As solemn as the thought of one Who is no more, Is the remembrance of the old year gone, When, lo! the new year standeth at the door. A. E. H. THE Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. PSALM XXXiv. 18. WEARY of wandering from my God, A Friend before the throne of love. O Jesu, full of pardoning grace, Open thine arms and take me in; CHARLES WESLEY. ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ESUS CHRIST, and him crucified. 1 COR. ii. 2. JESUS O SACRED head, now wounded, With grief and shame bowed down; Now scornfully surrounded With thorns, thine only crown. O sacred head, what glory, What bliss till now was thine! What language shall I borrow S. BERNARD, trans. by Gerhardt. HEAR us, O Lord Christ, crucified for our redemption, and so heal and transform us by thy most precious death, that we may live only unto thee, and that at the last hour of our departing from this mortal life we may commit our souls, reconciled and cleansed, into thine eternal hands, that thou mayest receive us into life immortal, there to reign with thee world without end. Amen. JESUS met them, saying, All hail. MATT. xxviii. 9. O RISEN Christ! thou art the door, The blessed Easter-gate of life, To thee, fair lustrous lilies white, The spot that was thy guarded tomb, Seems but the lighted portal whence All praise, our risen Lord, to thee, M. K. A. S. GRANT, O merciful God, that in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ we may in very deed have our portion, for his sake. Amen. |