For New Year's Day

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The Lord of earth and sky

Author: Charles Wesley
Published in 108 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 The Lord of earth and sky,
The God of ages praise!
Who reigns enthroned on high,
Ancient of endless days;
Who lengthens out our trial here,
And spares us yet another year.

2 Barren and withered trees,
We cumbered long the ground;
No fruit of holiness
On our dead souls was found;
Yet doth He us in mercy spare
Another and another year.

3 When justice gave the word
To cut the fig-tree down,
The pity of our Lord
Cried, "Let is still alone:"
The Father mild inclines His ear,
And spares us yet another year.

4 Jesus, Thy speaking blood
From God obtained the grace,
who therefore hath bestowed
On us a longer space:
Thou didst in our behalf appear,
And lo, we see another year!

5 Then dig about our root,
Break up our fallow ground,
And let our gracious fruit
To Thy great praise abound;
Oh let us all Thy praise declare,
And fruit unto perfection bear.

Source: The Book of Worship #386

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Author: Charles Wesley

Charles Wesley, M.A. was the great hymn-writer of the Wesley family, perhaps, taking quantity and quality into consideration, the great hymn-writer of all ages. Charles Wesley was the youngest son and 18th child of Samuel and Susanna Wesley, and was born at Epworth Rectory, Dec. 18, 1707. In 1716 he went to Westminster School, being provided with a home and board by his elder brother Samuel, then usher at the school, until 1721, when he was elected King's Scholar, and as such received his board and education free. In 1726 Charles Wesley was elected to a Westminster studentship at Christ Church, Oxford, where he took his degree in 1729, and became a college tutor. In the early part of the same year his religious impressions were much deepene… Go to person page >

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