The hour that terminates his span, His folly, and his woe! 2. Worlds should not bribe me back to tread Again life's dreary waste : To see again my day o'erspread 3. My home henceforth is in the skies: All heaven unfolded to my eyes, 4. So speaks the Christian, firm possess'd Then breathes his soul into its rest, The bosom of his God. CLXXXV. NEW YEAR'S HYMN. By Cowper. (Music as 58th Psalm, Mel. Sac.) 1. HE lives, who lives to God alone, And all are dead beside; For other source than God is none, 2. Can life in them deserve the name, For what poor toys they can disclaim An endless life above? 3. If scorn of God's commands, impress'd The better part of man unbless'd 4. Such want it; and that want, uncured 5. Sad period to a pleasant course! His laws profaned without remorse, CLXXXVI. IN SICKNESS. By Harte. (Music, as 123rd Psalm, Mcl. Sac.) 1. WHEN pining sickness wastes the frame; Acute disease and weak'ning pain: When life fast spends her feeble flame, And all the help of man is vain : Joyless and dark all things appear, Languid the spirits, weak the flesh : Medicine can't ease, nor cordials cheer, Nor food support, nor sleep refresh. 2. Oh! then to have recourse to God, To pray to Him in time of need; To feel the balm of Jesu's blood, This is to find a Friend indeed. O Christian! this thy happy lot, Who cleavest to the Lord by faith; He'll never leave thee, doubt it not, In pain, in sickness, woes, or death. 3. When flesh and heart decays and fails, He will thy strength and portion be; Support thy weakness, bear thy ails, And softly whisper, "Trust in me!" Himself shall be thy tender Friend, Thy kind Physician and thy stay: To make thy bed will condescend, And chase thy burning tears away. CLXXXVII. PRAYER. By Montgomery. (Music, as 39th Psalm. M. S.) 1. PRAYER is the soul's sincere desire, Unutter'd or exprest; The motion of a hidden fire That trembles in the breast. Prayer is the burden of a sigh, Prayer 2. Prayer is the simplest form of speech Prayer the sublimest strains that reach Prayer is the Christian's vital breath, His watchword at the gates of death, 4. While angels in their songs rejoice, And JESUS, on th' eternal throne, 'O Thou, by whom we come to God, The path of prayer Thyself hast trod :- CLXXXVIII. HABAKKUK, III. Verse 17, to end. (Music, 116th Psalm, M. S.) 1. WHAT though no flow'rs the fig-treeclothe, Though vines their fruit deny; The labour of the olive fail, And fields no meat supply: Though from the fold, with sad surprise, Where herds were wont to be? 2. Yet in the Lord will I be glad, And glory in his love ; In him I'll joy, who will the God God is the treasure of my soul, CLXXXIX. THE DEPARTING SOUL. By Toplady. (Music, Hotham, as M. S. 4th No. Small.) 1. DEATHLESS principle, arise! Soar, thou native of the skies! |