Wherein we darkly stray,
Oppressed with doubt and terror,
For saving aid we pray.

3 O God of mercy, hear us!
Our pain, our sorrow, see;
Thy healing pity spare us,
And bring us home to Thee!

389. 6s. M. Anonymous.

The New Year.

1 Joy! joy! a year is born;
A year to man is given,
For hope, and peace, and love,
For faith, and truth, and heaven.
Though earth be dark with care,
With death and sorrow rife,
Yet toil, and pain, and prayer,
Lead to our higher life.

2 Behold, the fields are white!
No longer idly stand!
Go forth in love and might;
Man needs thy helping hand.
Thus may each day and year
To prayer and toil be given,
Till man to God draw near,
And earth become like heaven.

390. C. M. Gaskell.

A New Year.

1 Our Father! through the coming year
We know not what shall be,
But we would leave without a fear
Its ordering all to Thee.

2 It may be we shall toil in vain
For what the world holds fair,
And all its good we thought to gain
Deceive, and prove but care.

3 It may be it shall darkly blend
Our love with anxious fears,
And snatch away the valued friend,
The tried of many years.

4 It may be it shall bring us days
And nights of lingering pain,
And bid us take our farewell gaze
Of these loved haunts of men.

5 But calmly, Lord, on Thee we rest;
No fears our trust shall move;
Thou knowest what for each is best,
And Thou art perfect love.

391. 7s. M. Anonymous.

The God of Spring.

1 Praise and thanks and cheerful love
Rise from everything below,
To the mighty One above,
Who his wondrous love doth show:
Praise him, each created thing!
God, your Father! God of spring!

2 Praise him, trees so lately bare;
Praise him, fresh and new-born flowers;
All ye creatures of the air;
All ye soft-descending showers:
Praise, with each awakening thing,
Praise your Maker,--God of spring!

3 Praise him, man!--thy fitful heart
Let this balmy season move
To employ its noblest part,
Softest mer