Sunday after Christmas : Close of the Year. “THE LIVING, THE LIVING, HE SHALL PRAISE THEE, A3 I DO THIS DAY." 82 A little while and ye shall see me.—John svi. 16. [D.S.M. 1 A FEW more years shall roll, A few more seasons come, Asleep within the tomb: My soul for that great day; And take my sins away. O’er these dark hills of time, A far serener clime : My soul for that bright day; my away. On this wild rocky shore, And surges swell no more: My soul for that calm day; And take my sins away. A few more partings o'er, And we shall weep no more : My soul for that blest day; And take my sins away. 5 A few more Sabbaths here Shall cheer us on our way, The eternal Sabbath day. My soul for that sweet day; And take my sins away. And he shall come again, That we with him may reign: My soul for that glad day; And take my sins away." 83 Thou art the same, and thy years shall have 120 [7s. 68. end.-Ps. cii. 27. Who evermore hast been, Our dwelling-place serene: O Lord, the same as now, The Everlasting Thou ! On sunny hills that lie, That blossom but to die : By strangers quickly told, Of things that soon are old. Whose light grows never pale, Our years before they fail. SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS: CLOSE OF THE YEAR. On us thy mercy lighten, On us thy goodness rest, The hearts thyself hast bless'd. With beauty and with grace, We see thee fura to face: A fountain brimming o'er; An ocean without shore. 84 Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.—1 Sam. vii. 12. [75. 1 For thy mercy and thy grace, Faithful through another year, Father and Redeemer, hear. Rock of strength, be thou our stay: Be our true and living way. In the coming year shall tread; Comfort thou his dying head. Keep us evermore thine own; Fit us for the promised crown. We shall praise, on golden strings, Lord of lords, and King of kings. 85 So teach us to number our days that we may apply (P.M. our hearts unto wisdom.-Ps. xc. 12. 1 Days and moments quickly flying Speed us onward to the dead : Each within Lis narrow bed! - Jesu, merciful Redeemer, Rouse dead souls to hear thy voice; Now to make the eternal choice. 3 Mark we whither we are wending; Ponder how we soon must go Or eternity of woe. Death draweth near : With thee to die, As a vapour so it flies; Pardon grant, and make us wise Strive and wrestle with our sin, Till thy holy rest we win. We with all the dead shall stand; Place us then on thy right hand. a 8 Life passeth soon : Death draweth near :. appear : With thee to die, The Circumcision of Christ : New Year. "BY THY HOLY NATIVITY AND CIRCUMCISION, GOOD LORD, DELIVER us.' 88 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. Ps. cxxvi. 5. [S.M. 1 The year begins with thee; And thou beginn'st with woe, That blood for sin must flow. the breast Must do its stern behest. Pour'd on a victim's head, Now first to offering led. Cradled in care and woe; Few vernal joys can show ? The Giver of all good From suffering, tears, and blood. years |