May we escape the dangerous ground; And while thy strength we feel, Help us to keep each timber sound, With grace, our chosen keel. And O when near temptation's shoal, No beacon shining far, Cheer thou the Seaman's 'nighted soul With Bethlehem's holy Star. Jesus, our helm, we look to thee, From quicksands thou wilt keep us free, And guide us o'er the main. And soon,-life's chequered voyage o'er, When we have crossed the sea,— Grant that thy crew may tread the shore Of blessed eternity, TO THE NEW-YEAR. THOU new-born year, thou span yet undefined, Thy opening dawn with salutation kind, And would, reluctant, fleeting guest, entreat, Thou new-born year, why should the joyous smile Ah, why should dissipation e'er beguile The sons of men, when Reason would proclaim "Life is a vapour, mark, it quick recedes, Eternity is near, with all its deeds?" What art thou, gliding portent, but the note That speak'st, though dumb, existence' passing knell? Thy warning strains, though they unheeded, float Along our passage, to the traveller tell, "Depart, poor pilgrim, leave this vale, unblest, Arise, ye giddy, this is not your rest.” Vision of future days, fair blooming year, Child of the past,-herald of years to come, Where disappointment droops beneath the world's cold ray. O THOU THAT PLEAD’ST. O THOU that plead'st with pitying love, When sad and wounded here, we prove Poor wanderers, tired and 'reft of all, We strive, till freed from Satan's thrall, We're brought to Jesus' fold. With fervour at the sinner's heart, Thou plead'st to enter in, And there the kindly balm impart, That heals the wounds of sin. "Open my sister to thy spouse, My love is ever true; My head with nightly dropping flows, My locks are filled with dew." |