Scripture Verse

Who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto Me? saith the Lord. Jeremiah 30:21

Introduction

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James Montgomery
(1771–1854)
National Portrait Gallery

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Words: James Mont­go­me­ry, Orig­in­al Hymns for Pub­lic, Pri­vate and So­cial De­vo­tion (Lon­don: Long­man, Brown, Green and Long­mans, 1853), num­ber 285.

Music: Lam­beth (Schult­hes) Wil­helm A. F. Schul­thes, 1871 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

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Wilhelm A. F. Schulthes
(1816–1879)

Lyrics

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A year, ano­ther year is fled;
Its is­sues who can tell?
Millions of voic­es of the dead
Reply from Heav’n or hell.

All these were liv­ing at the birth
Of the de­part­ed year;
They all have van­ished from the earth,
We fill their plac­es here.

Though to the eye, the ear, the mind
Of man their speech is sealed,
Th’eter­nal mean­ing each may find,
In two plain words re­vealed.

Lost spir­its, from the dark ab­yss,
Cry mourn­ful­ly Be­ware!
Spirits in glo­ry, and in bliss,
Sing joy­ful­ly Pre­pare!

Thus time­ly warned, and moved with fear,
Of wrath, let us be­ware;
For life or death, in this new year,
For earth and Heav’n pre­pare.

Who then of those with us, this day
In child­hood, youth, or age,
To love the Lord our God can say
We all our hearts en­gage.