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
With all the gloomy past.

3. My home henceforth is in the skies:
Earth, seas, and sun, adieu!

All heaven unfolded to my eyes,
I have no sight for you!

4. So speaks the Christian, firm possess'd
Of Faith's supporting rod;

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,
Whence life can be supplied.

2. Can life in them deserve the name,
Who only live to prove

For what poor toys they can disclaim

An endless life above?

3. If scorn of God's commands, impress'd
On word and deed, imply

The better part of man unbless'd
With life that cannot die;

4. Such want it; and that want, uncured
Till man resigns his breath,
Speaks him a criminal assured
Of everlasting death.

5. Sad period to a pleasant course!
Yet so will God repay

His laws profaned without remorse,
And mercy cast away.

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,
The falling of a tear:
The upward looking of the eye,
When none but God is near.

Prayer

2. Prayer is the simplest form of speech
That infant lips can try :

Prayer the sublimest strains that reach
The Majesty on high.

Prayer is the Christian's vital breath,
The Christian's native air:

His watchword at the gates of death,
He enters heaven by prayer!
3. Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice,
Returning from his ways:

4.

While angels in their songs rejoice,
And say, "Behold, he prays!"
Nor prayer is made on earth alone:
The Holy Spirit pleads :-

And JESUS, on th' eternal throne,
For sinners intercedes.

'O Thou, by whom we come to God,
The Life, the Truth, the Way;

The path of prayer Thyself hast trod :-
'Lord, "teach us how to pray!"

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,
My flock cut off I see;
Though famine pine in empty stalls,

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
Of my salvation prove.

God is the treasure of my soul,
The source of lasting joy;
A joy which want shall not impair,
Nor death itself destroy.

CLXXXIX.

THE DEPARTING SOUL.

By Toplady. (Music, Hotham, as M. S. 4th No. Small.) 1. DEATHLESS principle, arise!

Soar, thou native of the skies!
Pearl of price, by Jesus bought,
To His glorious likeness wronght!
Go, to shine before his throne,
Deck his mediatorial crown;