Hymn.

    by Joseph Dana

1. Ye lovely hills and plains,

And thou, soft-flowing stream,¹

Where God our lot ordains;

Where Jesus is our theme:²

Be lovely still; and witness here

The parting sigh, the falling tear.

2. Grant us, O God of love,

To meet, -and part no more;

May Christ, and things above, -

Till this frail life is o'er. -

Employ our thoughts, our hearts refine,

And train us to a life divine.

3. Blest be that wondrous grace,

Which gives such hope to man;

And bids the world embrace

Salvation, while it can: -

O then relent; to God return;

Own Christ; and into life be born.

4. How precious is that hope,

Which "runs the heavenly road;"

And keeps its courage up,

By living near to God!

Grant this, O Lord; nor let me be

Ashamed of all my hope in thee.

5. But, O, the blissful thought, -

(How great does that appear!)

Salvation nearer brought

By each revolving year!

Grant this, dear Lord; this we implore;

And may our souls be roused the more!³

^Footnotes:

¹Ipswich River

²Alluding to the house of worship