When o'er the trodden paths of life

Representative Text

1 When, o'er the trodden paths of life,
Backwards I turn mine eyes,
What varied scenes, throughout the road,
Awaken my surprise!

2 Thousands, to whom my natal hour
Imparted vital breath,
Just looked on life, and closed their eyes
In the fast sleep of death.

3 Thousands, who climbed to manhood's stage;
Safe through unnumbered snares;
Traveled not far before they sunk
Amidst its thorns and cares.

4 Followed through every changing stage,
With goodness all my days,
Deny me not a heart to love,
A tongue to speak thy praise.

5 Then thousand thousand thanks to thee,
My grateful lips shall give;
And, while I make thy grace my trust,
To thee alone I'll live.

6 Then thousand thousand thanks to thee,
Echo along the road;
O! may I join those endless songs,
That fill thy blest abode.

A New Selection of Hymns, 1812

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Author: J. Boyse

Boyse, Joseph, was born at Leeds in 1660, received a good education, and in 1683 became a Presbyterian minister in Dublin, a position he maintained with honour and usefulness until his death in 1728. His prose works, chiefly sermons and controversial treatises, were collected and published by himself in two large folios, London, 1728. He was the author of two collections of hymns. The first, printed in Dublin, in 1693 (small 8vo) with another title-page (London, 1693, Thomas Parkhurst, Cheapside), is entitled as follows:— "Sacramental Hymns collected chiefly out of such passages of the New Testament as contain the most suitable matter of Divine Praises in the celebration of the Lord's Supper. To which is added one hymn relating to Baptis… Go to person page >

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