YREAT God! we sing that mighty Hand,
By which supported still we stand:
The opening year Thy mercy shows;
Let mercy crown it, till it close.
2 By day, by night, at home, abroad,
Still we are guarded by our God;
By His incessant bounty fed,
By His unerring counsel led.
3 With grateful hearts the past we own;
The future, all to us unknown,
We to Thy guardian care commit,
And, peaceful, leave before Thy feet.
4 In scenes exalted or depressed,
Be Thou our joy, and Thou our rest;
Thy goodness all our hopes shall raise,
Adored through all our changing days.
5 When death shall interrupt our songs,
And seal in silence mortal tongues,
Our Helper God, in Whom we trust,
In better worlds our souls shall boast.
Philip Doddridge. 1755
OR Thy mercy and Thy grace,
Faithful through another year,
Hear our song of thankfulness;
Father and Redeemer, hear.
2 In our weakness and distress,
Rock of strength! be Thou our Stay: In the pathless wilderness
Be our true and living Way.
3 Who of us death's lonely road
In the coming year shall tread,
With Thy rod and staff, O God,
Comfort Thou his dying head.
4 Keep us faithful; keep us pure:
Keep us evermore Thine own:
Help, O help us to endure:
Fit us for the promised crown.
5 So within Thy palace gate
We shall praise, on golden strings,
Thee, the only Potentate,
Lord of lords, and King of kings.
HILE with ceaseless course the sun
W 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:
Upward, 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 Saviour's love;
And when life's short tale is told,
May we dwell with Thee above.
S with gladness men of old
Did the guiding star behold;
As with joy they hailed its light,
Leading onward, beaming bright:
So, most gracious God, may we
Evermore be led by Thee.
2 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 Thy mercy-seat.
3 As they offered 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.
4 Holy Jesus! every day
Keep us in the narrow way;
And, when earthly things are past,
Bring our ransomed souls at last
Where they need no star to guide,
Where no clouds Thy glory hide.
5 In the heavenly country bright
Need they no created light:
Thou its Light, its Joy, its Crown,
Thou its Sun which goes not down;
There for ever may we sing
Hallelujahs to our King.
William Chatterton Dix. 1860.
ONS of men, behold from afar,
Hail the long-expected star!
Jacob's star that gilds the night,
Guides bewildered nature right.
2 Fear not hence that ill should flow,
Wars or pestilence below;
Wars it bids and tumult cease,
Ushering in the Prince of Peace.
3 Mild He shines on all beneath,
Piercing through the shade of death;
Scattering error's widespread night,
Kindling darkness into light.
4 Nations all, far off and near,
Haste to see your God appear!
Haste, for Him your hearts prepare,
Meet Him manifested there.
5 Here behold the Dayspring rise,
Pouring daylight on your eyes:
God in His own light survey,
Shining to the perfect day.
6 Sing, ye morning stars, again!
God descends on earth to reign;
Deigns for man His life to employ :
Shout, ye sons of God, for joy.
AIL, Thou Source of every blessing,
Sovereign Father of mankind!
Gentiles now, Thy grace possessing,
In Thy courts admission find.
Grateful now we fall before Thee,
In Thy Church obtain a place;
Now by faith behold Thy glory,
Praise Thy truth, adore Thy grace.
2 Once far off, but now invited,
We approach Thy sacred throne;
In Thy covenant united,
Reconciled, redeemed, made one.
Now revealed to Eastern sages,
See the star of mercy shine;
Mystery hid in former ages,
Mystery great of love divine.
3 Hail, Thou all-inviting Saviour!
Gentiles now their offerings bring;
In Thy temple seek Thy favor,
Jesus Christ, our Lord and King.
May we, body, soul and spirit,
Live devoted to Thy praise,
Glorious realms of bliss inherit,
Grateful anthems ever raise.
Werde Licht, du Stadt der Heiden.
ISE, O Salem, rise and shine;
Lo! the Gentiles hail thy waking;
Herald of a morn divine,
See the Dayspring o'er us breaking,
Telling God hath called to mind
Those who long in darkness pined.
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