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The opening year thy graces shall proclaim,
And all its days be vocal with thy name.
The Lord is good, his mercy never-ending,
His blessings in perpetual showers descending,

Thou earth, enlightened by his rays divine, Teeming with grass, and corn, and oil, and wine; Crowned with his goodness let thy nations meet, And lay their crowns at his paternal feet; With grateful love that liberal hand confessing, Which through each heart diffuseth every blessing.

His mercy never ends: the dawn, the shade Still see new beauties, through new scenes displayed;

Succeeding ages bless this sure abode,

And children lean upon their father's God. The deathless soul, through its immense duration, Drinks from this source immortal consolation.

Burst into praise, my soul! all natures join;
Angels and men in harmony combine;

While human years are measured by the sun,
And while eternity its course shall run;
His goodness, in perpetual showers descending,
Shall call forth songs and raptures never-ending

The Epiphany, or Manifestation of Christ to

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the Gentiles.

And, lo, the star which they saw in the East, went before them, till it came and stood where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.---Matt. c. 11.

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,
Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid!
Star of the east, the horizon adorning,

Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid!

Cold on his cradle the dewdrops are shining, Low lies his head with the beasts of the stall; Angels adore him, in slumber reclining,

Maker and Monarch, and Saviour of all!

Say shall we yield him, in costly devotion,
Odours of Edom, and off'rings divine;
Gems of the mountain, and pearls of the ocean,
Myrrh from the forest, and gold from the mine?

Vainly we offer each ample oblation;

Vainly with gold would his favour secure; Richer by far is the heart's adoration,

Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor!

Brighest and best of the sons of the morning,
Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid!

Star of the east the horizon adorning,

Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid!

BISHOP HEBER.

Good Friday.

"It is finished"---John xix. 30.

Hark! the voice of love and mercy
Sounds aloud from Calvary;
See, it rends the rocks asunder,.
Shakes the earth, and veils the sky.
"It is finish'd!"

Hear the dying Saviour cry!

"It is finish'd!" O what pleasure Do these cheering words afford! Heav'nly blessings without measure Flow from our redeeming Lord. "It is finished!"

Saints the blessed word record.

Finish'd, all the types and shadows
Of the ceremonial law;

Finish'd, all that God has promis'd;
Death and hell no more shall awe.

"It is finished!"

Saints from hence your comfort draw!

Tune your harps anew, ye seraphs!
Loud redeeming love proclaim!

All on earth, and all in heaven,

Join to praise Immanuel's name !
Hallelujah!

Endless glory to the Lamb.

Meditation on Good Friday.

"Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour; but for this cause came I unto this hour."---John xii.

Think, O my soul, what love to thee
Was shewn in sad Gethsemane :
Think how for thee the Saviour God
Endured temptation's heaviest rod.

'Twas here the Lord of Life appear'd,
And sigh'd and groan'd, and pray'd and fear'd,
Bore all incarnate God could bear,

And felt the horrors of despair.

When on the cross he bled and died,
Fainting with pain, “ I thirst,” he cried.
His foes rejoiced that nature fail'd,
Scoff'd at his dying pangs, and rail'd.

Such pangs to bear, O what could move?
What motive but redeeming love?

Love for the careless and the base,
The sinful, fallen, human race.

O love of unexampled kind,

Leaving all finite love behind:

Where length, and breadth, and depth, and height Are lost to our astonished sight!

Easter Day.

"He is risen as he said."---Matt. xxviii.

Most glorious Lord of Life, that on this day Didst make thy triumph over death and sin; And, conquering the grave, didst bring away Captivity, thence captive us to win.

This joyous day, Lord, we with joy begin;

And grant that we, for whom thou then didst die, Being with thy dear blood clean wash'd from sin, May live for ever in felicity:

And that thy love we weighing worthily,
May likewise love thee for the same again;
And for thy sake, who all like dear didst buy,
With love may one another entertain.

So let us love, dear Lord, like as we ought,
Love is the lesson, which thy love has taught.

Ascension Sunday.

SPENSER.

"After the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven."---Mark xvi.

Our Lord is risen from the dead;
Our Saviour is gone up on high;
The powers of hell are captive led,
Dragg'd from the portals of the sky.
Eternal glory him awaits,

And angels chaunt the solemn lay;

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