THE END OF THE OLD YEAR.

A circle infinite art thou,
Thy centre an eternal now,
Never, we name thy outer bound,
For never end therein is found,
Ponder, O man, eternity!

Eternity! eternity!

How long art thou, eternity!
As long as God is God, so long
Endure the pains of hell and wrong,
So long the joys of heaven remain ;
O lasting joy, O lasting pain!
Ponder, O man, eternity!

Eternity! eternity!

How long art thou, eternity!
A moment lasts all joy below,
Whereby man sinks to endless woe,
A moment lasts all earthly pain,
Whereby an endless joy we gain.
Ponder, O man, eternity!

Eternity! eternity!

How long art thou eternity!

Who marks thee well would say to God, Here, judge, burn, smite me with Thy rod Here, let me all Thy justice bear,

When time of grace is past, then spare! Ponder, O man, eternity!

Also Hymn 141.

THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST.

18

THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST.

New Year's Day.

L. M.

Blest day! when o'er a world of woe
The stream of grace began to flow,
That presage of the atoning flood,
Those first few drops of Jesus' blood.

How soon the Infant Child of man
His course of pain and grief began !
How early did those sorrows prove
His will to die, His power to love!

From heaven descending to fulfil,
The mandates of His Father's will,
E'en now behold the victim lie,
The Son of God, prepared to die.

Beneath the knife, behold the Child,
The Innocent, the Undefiled!
For captives He the ransom pays,
For lawless man the law obeys.

Lord, circumcise our hearts, we pray,
Our fleshly natures purge away;
Thy name, Thy likeness may they bear;
Yea, stamp Thy holy image there.

The Father's name we loudly raise;
The Son, the Virgin-born, we praise;
The Holy Ghost we all adore;
One God, both now and evermore.

19

20

THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST.

S. M.

The year begins with Thee,
And Thou beginnest with woe,
To let the world of sinners see
That blood for sin must flow.

Like sacrificial wine,

Poured on a victim's head,

Are those few precious drops of Thine,
Now first to offering led.

Lord, circumcise our heart,
Our fleshly nature heal,
And with Thine awful name impart

Thine image, stamp, and seal.

To God the Father praise,
The Son, and Spirit on high,
As was of old, is now, shall be
To all eternity.

Also Hymns 106, 107.

11, 10.

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning! Dawn on our darkness and lend us Thine aid!

Star of the East, the horizon adorning,

Guide where our Infant Redeemer is laid!

Cold on His cradle the dew-drops are shining,
Low lies His head with the beasts of the stall,
Angels adore Him in slumber reclining,
Maker, and Monarch, and Saviour of all.

Say, shall we yield him, in costly devotion,
Odours of Edom and offerings divine?

Gems of the mountain, and pearls of the ocean,
Myrrh from the forest, or gold from the mine?

Vainly we offer each ample oblation;

Vainly with gifts would his favour secure : Richer by far is the heart's adoration,

Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning! Dawn on our darkness, and lend us Thine aid! Star of the East, the horizon adorning,

Guide where our Infant Redeemer is laid!

21

EPIPHANY.

Sons of men, behold from far,
Hail the long expected star,
Jacob's star that gilds the night,
Guides bewildered nature right.

7s.

Fear not hence that there should flow

Wars or pestilence below,

Wars it bids, and tumults cease,
Ushering in the Prince of Peace.

Mild it shines on all beneath,
Piercing through the shades of death,
Scattering error's wide-spread night,
Kindling darkness into light.

Nations all, far off and near,
Haste to see your God appear;

THE WEEK BEFORE SEPTUAGESIMA.

Haste, for Him your hearts prepare,
Meet Him manifested there.

There behold the day-spring rise,
Pouring eyesight on your eyes;
God in His own light survey,
Shining to the perfect day.

Sing ye morning stars again,
God descends to dwell with men,
Deigns for man His life to employ,
Shout, ye sons of God, for joy!

Glory to the heavenly King,
Glory all ye angels sing,
Glory to the Father, Son,

And Blest Spirit, Three in One.

Also Hymns 50, 138, 139.

THE WEEK BEFORE SEPTUAGESIMA.

22

Hallelujah, song of sweetness,
Voice of joy, celestial lay,

Hallelujah is the glory

8, 7.

Of the choirs in heavenly day,
Which the angels sing, abiding
In the house of God for aye.

Hallelujah, joyful mother

Of the blest, Jerusalem!

Hallelujah is the anthem

That full well befitteth them,