3 We can, O Jesus, for Thy sake,

Devote our every hour to Thee:
Speak but the word, our souls shall wake,
And sing with cheerful melody;
Thy praise shall our glad tongues employ,
And every heart shall dance for joy.
4 Shout, in the midst of us, O King

Of saints, and make our joys abound;
Let us exult, give thanks, and sing,
And triumph in redemption found ;
We ask for every waiting soul,
O let our glorious joy be full !
5 O may we all triumphant rise,

985

With joy upon our heads return,
And far above these nether skies,

By Thee on eagles' wings upborne,
Through all yon radiant circles move,
And gain the highest heaven of love!

(643)

OME, let us anew, our journey pursue,
Roll round with the year,

And never stand still, till the Master appear. 2 His adorable will, let us gladly fufil,

And our talents improve,

By the patience of hope, and the labour of love. 3 Our life is a dream; our time, as a stream, Glides swiftly away;

And the fugitive moment refuses to stay. 4 The arrow is flown; the moment is gone : The millennial year

Rushes on to our view, and eternity's here. 5 O that each in the day of His coming may say, "I have fought my way through;

I have finished the work Thou didst give me to do." 6 O that each from his Lord, may receive the glad "Well and faithfully done; [word, Enter into My joy, and sit down on My throne."

986

(644)

HOW

OW many kindred souls are fled To the vast regions of the dead, Since from this day the changing sun Through his last yearly course has run! 2 We yet survive,—but who can say, Or through this year, or month, or day, 'I will retain this vital breath,

Thus far, at least, in league with death?'
3 That breath is Thine, eternal God;
"Tis Thine to fix the soul's abode :
It holds its life from Thee alone,
On earth, or in the worlds unknown.
4 To Thee our spirits we resign;

Make them and own them still as Thine;
So shall they rest, secure from fear,
Though death should blight the rising year.

987

2

3

(645)

THE Lord of earth and sky,
The God of ages, praise

Who reigns, enthroned on high,
Ancient of endless days;

Who lengthens out our trial here,
And spares us yet another year.
Barren and withered trees,

We cumbered long the ground;
No fruit of holiness

On our dead souls was found;
Yet doth He us in mercy spare
Another, and another year.

When justice bared the sword
To cut the fig-tree down,
The pity of our Lord

Cried, "Let it still alone;"

The Father mild inclines His ear,
And spares us yet another year.

4

5

988

Jesus, Thy speaking blood,
From God obtained the grace,
Who therefore hath bestowed
On us a longer space;

Thou didst in our behalf appear,
And, lo, we see another year!
Then dig about our root,

Break up the fallow ground,
And let our gracious fruit

To Thy great praise abound:
O let us all Thy praise declare,
And fruit unto perfection bear!

W

L.M. 6 lines.

C. WESLEY. 1750.

ISDOM ascribe, and might, and praise,
To God, who lengthens out our days,
Who spares us yet another year,
And makes us see His goodness here:
O may we all the time redeem,

And henceforth live and die to Him;
2 How often, when His arm was bared,
Hath He our sinful Israel spared!
"Let me alone," His mercy cried,
And turned the vengeful bolt aside;
Indulged another kind reprieve,
And strangely suffered us to live.
3 Still, in the doubtful balance weighed,
We trembled, while the remnant prayed:
The Father heard His Spirit groan,
And answered mild, "It is, my Son !"
He let the prayer of faith prevail,
And Mercy turned the doubtful scale.

4 Merciful God, how shall we raise
Our hearts to pay Thee all Thy praise!
Our hearts shall beat for Thee alone;
Our lives shall make Thy goodness known;
Our souls and bodies shall be Thine,
A living sacrifice divine.

989

SING

ING to the Great Jehovah's praise !
All praise to Him belongs :
Who kindly lengthens out our days,
Demands our choicest songs.

2 His providence hath brought us through
Another various year :

We all with vows and anthems new,
Before our God appear.

3 Father, Thy mercies past we own,
Thy still continued care;

To Thee presenting, through Thy Son,
Whate'er we have or are.

4 Our lips and lives shall gladly show
The wonders of Thy love,
While on, in Jesu's steps, we go
To see Thy face above.

5 Our residue of days or hours
Thine, wholly Thine, shall be,
And-all our consecrated powers-
A sacrifice to Thee:

6 Till Jesus, in the clouds, appear
To saints on earth forgiven,
And bring the grand sabbatic year,
The Jubilee of Heaven.

990

L.M.

Is. xl. 31.

WATTS. 1709.

AWAKE, our souls away, our fears!

Let every trembling thought be gone! Awake, and run the heavenly race, And put a cheerful courage on. 2 True, 'tis a strait and thorny road, And mortal spirits tire and faint; But they forget the mighty God, That feeds the strength of

every

saint.

3 Thee, mighty God! whose matchless power Is ever new and ever young;

And firm endures, while endless years
Their everlasting circles run-

4 From Thee, the ever-flowing Spring,

Our souls shall drink a fresh supply;
While such as trust their native strength
Shall melt away, and droop, and die.
5 Swift as the eagle cuts the air,

We'll mount aloft to Thine abode;
On wings of love our souls shall fly,
Nor tire, while on the heavenly road.

991

YE

E servants of the Lord,
Each in his office wait,
Observant of His heavenly word,
And watchful at His gate.

2 Let all your lamps be bright,
And trim the golden flame;

Gird up your loins, as in His sight,
For awful is His name.

3 Watch; 'tis your Lord's command;
And while we speak, He's near:
Mark the first signal of His hand,
And ready all appear.

4

5

992

O happy servant he,

In such a posture found!

He shall his Lord with rapture see,
And be with honour crowned.

Christ shall the banquet spread
With His own royal hand,

And raise that favourite servant's head
Amidst the angelic band.

NATIONAL SOLEMNITIES.

GOD

664,6664. J. S. DWIGHT. (1855.)

YOD bless our native land,
Firm may she ever stand,