209 To God the anthem raising,

1 To God the anthem raising, Sing, Christians, great and small, Sing out, His goodness praising, O thank Him one and all! Behold, how God this year, Which now is safely ended Hath in His love befriended His children far and near. 2 Let us consider rightly His mercies manifold, And let us not think lightly Of all His gifts untold! Let thankfulness recall How God this year hath led us, How He hath clothed and fed us, The great ones and the small. 3 To Church and State He granted His peace in every place, His vineyard He hath planted Among us by His grace; His ever-bounteous hand Prosperity hath given, And want and famine driven From this our Christian land. 4 Our God us well defended, He kept us through His grace; But if He had contended With us, our sins to trace, And given us our meed, We all had then been lying In sin and sorrow, dying Each one for his misdeed. 5 His Father-heart is yearning To take us for His own, When our transgressions mourning, We trust in Christ alone; When in His name we pray, And humbly make confession, He pardons our transgression, And is our faithful stay. 6 O Father dear in heaven, For all Thy gifts of love, Which Thou to us hast given, We lift our thanks above. In Jesus' name we here, To Thee our prayers addressing, Still ask Thee for Thy blessing: Grant us a joyful year! Grant us a peaceful year! With mercies crown this year!