Ancient Of Days! The Years Roll On

Representative Text

1 Ancient of Days! The years roll on
Obedient to Thy sole decree;
And when their destined work is done,
Merge in the past eternity.
Thousand of years have sped their way,
Since poised by Thine almighty hand;
Sun, moon, and stars, in bright array,
Have wheeled in spheres at Thy command.

2 Firm as the heavenly hosts appear,
The lines which future things portray,
Converge in one predestined year,
When Heaven and earth shall pass away.
Whate’er that consummation be,
Oh, let me, Lord, Thy mercy prove
In worlds upheaved, from danger free,
Within the covert of Thy love!

3 Ancient of Days! ’Tis Thine to say—
Man vainly tries to scan th’unknown—
How distant or how near the day,
When we must stand before Thy throne.
Through each new year vouchsafed to me,
Be this my being’s aim and end,
Thine here to live, in Heaven with Thee
A blessed eternity to spend.

Source: The Cyber Hymnal #8037

Author: Thomas Holme

Holme, Thomas, brother of the above, was born Aug. 8, 1793, and educated at Appleby Grammar School. Taking Holy Orders in 1817, he was for twenty years Head Master of Kirby Bavensworth Grammar School. Subsequently he was Vicar of East Cowton, Yorkshire, where he died Jan. 20, 1872. From Hymns & Sacred Poetry, 1861 (the joint work of himself and his brother1 James), the following hymns are taken:— 1. Behold the lilies of the field, How gracefully, &c. Flower Service. 2. Lord, in mine agony of pain. Resignation. 3. The Christian's path shines more and more. Growth in Holiness. This hymn previously appeared in a local collection about 1850. -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology  Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Ancient of Days! The years roll on
Title: Ancient Of Days! The Years Roll On
Author: Thomas Holme
Meter: 8.8.8.8 D
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

SAGINA

SAGINA, by Thomas Campbell... is almost universally associated with "And Can It Be." Little is known of Campbell other than his publication The Bouquet (1825), in which each of twenty-three tunes has a horticultural name. SAGINA borrows its name from a genus of the pink family of herbs, which includ…

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The Cyber Hymnal #8037

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