Newton.

Invocation. New Year.

1 Bless, O Lord, each opening year
To the souls assembling here:
Clothe thy word with power divine,
Make us willing to be thine.

2 Where thou hast thy work begun,
Give new strength the race to run;
Scatter darkness, doubts, and fears,
Wipe away the mourners' tears.

3 Bless us all, both old and young;
Call forth praise from every tongue:
Let our whole assembly prove
All thy power and all thy love!

895. C. M. Browne.

The Closing Year.

1 And now, my soul, another year
Of my short life is past:
I cannot long continue here;
And this may be my last.

2 Part of my doubtful life is gone,
Nor will return again;
And swift my fleeting moments run--
The few which yet remain!

3 Awake, my soul! with all thy care
Thy true condition learn;
What are thy hopes--how sure, how fair,
And what thy great concern?

4 Now a new space of life begins,
Set out afresh for heaven;
Seek pardon for thy former sins,
Through Christ, so freely given.

5 Devoutly yield thyself to God,
And on his grace depend;
With zeal pursue the heavenly road,
Nor doubt a happy end.

896. 7s. M. Anonymous.

The Same.

1 Time by moments steals away,
First the hour and then the day;
Small the daily loss appears,
Yet it soon amounts to years.

2 Thus another year is flown;
Now it is no more our own,
If it brought or promised good,
Than the years before the flood.

3 But may none of us forget
It has left us much in debt;
Who can tell the vast amount
Placed to every one's account!

4 Favors, from the Lord received,
Sins, that have his spirit grieved,
Marked by an unerring hand,
In his book recorded stand.

5 If we see another year,
May thy blessing meet us here:
Sun of righteousness, arise,
Warm our hearts and bless our eyes.

897. C. M. Watts.

The Same.

1 Time! what an empty vapor 'tis!
And days, how swift they are!
Swift as an Indian arrow flies,
Or like a shooting star.

2 The present moments just appear,
Then slide away in haste;
That we can never say, they're here;
But only say, they're past.

3 Our life is eve