A Hundred Years Ago, Not One

A hun­dred years ago

not one

Of us had sprung to birth;

A hun­dred years to come

and none

Can hope to walk this earth.

We are

we were not! here our mind

Looks round with hopes and fears;

This point is Time; be­fore

be­hind

Eternity ap­pears.

’Tis yet

through grace

with­in our pow­er

To choose what we would be;

On the de­ci­sion of an hour

Depends eter­ni­ty.

This hour! this mo­ment

let us take

The nar­row up­ward path;

This hour

this mo­ment

all for­sake

The broad road down to wrath.

O Lord

our shep­herd! lest like sheep

Thy child­ren go astray

Feed us with know­ledge

guide and keep

Our souls in Thy right way.

So

when a hun­dred years are fled

Remembering this day’s choice

On earth

though num­bered with the dead

In Heav­en

may we re­joice.