BAPTISM, AND EARLY INSTRUCTION.
HYMN 490. C. M. [b or # ]
Dedication of Children.
1 Lo, Israel's gentle Shepherd stands
With all-engaging charms;
See how he takes the tender lambs,
And folds them in his arms!
2 Permit them to approach, he cries,
Nor scorn their humble name;
It was to bless such souls as these
The Lord of glory came.
3 We bring them, Lord, in thankful hands,
And yield them up to thee;
Joyful that we ourselves are thine,
Thine let our offspring be.
4 Ye little flock, with pleasure hear;
Ye children, seek his face;
And fly with transport to receive
The blessings of his grace.
5 If orphans they are left behind,
Thy guardian care we trust;
That care shall heal our bleeding hearts,
If weeping o'er their dust.
1 How large the promise, how divine,
To Abram and his seed!
I'll be a God to thee and thine,
Supplying all their need.
2 The words of his extensive love
From age to age endure;
The angel of the promise proves,
And seals, the blessing sure.
3 Jesus the ancient faith confirms,
To our great fathers given;
He takes young children in his arms,
And calls them heirs of heaven.
4 Our God, how faithful are his ways!
His love endures the same;
Nor from the promise of his grace
Blots out the children's name.
HYMN 492. S. M. [#]
Our Offspring the Care of God.
1 LORD, what our ears have heard
Our eyes delighted trace;
Thy love in long succession shown
To Zion's chosen race.
2 Our children thou dost claim,
And mark them out for thine : Ten thousand blessings to thy name, For goodness so divine.
3 Thee let the fathers own,
And thee the sons adore ;
Joined to the Lord in solemn vows,
To be forgot no more.
4 How great thy mercies, Lord!
How plenteous is thy grace,
Which, in the promise of thy love,
Includes our rising race!
HYMN 493. C. M. [#]
Infants blessed of Christ.
1 THY life I read, my dearest Lord,
With transport all divine;
Thine image trace in every word,
Thy love in every line.
2 With joy I see a thousand charms
Spread o'er thy lovely face,
While infants, in thy tender arms,
Receive the smiling grace.
3 I take these little lambs, said he,
And lay them on my breast;
Protection they shall find in me,
In me be ever blest.
4 Death may the bands of life unloose,
But can't dissolve my love;
Millions of infant souls compose
The family above.
5 His words, ye happy parents, hear,
And shout, with joys divine,
Dear Saviour, all we have and are
Shall be forever thine.
HYMN 494. L.M. [#]
Religious Education.
1 CHILDREN, in years and knowledge young, Your parents' hope, your parents' joy, Attend the counsels of my tongue;
Let pious thoughts your minds employ.
2 If you desire a length of days,
And peace to crown your mortal state, Restrain your feet from impious ways, Your lips from slander and deceit.
3 To humble souls and broken hearts
God with his grace is ever nigh;
Pardon and hope his love imparts,
When youth in deep contrition lie.
4 He tells their tears; he counts their groans;
His Son redeems their souls from death;
His spirit heals their broken bones:
They in his praise employ their breath.
HYMN 495. C. M. [#]
Early Piety.
1 COME, children, learn to fear the Lord;
And, that your days be long,
Let not a false or sinful word
Be found upon your tongue.
2 Depart from mischief, practise love,
Pursue the works of peace;
So shall the Lord your ways approve,
And set your souls at ease.
3 His eye awakes to guard the just,
His ear attends their cry;
When broken spirits dwell in dust,
The God of grace is nigh.
4 What though the sorrows here they taste Are sharp and tedious too,
The Lord, who saves them all at last,
Is their Supporter now.
HYMN 496. S. M. [#]
Early Instruction.
1 LET children learn the deeds
Which God performed of old;
Which in our younger years we saw,
And which our fathers told.
2 He makes his glories known,
His works of power and grace;
And we'll convey his wonders down
Through every rising race.
3 We'll tell them to our sons,
And they again to theirs,
That generations yet unborn
May teach them to their heirs.
4 Thus shall they learn in God
Their hope securely stands,
That they may still record his works,
And practise his commands.
|