Then he ll wipe away your tears,
Near himself appoint your place ;
Swifter fly, ye rolling years,
Lord, we long to see thy face !
3.
Uncertainty of Life.
1 SEE ! another year is gone !
Quickly have the seasons pass d !
This we enter now upon
Will to many prove their last :
Mercy hitherto has spared,
But have mercies been improved?
Let us ask, Am I prepared,
Should I be this year removed ?
2 Some we now no longer see,
Who their mortal race have run ;
Seem d as fair for life as we,
When the former year begun :
Some, but who God only knows,
Who are here assembled now,
Ere the present year shall close,
To the stroke of death must bow.
3 Life a field of battle is,
Thousands fall within our view :
And the next death-bolt that flies :
May be sent to me or you :
While we preach and while we hear,
Help us, Lord, each one to think
Vast eternity is near,
I am standing on the brink.
4 If from guilt and sin set free
By the knowledge of thy grace,
Welcome then the call will be
To depart and see thy face :
To thy saints while here below
With new years new mercies come ;
But the happiest year they know
Is the last, which leads them home.
