The Close of the Year

1 The Lord our salvation and light,
The guide and the strength of our days,
Has brought us together tonight,
A new Ebenezer to raise.

The year we have now passed through,
His goodness with blessings has crowned
Each morning his mercies were new,
Then let our thanksgivings abound.

2 Encompassed with dangers and snares,
Temptations, and fears, and complaints;
His ear he inclined to our prayers,
His hand opened wide to our wants:

We never besought him in vain,
When burdened with sorrow or sin,
He helped us again and again,
Or where before now had we been?

3 His gospel throughout the long year,
From sabbath to sabbath he gave;
How oft has he met with us here,
And shewn himself mighty to save?

4 For so many mercies received,
Alas! what returns have we made?
His spirit we often have grieved,
And evil for good have repaid;

How well it becomes us to cry,
"Oh, who is a God like to thee?
Who passes iniquities by,
And plungest them deep in the sea?"

5 To Jesus who sits on the throne,
Our best hallelujahs we bring;
To thee it is owing alone,
That we are permitted to sing:

Assist us, we pray, to lament
The sins of the year that is past;
And grant that the next may be spent
Far more to thy praise than the last.

Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the use of Christians, 1803