 | Wood-notes and Church-bells |  |
BETWEEN THE YEARS;
OR, THOUGHTS FOR THE OLD YEAR AND THE NEW.
My soul, look inward and reflect;
The solemn midnight hour draws near;
Let worldly thoughts and words be checked;
Watch thou beside the dying year:
Pause, ere this milestone is quite past,
And ponder—it may be thy last!
The solemn midnight hour draws near;
Let worldly thoughts and words be checked;
Watch thou beside the dying year:
Pause, ere this milestone is quite past,
And ponder—it may be thy last!
Reflect how days, weeks, months glide by,
How soon life's journey will be done,
And we must lay us down and die—
Life's silent-flowing sands all run:
Who knows how few may now remain!
Let us not waste one precious grain.
How soon life's journey will be done,
And we must lay us down and die—
Life's silent-flowing sands all run:
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Let us not waste one precious grain.
My soul, look backward and repent;
Count up thy sins of deed, word, thought,
Talents misused, and time mis-spent,
Duties neglected, follies wrought:
Bid all stand forth in dark array
Ere the Old Year has passed away.
Count up thy sins of deed, word, thought,
Talents misused, and time mis-spent,
Duties neglected, follies wrought:
Bid all stand forth in dark array
Ere the Old Year has passed away.
Repent; confess them then and there,
Daring to look them in the face;
Then take them all to Christ in prayer,
And leave them at His throne of grace;
“His own self bare them on the Tree,”
And we begin the New Year free!
Daring to look them in the face;
Then take them all to Christ in prayer,
And leave them at His throne of grace;
“His own self bare them on the Tree,”
And we begin the New Year free!
My soul, look upward and rejoice;
Crossing the threshold of the year
With music of a grateful voice,
With comfort of a conscience clear:
To God thy heart-felt praises lift
For His unutterable gift!
Crossing the threshold of the year
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With comfort of a conscience clear:
To God thy heart-felt praises lift
For His unutterable gift!
Rejoice, for all His paths are peace,
Daily His acts of kindness flow
Throughout the year, and never cease;
Count up thy mercies here below—
Then in each joy a token see
Of higher joys prepared for thee.
Daily His acts of kindness flow
Throughout the year, and never cease;
Count up thy mercies here below—
Then in each joy a token see
Of higher joys prepared for thee.
My soul, look forward, and resolve
That by God's blessing thou wilt win,
Ere yet another year revolve,
More conquests over self and sin;
More love for duty and for God,
More peace within, more strength abroad.
That by God's blessing thou wilt win,
Ere yet another year revolve,
More conquests over self and sin;
More love for duty and for God,
More peace within, more strength abroad.
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Resolve to read God's Word and pray;
To seek the Spirit's living power;
To fill with useful work each day;
And lean on Christ from hour to hour:
Lord, to Thy servant be Thou near,
And this will be a glad New Year!
To seek the Spirit's living power;
To fill with useful work each day;
And lean on Christ from hour to hour:
Lord, to Thy servant be Thou near,
And this will be a glad New Year!
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