(After the German of Gellert.)

HO gives the sun its glory,
The light to thee, fair moon,
Appoints our habitations,
Bids Time to hasten on?
'Tis God, the Mighty Father,
Ordains our nights and days;
Our years are in His keeping-
To Him be all the praise.

Who was, Who is, Who shall be,
To Him with grateful tongue

Let hymns of joy be ever

And holy praises sung-
For Old Year now departed,
The course that now is run,
For life and all things helpful,
That He for us hath done.

Bless, Lord, to us Thy children,
The year begun to-day,
All needful strength imparting

To help us on our way;

C

No perfect gift withholding
Of glory or of grace,
If, first of all, desiring,

We seek Thy Righteousness.

If, Lord, it be Thy favour,
To grant me joy and rest,
Or crosses fit me better-

Do as it seems Thee best;
But leave me not unaided,
To bear the good or ill,
But bend my heart, my Father,
To seek to do Thy will!

Thy people seek Thy counsel,
Great Father of us all ;
To whom this year brings sorrow,
Uphold them lest they fall!

Give joy to every mourner,

To each good deed success; Thy reign on earth establish, And our loved Monarch bless :

That wise and equal justice,
Established sure may stand,
That virtue and contentment
May dwell within our land;
Be Thy true faith respected,
Nor aught of wrong be done ;
Grant this, O gracious Father,
Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son!

MOTTO FOR THE YEAR 1858.

ROM. xii. 1, 2.

MID the scenes of friendship, and the
sounds

Of kind congratulation, hearken now!
A friendly voice, a faithful heart, a wish

Is heard to breathe-its best, its choicest

prayer:

May you and yours be ever blessed; by day,
By night preserved-a blessedness unknown
To all but those who in the Law of God
Delight, and on its pages meditate.
Your children like the tender plants, and as
The polished corners of the Temple gate.
Your basket and your store with plenty filled;
Your joys redoubled, and your sorrows less!
Be this your lot! and may this opening year,
With all its varied change and chance, to you
Become the happiest of all. May love
To God and man—the grand epitomé
Of God's eternal law-by your whole heart
And mind and soul and strength be fully kept.

May heavenly Wisdom's pleasant ways to you

Be "paths of Peace;" your way the narrow road " Of true religion-God's best gift to man!

And when our years are ended, and our course Of mortal conflict o'er; when the good fight Of faith is fought, the Christian warfare done— May death (for all must die) the gate of bliss Become. May joys that never fail be yours: The suffering cross for glorious crowns exchanged; For murmurs of creation harps of gold,

In Heaven's bright plains, where Heaven's own gifts are found

Rewards, without corruption, undefiled,
That never fade away!

AN ANNIVERSARY HYMN.*

B

Y Providence and grace,

And sparing mercy too,

We meet each other face to face,
Our promise to renew.

Rejoice, I say, rejoice,

On this our festal day;

And lift to Heaven a mighty voice,
And shout of Victory!

Another course is run,

Another year is past,

Another onward stage begun,

And this may be the last.

Yet still I say, rejoice, &c.

This was our plighted word,

From strong drink to abstain,
And with Thy kind assistance, Lord,

To drink it ne'er again.

Rejoice, I say, rejoice, &c.

* This Anniversary Hymn was sung at the Crystal Palace by five

thousand children of the Metropolitan Bands of Hope.