Sin has undone our wretched race;
But Jesus has restored,
And brought the sinner face to face
With his forgiving Lord.

This we repeat from year to year,
And press upon our youth;
Lord, give them an attentive ear,
Lord, save them by Thy truth!

Blessings upon the rising race!
Make this a happy hour,
According to Thy richest grace,
And Thine Almighty power.

We feel for your unhappy state,
(May you regard it too,)
And would a while ourselves forget
To pour out prayer for you.

We see though you perceive it not,
The approaching awful doom;
Oh, tremble at the solemn thought,
And flee the wrath to come!

Dear Saviour, let this new-born year
Spread an alarm abroad;
And cry in every careless ear,
“Prepare to meet thy God!”

Olney Hymns, William Cowper, from Cowper’s Poems, Sheldon & Company, New York