CCXCII. The Wisdom of redeeming Time.

GOD of Eternity, from Thee
Did Infant Time his Being draw;
Moments and Days and Months and Years
Revolve by thine unvaried Law.

Silent and slow they glide away;
Steady and strong the Current flows,
Lost in Eternity's wild Sea,
The boundless Gulf, from whence it rose.

With it the thoughtless Sons of Men
Before the rapid Stream are borne
On to that everlasting Home,
Whence not one Soul can e'er return.

Yet while the Shore on either Side
Presents a gaudy flatt'ring Shew,
We gaze, in fond Amazement lost,
Nor think to what a World we go.

Great Source of Wisdom, teach my Heart
To know the Price of ev'ry Hour;
That Time may bear me on to Joys
Beyond its Measure, and its Pow'r.