Eternal Father, who can tell

Representative Text

1 Eternal Father! who can tell
The years of Thy right hand?
Like sunbeams bright, but numberless,
Or as the ocean's sand.

2 Thine ageless age no limit knows,
No dawn began Thy day,
Nor evening shade shall ever fall
Upon Thy glorious way.

3 All time is but a fleeting wave
Upon Thy calm, deep sea,
A fading leaf that feebly falls
From Life's Eternal Tree.

4 Yet unto Thee our fleeting years,
Our fading days, are known,
And every hour its message bears
To the eternal Throne.

5 Into the hand of Him who died,
Who evermore doth live,
This strange and solemn New Year's path
In trustful prayer we give.

6 Enough for us to hear His voice,
To feel His guiding hand,
To know each step is bringing us
Nearer the Better Land.

Source: Methodist Hymn and Tune Book: official hymn book of the Methodist Church #617

Author: R. Dawson

(no biographical information available about R. Dawson.) Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Eternal Father, who can tell
Author: R. Dawson
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #15336
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The Cyber Hymnal #15336

Include 4 pre-1979 instances
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