by Samuel Johnson, Dr. (1709 - 1784)
Jan. I, 1779, before one in the morning
Language: English
Chosen for Diff
Jan. I, 1779, before one in the morning. Almighty God, merciful Father, who hast granted to me the beginning of another year, grant that I may employ thy gifts to thy glory, and my own salvation. Excite me to amend my life. Give me good resolutions, and enable me to perform them. As I approach the Grave let my Faith be invigorated, my Hope exalted, and my Charity enlarged. Take not from me thy Holy Spirit, but in the course of my life protect me, in the hour of death sustain me, and finally receive me to everlasting happiness, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with George Birkbeck Norman Hill, Johnsonian Miscellanies, Vol. I, Oxford : Clarendon Press, 1897, p.87
Text Authorship:
- by Samuel Johnson, Dr. (1709 - 1784), no title, written 1779, appears in Johnsonian Miscellanies, in Prayers and Meditations, no. 128 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Judith Bingham (b. 1952), "A Prayer for the New Year", 2022 [ satb chorus ], Composers Edition
Publisher: Composers Edition [external link]  [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2026-08-10
Line count: 10
Word count: 106