504.

7s M.

ANONYMOUS.

The Same.

1 TIME by moments steals away,
First the hour and then the day;
Small the daily loss appears,
Yet it soon amounts to years.

2 Thus another year is flown;
Now it is no more our own,
If it brought or promised good,
Than the years before the flood.

3 But may none of us forget
It has left us much in debt;
Who can tell the vast amount
Placed to every one's account!

4 Favors, from the Lord received,
Sins, that have his spirit grieved,
Marked by an unerring hand,
In his book recorded stand.

5 If we see another year,

May thy blessing meet us here;

Sun of righteousness, arise,

Warm our hearts and bless our eyes.

505.

L. M.

DODDRIDGE.

New Year's Day.

1 GREAT God, we sing that mighty hand, By which, supported still, we stand: The opening year thy mercy shows; Let mercy crown it till it close.

2 By day, by night, at home, abroad, Still we are guarded by our God; By his incessant bounty fed,

By his unerring counsel led.

3 With grateful hearts the past we own;
The future, all to us unknown,
We to thy guardian care commit,
And peaceful leave before thy feet.
4 In scenes exalted or depressed,
Be thou our joy, and thou our rest;
Thy goodness all our hopes shall raise,
Adored through all our changing days.
5 When death shall interrupt these songs,
And seal in silence mortal tongues,
Our Helper, God, in whom we trust,
In better worlds our souls shall boast.

506.

L. M.

ANONYMOUS,

God's Favor to our Nation acknowledged.

1 GREAT God of nations! now to thee
Our hymn of gratitude we raise ;
With humble heart, and bending knee,
We offer thee our song of praise.

2 Thy name we bless, almighty God,
For all the kindness thou hast shown
To this fair land the pilgrims trod,
This land we fondly call our own.

3 Here Freedom spreads her banner wide,
And casts her soft and hallowed ray;
Here thou our fathers' steps didst guide
In safety through their dangerous way.

4 We praise thee, that the gospel's light
Through all our land its radiance sheds;
Dispels the shades of error's night,
And heavenly blessings round us spreads.
5 Great God! preserve us in thy fear;
In dangers still our guardian be;

O spread thy truth's bright precepts here;
Let all the people worship thee.

507.

L. M.

ROSCOE.

God, the Sovereign of Nations.

1 GREAT God! beneath whose piercing eye
The earth's extended kingdoms lie;
Whose favoring smile upholds them all,
Whose anger smites them, and they fall;-

2 We bow before thy heavenly throne;
Thy power we see-thy greatness own;
Yet, cherished by thy milder voice,
Our bosoms tremble and rejoice.

3 Thy kindness to our fathers shown
Their children's children long shall own;
To thee, with grateful hearts, shall raise
The tribute of exulting praise.

4 Led on by thine unerring aid,
Secure the paths of life we tread;
And, freely as the vital air,

Thy first and noblest bounties share.

5 Great God, our guardian, guide, and friend! O still thy sheltering arm extend;

Preserved by thee for ages past,
For ages let thy kindness last!

508.

L. M.

ANONYMOUS.

For a National Celebration.

1-0 THOU, whose arm of

power surrounds
The vast creation's utmost bounds!
This day a nation bends the knee
In grateful reverence, Lord, to thee;—

2 For thou hast given it joy and rest;
By thee its earliest years were blest;
And in its most disastrous hour
It leaned on thy almighty power.

3 The martial chiefs-the patriot few

Whose hands were strong, whose hearts were true, The noble birthright to be free

Great God! we owe them all to thee.

4 And now another Israel stands Redeemed from bondage by thy hands, May all our hearts rejoice to know

The source whence all our blessings flow.

509.

L. M.

*H. BALLOU.

The acceptable Fast.

1 THIS is the fast the Lord doth choose:

Each heavy burden to undo,

The bands of wickedness to loose,
And bid the captive freely go.

2 Let every vile and sinful yoke

Of servile bondage and of fear,
By mercy, love and truth be broke ;
And from each eye wipe every tear.

3 Yes, to the hungry deal thy bread; Bring to thine house the outcast poor; There let the fainting soul be fed,

Nor spurn

the needy from thy door.

4 And when thou seest the naked, spare
The raiment that his wants demand;
Since all mankind thy kindred are,
To all, thy charity expand.

5 Thus did the Savior of our race:
Himself, the Bread of Life, he gave;
He clothed us with his righteousness,
And broke the fetters from the slave.

6 He owned us brethren, nor did hide
Himself from us, in all our woe;
Be his example, then, our guide,
And let our lives his goodness show.

510.

L. M.

DYER.

Public Humiliation.

1 GREAT Framer of unnumbered worlds, And whom unnumbered worlds adore! Whose goodness all thy creatures share, While nature trembles at thy power,

2 Thine is the hand that moves the spheres,
That wakes the wind, and lifts the sea;
And man, who moves the lord of earth,
Acts but the part assigned by thee.

3 While suppliant crowds implore thine aid,
To thee we raise the humble cry;
Thine altar is the contrite heart,
Thine incense a repentant sigh.