Scripture Verse

As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. Psalm 103:15–16

Introduction

portrait
William Groser (1834–1925)

Words: Will­iam H. Gro­ser, Songs by the Way (Lon­don: Sun­day School Un­ion, 1875).

Music: Ca­rin­thia, in The Pri­mi­tive Me­tho­dist Hym­nal, ed­it­ed by George Booth (Lon­don: Pri­mi­tive Me­tho­dist Pub­lish­ing House, 1889), num­ber 881 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Lyrics

Swift as an eagle’s flight,
When hast­en­ing to his prey,
So, Fa­ther, in Thy sight,
Our mo­ments pass away;
Yet not too swift their course shall be,
If they but bear us, Lord, to Thee.

As morn­ing mists, that fly
The foot­steps of the light;
As ev­en­ing clouds, that die
Beneath the touch of night:
So fly our years—Lord, let them be
As friends, to lead us home to Thee!

Thy mer­cies past we sing,
The praise is Thine alone;
What fu­ture days shall bring,
To none but Thee is known:
Yet, what­so­e’er our por­tion be,
Conduct us safe to Heav’n and Thee.

On life’s fast-rush­ing tide
What dan­gers hov­er near?
Yet, if our Sav­ior guide,
We shall no ship­wreck fear;
But joy­ful breast the stor­my sea,
And land at last in Hea­ven with Thee.