WRITTEN ON NEW YEAR'S DAY. Mary Alcock (née Cumberland) Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T86344 Alcock [née Cumberland], Mary, 1741?–1798. Poems, &c. &c. by the Late Mrs. Mary Alcock [poems only]. London Printed for C. Dilly, Poultry 1799 pp. 5-7. vii,[25],183,[1]p.

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WRITTEN ON NEW YEAR'S DAY . Doth not , my soul , each circling year Remind me that I must appear Before my heav'nly King , In whose blest fight man's longest age Is but a momentary stage , That flits on swiftest wing ? Then say , thou pure , thou heav'n-born fire , Why dost thou not with fond desire Subdue this inward fear ? So might I with aspiring mind Press on , nor cast a look behind , Nor sigh to linger here . My will most freely I resign To thee , my judge , oh ! make it thine In word , in deed , in thought : So shall I find contentment here , Nor shrink from death , tho' death draw near With all his terrors fraught . No sting in death but sin is found , And since our God hath heal'd that wound , What have we here to dread ? 'Tis our's to praise Him and obey , Look up to Him from day to-day , To give us heav'nly bread . Teach me to wait with humble trust , To hope the best , nor fear the worst In this life's varying round ; And when I meet misfortune's blow , Teach me submission , that may show On what my joys I found . Oh then vouchsafe thy heavenly aid To lead me thro' the gloomy shade Of worldly grief and care ; Supported by thy fost'ring hand , Let me temptation's lure withstand , And chace away despair . Thus shall you pass serenely o'er , Ye circling years , whilst I implore The God , who gives me breath , To lead me on from day to day Secure in virtue's holy way , Resign'd to life or death .