You help make Hymnary.org possible. More than 10 million people from 200+ countries found hymns, liturgical resources and encouragement on Hymnary.org in 2025, including you. Every visit affirms the global impact of this ministry.

If Hymnary has been meaningful to you this year, would you take a moment today to help sustain it? A gift of any size—paired with a note of encouragement if you wish—directly supports the server costs, research work and curation that keep this resource freely available to the world.

Give securely online today, or mail a check to:
Hymnary.org
Calvin University
3201 Burton Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Thank you for your partnership, and may the hope of Advent fill your heart.

Boast Not Thyself of Tomorrow

Representative Text

1 Why should we boast of time to come,
Though but a single day?
This hour may fix our final doom,
Though strong, and young, and gay.

2 The present we should now redeem;
This only is our own;
The past, alas! is all a dream;
The future is unknown.

3 O think what vast concerns depend
Upon a moment's space,
When life and all its cares shall end
In vengeance or in grace.

4 O for that power which melts the heart,
And lifts the soul on high!
Where sin and grief and death depart,
And pleasures never die.

Source: The Seventh-Day Adventist Hymn and Tune Book: for use in divine worship #401

Author: M. Wilkes

(no biographical information available about M. Wilkes.) Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Why should we boast of time to come
Title: Boast Not Thyself of Tomorrow
Author: M. Wilkes
Meter: 8.6.8.6
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

NAOMI (Nägeli)

NAOMI was a melody that Lowell Mason (PHH 96) brought to the United States from Europe and arranged as a hymn tune; the arrangement was first published in the periodical Occasional Psalm and Hymn Tunes (1836). Some scholars have attributed the original melody to Johann G. Nageli (PHH 315), but there…

Go to tune page >


HARVEY'S CHANT


PHUVAH


Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 31 of 31)

A Collection of Choral Hymns for the ... Hanson Place Methodist Episcopal Congregation #d213

Page Scan

A Collection of Hymns for the use of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in America #332

Family and Social Melodies #d404

Page Scan

Free Methodist Hymnal #190

Gospel Praise Book, enlarged ed. #d149

TextPage Scan

Gospel Praise Book. #189a

Hallowed Songs #d395

Page Scan

Hallowed Songs #62

Page Scan

Hallowed Songs #181

Page Scan

Hymn-Book of the Evangelical Association #229

Page Scan

Hymnal of the Methodist Episcopal Church #366

Page Scan

Hymnal of the Methodist Episcopal Church #366

Hymns for the Use of the Brethren in Christ #d567

Page Scan

Hymns for the Use of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Rev. ed. #332

Hymns for Use in Divine Worship ... Seventh-Day Adventists #d1318

Page Scan

New Hymn and Tune book #83d

Page Scan

New Hymn and Tune Book #83d

Pocket Hymn Book for Social Worshp Everywhere #d93

The American Hymn and Tune Book #d908

Page Scan

The Devotional Chimes #175a

The Evangelical Hymn and Tune Book #d836

Page Scan

The Heart and Voice #142b

Page Scan

The Hymn Book of the Free Methodist Church #140

The Pilgrim's Harp #d291

TextPage Scan

The Seventh-Day Adventist Hymn and Tune Book #401

The Soul Winner's Hallelujah Songs #d62

The Star of the East #d207

Page Scan

The Wesleyan Methodist Hymnal #190

Page Scan

Vestry Chimes #133a

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.