"Alleluia." --- Revelation 19:1.
Thou didst begin the year, O my soul, with a Hosanna, imploring the Lord's blessing; canst thou now conclude it with an Alleluia? Surely thou canst celebrate the praise of a gracious and loving God. Take review of the year past; hast thou not had many mercies? Have not the eyes of the Lord been upon thee for good, from the beginning of the year to the end thereof? Hath he not conducted thee through many seen, and many more unseen dangers? Canst thou not with truth as well as gratitude set up thine Ebenezer, saying, "hitherto the Lord hath helped me?" --- 1 Samuel 7:12. If thou hast not been so fruitful in good works as might have been expected, is the Lord to blame, or thyself? Whatever good has been done in thee or by thee, surely belongs to the favour of God; and whatever has caused shame or humiliation, is nowhere chargeable but upon thyself.
Praise the Lord, then, O my soul; and all that is within me, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits; who forgiveth all my sins, and healeth all my infirmities; who saveth thy life from destruction, and year after year crowneth thee with mercy and loving-kindness: and may I be crowned at length with everlastig glory! Thou wilt soon, O my soul, enter upon another year; let dear bought experience teach me to avoid all occasions of evil, and keep me close to God. If thou livest to see another day, set out afresh, and remember to offer thy daily sacrifices of obedience, as well as praise, to thy gracious God. Let every revolving day remind thee of thy approaching last day, and daily be thou preparing to meet thy God; that so when thy days are ended, thou mayest sing Alleluias before the throne of God and the Lamb for ever and ever.
This God is the God we adore,
Our faithful, unchangeable Friend;
Whose love is as great as his power:
And neither knows measure nor end.
'Tis Jesus, the first and the last,
Whose Spirit shall guide us safe home;
We'll praise him for all that is past,
And trust him for all that's to come.