourner's tears.
3 Bless us all, both old and young,
Call forth praise from every tongue;
Let our whole assembly prove
All Thy power, and all Thy love!
1 While with ceaseless course the sun
Hasted through the former year,
Many souls their race have run,
Never more to meet us here:
Finished is their earthly day,
They have done with all below;
We a little longer stay,
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:
Upwards, 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 our Father's love;
And, when life's short tale is told,
May we dwell with Thee above!
1 Awake, ye saints, and raise your eyes,
And raise your voices high;
Awake, and praise that sovereign love
Which shows salvation nigh.
2 On all the wings of Time it flies;
Each moment brings it near;
Then welcome each declining day;
Welcome each closing year.
3 Not many years their round shall run,
Not many mornings rise,
Ere all its glories stand revealed
To our admiring eyes.
4 Ye wheels of Nature, speed your course;
Ye mortal powers, decay;
Fast as ye bring the night of death,
Ye bring eternal day.
1 Another fleeting day is gone,
Slow o'er the west the shadows rise;
Swift the soft stealing hours have flown,
And night's dark mantle veils the skies.
2 Another fleeting day is gone,
Swept from the records of the year;
And still, with each successive sun,
Life's fading visions disappear.
3 Another fleeting day is gone
To join the fugitives before;
And I, when life's employ is done,
Shall sleep, to wake in time no more.
4 Another fleeting day is gone,
But soon a fairer day shall rise,
A day whose never-setting sun
Shall
pour his light o'er cloudless skies.
5 Another fleeting day is gone,
In solemn silence rest, my soul;
Bow down before His awful throne
Who bids the morn and evening roll.
1 Our Father! bless us ere we go;
Thy word into our minds instil;
And make our lukewarm hearts to glow
With lowly love and fervent will.
Through life's long day, and death's dark night,
O God of Jesus! be our Light!
2 The day is done; its hours have run;
And Thou hast taken count of all,
The scanty triumphs grace hath won,
The broken vow, the frequent fall.
Through life's long day, and death's dark night,
O God of Jesus! be our Light!
3 Do more than pardon; give us joy,
Sweet awe, and sober liberty,
And simple hearts without alloy,
That only long to be like Thee.
Through life's long day, and death's dark night,
O God of Jesus! be our Light!
4 For all we love, the poor, the sad,
The sinful,—unto Thee we call ;
O let Thy mercy make us glad,
Thou art our God, Thou art our All!
Through life's long day, and death's dark night,
O God of Jesus! be our Light!
1 Oh! Day of days! shall hearts set free
No "minstrel rapture" find for thee?
Thou art the Sun of other days,
They shine by giving back thy rays:
2 Enthroned in thy sovereign sphere
Thou shedd'st thy light on all the year:
Sundays by thee more glorious break,
An Easter day in every week:
3 And week-days, following in their train,
The fulness of thy blessing gain,
Till all, both resting and employ,
Be one Lord's day of holy joy.
4 Then wake, my soul, to high desires,
And earlier light thine altar fires :
The World some hours is on her way,
Nor thinks on thee, thou blessed Day:
5 Or if she think, it is in scorn:
The vernal light of Easter morn
To her dark gaze no brighter seems
Than Reason's or the Law's pale beams.
6 "Where is your Lord?" she scornful asks: "Where is his hire? we know his tasks; Sons of a King ye boast to be,
Let us your crowns and treasures see."
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