While gentle showers of grace divine, 1 SWEET is the time of spring, When nature's charms appear; Of wisdom and of grace, When children bless and praise their King, 2 Sweet is the dawn of day, When light just streaks the sky; And morning's beams are nigh: But sweeter far the dawn Of piety in youth; When doubt and darkness are withdrawn, Before the light of truth. 3 Sweet is the early dew, Which gilds the mountain's tops, And decks each plant and flower we view, But sweeter far the scene On Zion's holy hill, When there the dew of youth is seen 611. 7s. Spring, natural and spiritual 2 Lord! afford a spring to me; 3 How the soul in winter mourns, 612. L. M. The Year crowned with Goodness. 1 ETERNAL Source of every joy! Whose goodness crowns the circling year. 2 While, as the wheels of nature roll,— 3 The flowery spring, at thy command, No more a face of horror wear. 5 Seasons. and months, and weeks, and days, 613. C. M. Summer and Harvest. 1 TO praise the ever-bounteous Lord, 2 His covenant with the earth he keeps; 3 Well-pleased the husbandmen behold With joy they bear the sheaves away, 4 Thus teach me, gracious God! to sow 614. C. M. Seed-time and Harvest. 1 FOUNTAIN of mercy, God of love! 2 When, in the bosom of the earth, Thy goodness marked its secret birth, 3 The spring's sweet influence, Lord! was thineThe plants in beauty grew; Thou gav'st refulgent suns to shine, 4 These varied mercies, from above, A kindly harvest crowns thy love, 5 We own and bless thy gracious sway— Seed-time nor harvest, night nor day, 615. C. M. Fruitful Seasons from God. 1 O THOU who givest all their food !— Causing thy sun to shine Upon the evil and the good,— Earth's teeming stores are thine. 2 Thy covenant to man secures Thy faithful word, while earth endures, 3 The wintry frost, the flowery prime, Each herb and blossom knows its time, 4 Revolving seasons still proclaim Seed-time and harvest speak thy name,- 616. C. M. Close of the Year. 1 AWAKE, ye saints! and raise your eyes, 2 On all the wings of time it flies, 3 Not many years their rounds shall run, 4 Ye wheels of nature! speed your course; Ye mortal powers! decay; Fast as ye bring the night of death, 617. C. M. Time short-Man frail. 1 THEE we adore, eternal Name! 2 The year rolls round, and steals away 3 Good God! on what a slender thread 4 Infinite joy, or endless wo, 5 Waken, O Lord! our drowsy sense, DEATH. L. M. 618. Death and Burial of Saints. 1 UNVEIL thy bosom, faithful tomb! 2 Nor pain, nor grief, nor anxious fear, [bed! Passed through the grave, and blessed the Rest here, blest saint!-till, from his throne, The morning break, and pierce the shade. 4 Break from his throne, illustrious morn! Attend, O earth! his sovereign word; Restore thy trust ;-a glorious form Shall then arise to meet the Lord. 619. 8s and 7s. Mourners Comforted. 1 CEASE, ye mourners! cease to languish, Pain, and death, and night, and anguish, 2 While our silent steps are straying, Lonely, through night's deepening shade, 3 Light and peace at once deriving, |