James Montgomery

Past, Present, Future.

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 down road 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 number'd with the dead,

In heaven, may we rejoice.