653

7s M.

Time, how swift!

J. NEWTON.

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:
Upwards, 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 Savior's love,
And when life's short tale is told,
May we dwell with thee above.

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654

C. M.

WATTS.

The Seasons of the Year. Ps. 147.

1 WITH songs and honors sounding loud, Address the Lord on high;

Over the heavens he spreads his cloud,
And waters veil the sky.

2 He sends his showers of blessing down
To cheer the plains below ;

He makes the grass the mountains crown,
And corn in valleys grow.

3 He gives the grazing ox his meat,
He hears the raven's cry,

But man, who tastes his finest wheat,
Should raise his honors high.

4 His steady counsels change the face
Of the declining year;

He bids the sun cut short his race,
And wintry days appear.

5 His hoary frost, his fleecy snow,
Descend and clothe the ground;
The liquid streams forbear to flow,
In icy fetters bound.

6 He sends his word, and melts the snow;
The fields no longer mourn;
He calls the warmer gales to blow,
And bids the spring return.

7 The changing wind, the flying cloud,
Obey his mighty word;

With songs and honors sounding loud,
Praise ye the sovereign Lord.

The Year crowned with the divine Goodness.

1 ETERNAL Source of every joy, Well may thy praise our lips employ, While in thy temple we appear,

DODDRIDGE.

Whose goodness crowns the circling year.
2 Wide as the wheels of nature roll,
Thy hand supports the steady pole;
The sun is taught by thee to rise,
And darkness when to veil the skies.

3 The flowery spring, at thy command,
Embalms the air, and paints the land;
The summer rays with vigor shine,
To raise the corn, and cheer the vine.

4 Thy hand in autumn richly pours
Through all our coasts redundant stores;
And winters, softened by thy care,

No more a face of horror wear.

5 Seasons, and months, and weeks, and days,
Demand successive songs of praise;
Still be the cheerful homage paid
With opening light and evening shade.

6 0, may our more harmonious tongues
In worlds unknown pursue the songs,
And in those brighter courts adore,
Where days and years revolve no more.

510

656

C. M.

The Autumn Evening.

PEABODY.

1 BEHOLD the western evening light!
It melts in deeper gloom;

So calm the righteous sink away,
Descending to the tomb.

2 The winds breathe low; the yellow leaf
Scarce whispers from the tree;
So gently flows the parting breath,
When good men cease to be.

3 How beautiful, on all the hills,
The crimson light is shed!
"Tis like the peace the dying gives
To mourners round his bed,

4 How mildly on the wandering cloud
The sunset beam is cast!

So sweet the memory left behind,
When loved ones breathe their last.

5 And, lo! above the dews of night
The vesper star appears;

So faith lights up the mourner's heart,
Whose eyes are dim with tears.

6 Night falls, but soon the morning light
Its glories shall restore;

And thus the eyes that sleep in death
Shall wake, to close no more.

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657

6s & 4s M.

MRS. HEMANS.

Funeral Prayer.

1 LOWLY and solemn be
Thy children's cry to thee,
Father divine!

A hymn of suppliant breath,
Owning that life and death
Alike are thine.

2 O Father, in that hour

When earth all succoring power
Shall disavow,-

When spear, and shield, and crown,
In faintness are cast down,

Sustain us, thou!

3 By Him who bowed to take
The death-cup for our sake,
The thorn, the rod, -

From whom the last dismay
Was not to pass away,
Aid us, O God!

4 Tremblers beside the grave,

We call on thee to save,

Father divine!

Hear, hear our suppliant breath;
Keep us, in life and death,
Thine, only thine.

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