For hope and peace and love,
For faith and truth and heaven.
Though earth be dark with care,
With death and sorrow rife,
Yet toil and pain and prayer
Lead to our higher life.
1 WHILE, with ceaseless course, the sun
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 As the winged arrow flies
Speedily the mark to find;
As the lightning from the skies
Darts, and leaves no trace behind, -
Swiftly thus our fleeting days
Bear us down life's rapid stream:
Upward, Lord, our spirits raise;
All below is but a dream.
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 young and old;
Fill us with a Saviour's love;
And, when life's short tale is told,
May we dwell with thee above!
1 FATHER of mercies, God of peace,
Being whose bounties never cease,
While to the heavens, in grateful tones,
Ascend our mingled orisons,
Listen to these, the notes of praise,
Which we, a happy people, raise.
2 Our hamlets, sheltered by thy care,
Abodes of peace and plenty are;
Our tillage, by thy blessing, yields
A hundred-fold from ripened fields:
And laden bough and burthened vine
Are tokens of thy love divine.
3 The cradled head of infancy
Doth owe its tranquil rest to thee;
Youth's eager step, man's firmer tread,
In years mature by thee are led;
Secure may trembling age, O Lord!
Lean on its staff, thy holy word.
4 Teach us these blessings to improve;
Teach us to serve thee, teach to love;
Exalt our hearts, that we may see
The Giver of all good in thee;
And be thy word our daily food,
Thy service, Lord, our highest good.
543. Thanksgiving for National Prosperity.
3 The toils they bore our ease have wrought; | 4 Oh may our more harmonious tongues
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