Deeply impress upon our youth
The light and force of gospel truth.
7 With this new year may they begin
To live to thee, and die to sin ;
To enter by the narrow way
Which leads to everlasting day.
8 How will they else thy presence bear
When as a Judge thou shalt appear!
When slighted love to wrath shall turn,
And the whole earth like Sinai burn !
18.
A Prayer for Power on the Means of Grace.
1 THOU at whose almighty word
The glorious light from darkness sprung!
Thy quick ning influence afford,
And clothe with power the preacher s tongue.
2 Though tis thy truth he hopes to speak,
He cannot give the hearing ear ;
Tis thine, the stubborn heart to break,
And make the careless sinner fear.
3 As when, of old, the water flow d
Forth from the rock at thy command ;
Moses in vain had waved his rod
Without thy wonder-working hand.
4 As when the walls of Jericho
Down to the earth at once were cast ;
It was thy power that brought them low,
And not the trumpet s feeble blast.
5 Thus we would in the means be found,
And thus on thee alone depend ;
To make the gospel s joyful sound
Effectual to the promised end.
6 Now, while we hear thy word of grace.
Let self and pride before it fall ;
And rocky hearts dissolve apace,
In streams of sorrow at thv call.