4.
A New- Year s Thought and Prayer.
1 TIME by moments steals away,
First the hour, and then the day ;
Small the daily loss appears,
Yet it soon amounts to years :
Thus another year is flown,
Now it is no more our own,
If it brought or promised good,
Than the years before the flood.
2 But (may none of us forget)
It has left us much in debt ;
Favours from the Lord received,
Sins that have his Spirit grieved,
Mark d by an unerring hand,
In his book recorded stand ;
Who can tell the vast amount
Placed to each of our account ?
3 Happy the believing soul !
Christ for you has paid the whole ;
While you own the debt is large,
You may plead a full discharge :
But, poor careless sinner, say,
What can you to justice pay ?
Tremble, lest, when life is past,
Into prison you be cast !
4 Will you still increase the score ?
Still be careless as before ?
Oh, forbid it, gracious Lord,
Touch their spirits by thy word !
Now, in mercy to them show
What a mighty debt they owe !
All their unbelief subdue :
Let them find forgiveness too.
5 Spared to see another year,
Let thy blessing meet us here ;
Come, thy dying work revive,
Bid thy drooping garden thrive :
