366 December 31. C. M.

Peterborough.

REFLECTIONS AT THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR.

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men; teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."-Titus ii. 11-14.

1

AND now, my soul, another year
Of my short life is past:

I cannot long continue here;
And this may be my last.

2 Part of my doubtful life is gone,
Nor will return again;

And swift my fleeting moments run-
The few which yet remain !

3 Awake, my soul! with utmost care
Thy true condition learn;

What are thy hopes-how sure, how fair,
And what thy great concern?

4 Another year, next morn begins;
Set out afresh for heaven:
Seek pardon for thy former sins,
Through Christ, so freely given.

5 Devoutly yield thyself to God,
And on his grace depend;

With zeal pursue the heavenly road,
Nor doubt a happy end.

241

367

OCCASIONAL HYMNS.

8s, 7s & 4s.

Greenville.

CLOSING OF SCHOOL AT THE END OF A TERM.

"The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another."-Gen. xxxi. 49.

1

LORD, dismiss us with thy blessing;

Fill our hearts with joy and peace;
Let us each, thy love possessing,
Triumph in redeeming grace:
Oh, refresh us,

Travelling through this wilderness.

2 Thanks we give, and adoration,
For thy gospel's joyful sound;
May the fruits of thy salvation
In our hearts and lives abound;
May thy presence

With us evermore be found.

3 Then, whene'er the signal's given
Us from earth to call away,
Borne on angels' wings to heaven,—
Glad the summons to obey,-

"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."Phil. iv. 7.

1 AS the sun's enlivening eye

Shines on every place the same;

So the Lord is always nigh

To the souls that love his name.

For a season called to part,

Let us then ourselves commend

To the gracious eye and heart
Of our ever-present Friend.

2 Father, hear our humble prayer;
Tender Shepherd of thy sheep,
Let thy mercy and thy care

All our souls in safety keep.
In thy strength may we be strong;
Sweeten every cross and pain;
Give us, if we live, ere long,
Here to meet in peace again.

369

L. M.

CLOSING HYMN.

Old Hundred.

"Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever."-1 Tim. i. 17.

1

FROM

all that dwell below the skies,

Let the Creator's praise arise:

Let the Redeemer's name be sung,

Through every land, by every tongue.

2 Eternal are thy mercies, Lord;
Eternal truth attends thy word:

Thy praise shall sound from shore to shore,
Till suns shall rise and set no more.

370

8s & 7s.

Sicilian Hymn.

BENEDICTION.

"Grace be unto you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ."-1 Cor. i. 3.

1

MAY the grace of Christ our Saviour,

And the Father's boundless love,

With the Holy Spirit's favor,

Rest upon us from above.

2 Thus may we abide in union

With each other and the Lord, And possess, in sweet communion, Joys which earth cannot afford.

371

L. M.

Old Hundred.

ON RE-OPENING THE SCHOOL-PRAYER FOR GOD'S BLESSING.

"God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us."-Ps. lxvii. 1.

1

ASSEMBLED in our school once more,

O Lord, thy blessing we implore; Now fill our hearts with thy rich grace, And tune our lips to sing thy praise.

2 To thee our fervent prayer ascends
For parents, teachers, foes, and friends;
That they and we may feel that love
That's felt by every saint above.

3 Guide thou our feet, guard thou our way,
With thy blest smile, through every day;
And when each night draws near, then keep
Our silent hours, while safe we sleep.

4 When we on earth no more shall meet
May we in heaven each other greet;
There praise thee in more lofty strains,
Where Christian love for ever reigns.

372

1

THE SAME-PRAISE FOR PROVIDENTIAL GOODNESS.
"Hitherto hath the Lord helped us."-1 Sam. vii. 12.

ETERNAL God! I bless thy name,

The same thy power-thy grace the same: The tokens of thy friendly care

Begin, and crown, and close the year.
2 Supported by thy guardian hand,
Midst thousand dangers still I stand,
And see, when I survey thy ways,
A thousand monuments of praise.
3 Thus far thine arm has led me on,
Thus far I make thy mercy known;
And, while I tread this desert land,
New mercies shall new songs demand.
4 My grateful soul, on Jordan's shore,
Shall raise one sacred pillar more;
Then bear, in thy bright courts above,
Inscriptions of immortal love.

373

L. M.

AN EVENING HYMN.

Wells.

"Every morning thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at even."-1 Chron. xxiii. 30.

1

GLORY to thee, my God! this night,

For all the blessings of the light;

Keep me, oh! keep me, King of kings!
Beneath the shadow of thy wings.

2 Forgive me, Lord! through thy dear Son,
The ill that I this day have done;
That with the world, myself, and thee,
My soul, this night, at peace may be.
3 Teach me to live, that I may dread
The grave as little as my bed;
Teach me to die, that so I may
With joy behold the judgment-day.
4 Lord! let my soul for ever share
The bliss of thy paternal care;

'Tis heaven on earth, 'tis heaven above,
To see thy face, and sing thy love.

374

L. M.

Hebron.

AN EVENING HYMN.

"Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice."-Ps. cxli. 2.

1

THUS far the Lord has led me on;

Thus far his power prolongs my days; And every evening shall make known Some fresh memorial of his grace.

2 Much of my time has run to waste, And I, perhaps, am near my home; But he forgives my follies past;

He gives me strength for days to come.

3 I lay my body down to sleep;

Peace is the pillow for my head;
While well-appointed angels keep
Their watchful stations round my bed.
4 Thus, when the night of death shall come,
My flesh shall rest beneath the ground,
And wait thy voice to break my tomb,
With sweet salvation in the sound.

375

L. M.

MORNING HYMN FOR A CHILD.

Hebron.

"For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways."-Ps. xci. 11.

1

GOD, I thank thee that the night

In peace and rest hath passed away;

And that I see, in this fair light,

My Father's smile, that makes it day.