For Him shall prayer unceasing,
And daily vows, ascend;
His kingdom still increasing,
A kingdom without end:
The mountain dews shall nourish
A seed, in weakness sown,
Whose fruit shall spread and flourish,
And shake like Lebanon.

O'er every foe victorious,

He on His throne shall rest,
From age to age more glorious,
All-blessing and all-blest.
The tide of time shall never

His covenant remove;
His Name shall stand for ever;
That Name to us is Love.

The New-Year.

DR COTTON.

LORD of my life, inspire my song!

To Thee my noblest powers belong;

Grant me Thy favourite seraph's flame,
To sing the glories of Thy name.

My birth, my fortune, friends, and health,
My knowledge too, superior wealth,
Lord of my life! to Thee I owe;
Teach me to practise what I know.

Ten thousand favours claim my song,
And each demands an angel's tongue;
Mercy sits smiling on the wings
Of every moment as it springs.

The Old and New Year.

257

But, oh! with infinite surprise,

I see returning years arise;

When unimproved the former score,

Lord, wilt Thou trust me still with more!

Thousands this period hoped to see;
Denied to thousands-granted me;
Thousands that weep, and wish, and pray
For those rich hours I throw away.

The tribute of my heart receive,

'Tis the poor all I have to give;

Should it prove faithless, Lord, I'd wrest
The bleeding traitor from my breast.

The Old and New Year.

ARTHUR TOZER RUSSELL.

ANOTHER year hath fled; renew,

Lord, with our days Thy love!

Our days are evil here and few;

We look to live above:

We will not grieve, though day by day
We pass from earthly joys away;

Our joy abides in Thee;

Our joy abides in Thee!

Yet, when our sins we call to mind,
We cannot fail to grieve;

But Thou art pitiful and kind,

And wilt our prayer receive:

R

O Jesu, evermore the same,

Our hope we rest upon Thy Name;

Our hope abides in Thee;
Our hope abides in Thee!

For all the future, Lord, prepare
Our souls with strength Divine;
Help us to cast on Thee our care,
And on Thy servants shine:
Life without Thee is dark and drear;
Death is not death if Thou art near;
Our life abides in Thee;

Our life abides in Thee!

Now

New-Year's Day.

REV. JOHN NEWTON.

[OW, gracious Lord, Thine arm reveal,
And make Thy glory known;

Now let us all Thy presence feel,
And soften hearts of stone!

Help us to venture near Thy throne,

And plead a Saviour's Name; For all that we can call our own

Is vanity and shame.

From all the guilt of former sin

May mercy set us free:
And let the year we now begin,

Begin and end with Thee.

Epiphany Hymn.

Send down Thy Spirit from above,
That saints may love Thee more,
And sinners now may learn to love,
Who never loved before.

And when before Thee we appear
In our eternal home,

May growing numbers worship here,
And praise Thee in our room!

259

Epiphany Hymn.

WILLIAM C. DIX.

AS with gladness men of old

Did the guiding star behold; As with joy they hail'd its light, Leading onward, beaming bright; So, most gracious Lord, may we Evermore be led to Thee!

As with joyful steps they sped
To that lowly manger-bed;
There to bend the knee before
Him whom heaven and earth adore
So may we with willing feet
Ever seek the mercy-seat.

As they offer'd gifts most rare
At that manger rude and bare;
So may we with holy joy,
Pure and free from sin's alloy,
All our costliest treasures bring,
Christ! to Thee our heavenly King

The Son of God, th' Eternal King,
That did us all salvation bring,

And freed the soul from danger;

He whom the whole world could not take,
The Word which heaven and earth did make,
Was now laid in a manger.

The Father's wisdom will'd it so,
The Son's obedience knew no No,
Both wills were in one stature :

And as that wisdom had decreed,
The Word was now made flesh indeed,
And took on Him our nature.

What comfort by Him do we win,
Who made Himself the price of sin,
To make us heirs of glory!

To see this babe all innocence,
A martyr born in our defence:
Can man forget this story?

WHI

Christmas Hymn.

NAHUM TATE.

HILE shepherds watch'd their flocks by night,
All seated on the ground,

The angel of the Lord came down,

And glory shone around.

"Fear not," said he; for mighty dread

Had seized their troubled mind;

"Glad tidings of great joy I bring

To you and all mankind.