HYMNS FOR SCHOOLS.

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January 1.

7s.

Benevento.

REFLECTIONS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

"We spend our years as a tale that is told."-Ps. xc. 9.

HILE with ceaseless course the sun

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Hasted through the former year,

Many souls their race have run,

Never more 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 Spared to see another year,

Guard us all, O God, each day;
Let thy blessing meet us here,
Guide us all in Wisdom's way.
Here may we each hour improve,
Walk in duty's happy road,
Toward each other cherish love,
Daily live more near to God.

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 us while young,

Fill us with a Saviour's love; And when life's short race is run, May we dwell with thee above.

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January 2.

7s.

Benevento.

THE NEW YEAR.

"Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee; verily every man at his best estate is altogether vanity."-Ps. xxxix. 5.

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SEE, another

year is gone! Quickly have the seasons past;

That we enter now upon,

Will to many prove the last.
Mercy hitherto has spared;

But have mercies been improved?
Let us ask,-Are we prepared,
Should we be this year removed?

2 Some, whom we no longer see,

Who their mortal race have run,
Seemed as fair for life as we,

When the former year begun.
While we now instruction hear,
Help us, Lord, each one to think
That eternity is near;

We are standing on the brink!

3 If from sin thou'st made us free,
By thy pardoning love and grace;
Welcome then the call will be
To depart and see thy face.
To the good, while here below,
With new days, new mercies come,

But the happiest day they know,
Is their last, which leads them home.

"Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day."-Acts xxvi. 22.

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GREAT God! we sing that mighty hand,

By which supported, still we stand;

The opening year thy mercy shows;-
Let mercy crown it till its 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 close our earthly songs,
And seal, in silence, mortal tongues,
Oh then, in higher, holier lays,
Our souls shall celebrate thy praise.

4 January 4. 7s & 6s.

REMEMBER THY CREATOR.

Missionary.

"Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them."-Eccl. xii. 1.

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EMEMBER thy Creator

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While youth's fair spring is bright;

Before thy cares are greater,

Before comes age's night;

While yet the sun shines o'er thee,

While stars the darkness cheer,

While life is all before thee,

Thy great Creator fear.

2 Remember thy Creator

Ere life resigns its trust,
Ere sinks dissolving nature,
And dust returns to dust;
Before with God, who gave it,
Thy spirit shall appear:
He cries, who died to save it,
Thy great Creator fear."

66

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January 5.

S. M.

Shirland.

GOD AS SEEN IN HIS WORKS AND WORD.

"The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.' Ps. xix. 7, 8.

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BEHOLD the morning sun

Begins his glorious way,

His beams through all the nations run,
And life and light convey.

But where the gospel comes,

It spreads diviner light;

It calls dead sinners from their tombs,

And gives the blind their sight.

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January 6.

C. M.

St. Martins.

GOD OUR CONSTANT BENEFACTOR.

"The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth."-Ex. xxxiv. 6

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WHEN all thy mercies, O my God,

My rising soul surveys,

Transported with the view, I'm lost
In wonder, love, and praise.

2 Unnumbered comforts to my soul
Thy tender care bestowed,

Before my infant heart conceived
From whom those comforts flowed.
3 Ten thousand thousand precious gifts
My daily thanks employ;

Nor is the least a cheerful heart,
That tastes those gifts with joy.

4 Through every period of my life,

Thy goodness I'll pursue;
And after death, in distant worlds,
The glorious theme renew.

"Wherewith shall the young cleanse their way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word."-Ps. cxix. 9.

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HOW shall the young secure their hearts,

And guard their lives from sin?

Thy word the choicest rule imparts

To keep the conscience clean.

2 'Tis like the sun, a heavenly light,
That guides us all the day;

And, through the dangers of the night,
A lamp to lead our way.

3 Thy precepts make me truly wise;
I hate the sinner's road;

I hate my own vain thoughts that rise,
But love thy law, my God!

4 Thy word is everlasting truth;
How pure is every page!

That holy book shall guide our youth
And well support our age.

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January 8.

L. M.

Duke Street.

A MORNING INVOCATION.

"My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up."-Ps. v. 3.

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AWAKE, my soul, and with the sun,
Thy daily stage of duty run;

Shake off dull sloth, and joyful rise,
To pay thy morning sacrifice.

2 Thy precious time, misspent, redeem;
Each present day thy last esteem;
Improve thy talent with due care,
And for eternity prepare.