Last Evening of the Old Year

O God, Thou hast been our refuge and dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God. A thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. But 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 knoweth it no more.

We appear before Thee, to close in thy presence another of the revolutions of our fleeting existence, earnestly praying that the season may not pass away without suitable and serious reflections. O let us not imagine, in spite of scripture and observation, and reason and feeling, that we have many of these periods left to notice ; but say with Job, When a few years are come I shall go to the way whence I shall not return. It may be only a few months, or weeks, or days, or hours, for we know not at what hour the Son of man cometh. But we know that our life is a vapour, that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away ; we know the frailty of our frame, and the numberless diseases and disasters to which we are exposed. So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

What numbers of our fellow creatures, and many of them much more likely to have continued than their survivors, have during the past year been carried down to their long home ; but we have been preserved, and are the living to praise Thee this day. Blessed be the God of salvation, to whom belong the issues from death, that we are yet in the regions of hope, that we have yet an accepted time, and a day of salvation ; and that our opportunities of doing good as well as of gaining good are still prolonged. Yet are they all diminished by another irreparable loss; and the reduced remainder, with every trembling uncertainty attached to it, calls upon us to say with growing seriousness and zeal, I must work the works of Him that sent me while it is day — the night cometh wherein no man can work.

Thou hast commanded us to remember all the way which Thou hast led us in the wilderness. The scene of our journeying has indeed been a wilderness; but the hand that has conducted us is divine, and a thousand privileges, not derivable from our condition, have been experienced in it.

Thou hast corrected us, but it is of the Lord's mercies we are not consumed.

We have had our afflictions, but how few have they been in number, how short in continuance, how alleviated in degree, how merciful in design, how instructive and useful in their results.

With regard to our severest exercises, we are compelled to acknowledge, Thou hast not dealt with us after our sins, neither hast Thou rewarded us according to our iniquities. It is good for me that I have been afflicted.

But O, what a series of bounties and blessings present themselves to our minds, when we look back upon the year through which we have passed ; and to what, but to thine unmerited goodness in the Son of thy love, are we indebted for all ? Health, strength, food, raiment, residence, friends, relations, comfort, pleasure, hope, usefulness, — all our benefits have dropped from thy gracious hand ; and there has not been a day, or an hour, or a moment, but has published thy kindness and thy care.

Especially would we acknowledge thy goodness in continuing to us the means of grace. Whatever has been denied us, we have had the provisions of thy house. The toils and trials of the week have been refreshed and relieved by the delights of the sabbath. Our eyes have seen our teachers ; our ears have heard the joyful sound of the gospel ; and our hearts have often said, Lord, it is good for us to be here.

And O that every moment of the past year, could, if called upon — and it will be called upon — bear witness to our gratitude, love, and obedience. O that it was not in its power to convict us of the most unworthy requitals of thy goodness. To Thee, O Lord, belong glory and honor, but to us shame and confusion of face. O who can understand his errors ? O how many duties have we neglected or improperly performed. How little have we redeemed our time or improved our talents. How little have we been alive to thy glory, or sought, or even seized, when presented, opportunities of serving our generation. How unprofited have we been under the richest means of religious prosperity ; and when for the time we ought to be able to teach others, we have need to be again taught ourselves which be the first principles of the oracles of God.

God be merciful to us sinners. Pardon our iniquity, for it is great. Cleanse us from all unrighteousness, and work in us to will and to do of thy good pleasure. Let us not carry one of our old sins with us into the new year unforgiven, unrepented of, unbewailed, unabhorred. With a new portion of time, may we have new hearts and become new creatures.

If this year we should die — and in the midst of life we are in death — may death prove our eternal gain. And if our days are prolonged, may we walk before the Lord in the land of the living, and show forth all thy praise. The number of our months is with Thee. In thy hand our breath is, and thine are all our ways. Prepare us for all, and be with us in all, and bring us safely through all, into the rest that remains for thy people ; for the sake of our Lord and Savior : in whose words we call Thee, Our Father who art in heaven ; hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread ; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation ; but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.