2 Bless, Lord, the opening year
To each soul assembled here ;
Clothe thj word with power divine,
Make us willing to be thine.
3 Shepherd of thy blood-bought sheep !
Teach the stony heart to weep ;
Let the blind have eyes to see,
See themselves and look on thee !
4 Let the minds of all our youth
Feel the force of sacred truth ;
While the gospel call we hear,
May they learn to love and fear.
5 Show them what their ways have been,
Show them the desert of sin ;
Then thy dying love reveal,
This shall melt a heart of steel.
6 Where thou hast thy work begun,
Give new strength the race to run ;
Scatter darkness, doubts, and fears,
Wipe away the mourner s tears.
7 Bless us all, both old and young ;
Call forth praise from every tongue ;
Let the whole assembly prove
All thy power and all thy love.
10.
Casting the Gospel Net.
1 WHEX Peter, through the tedious night,
Had often cast his net in vain,
Soon as the Lord appear d in sight
He gladly let it down again.
2 Once more the gospel net we cast ;
Do thou, O Lord, the effort own !
We learn from disappointments past
To rest our hope on thee alone.
3 Upheld by thy supporting hand,
We enter on another year ;
