41

1 DEA

EAR Saviour, if these lambs should stray From thy secure enclosure's bound,And, lured by earthly joys away,

Among the thoughtless crowd be found:

2 In all their erring, sinful years,

O let them ne'er forgotten be;
Remember all the prayers and tears
Which have devoted them to thee.

3 And when these lips no more can pray,
These eyes can weep for them no more,
Turn thou their fect from folly's way,
The wanderers to thy fold restore.

42

The great Teacher.

8,7.

TEACHER, guide of young beginners,
Let a child approach to thee;

Thee, who camest to ransom sinners,
Thee, who diedst to ransom me,

2 Into thy protection take me,

Full of goodness as thou art;
After thine own image make me,
Make me after thine own heart.

3 Exercise the potter's power
Over this unshapen clay;
Call me in the morning hour;
Teach my youthful mind the way.

4 With a tender awe inspire,

That I never more may rove,

Every spark of good desire
Raise into a flame of love.

43

1

ALMIGHTY Father, heavenly King!

rules the world above;

Accept the tribute children bring
Of gratitude and love.

2 To thee, each morning, when we rise,
Our early vows we pay;

And e'er the night hath closed our eyes,
We thank thee for the day.

Our Saviour, ever good and kind,
To us his word hath given;
That children, such as we, may find
The path that leads to heaven.

4 O Lord, extend thy gracious hand,
To guide our erring youth;
And lead us to that blissful land
Where dwells eternal truth.
44 A Child's Confession.
LORD, forgive a sinful child,

Whose heart is all unclean;
How base am I, and how defiled'
By the vile work of sin!

C. M.:

2 O change this stubborn heart of mine,
And make me pure within;
Still manifest thy love divine,
And save me from my sin.

3 stubborn, untractable, and wild,
By nature is my heart:

O Lord, to me, a patient, mild,
And holy mind impart.

4 Then shall I make redeeming love
My daily, hourly song;

And joys like theirs who sing above,
Shall tune an infant's tongue.

45

Infant's Prayer.

JESUS, Saviour, Son of God,

7's.

Who, for me, life's pathway trod,
Who, for me, became a child;
Make me humble, meek, and mild.
2 I thy little lamb would be,
Jesus, I would follow thee;
Samuel was thy child of old,
Take me, too, within thy fold.

1

46 JESUS

Hymn for a Child.

bids me seek his face;
Lord, I come to ask thy grace;

Send thy Spirit from above,
Teach me to obey and love:
Unto thee I fain would go,
All I want thou canst bestow.
2 Thou wilt e'en a child receive;
Thou wilt all my sins forgive:
Oh, dissolve this heart of stone,
Make me thine, and thine alone;
Sin is present with me still,
Disobedient is my will.

3 Sinful thoughts too oft prevail,
Vain desires my heart assail:
O my Saviour, make me whole,
Form anew my inmost soul;
Kindly guard me every day,
Be my everlasting stay.

47

For the Young.

7's.

L. M.

1 GREAT Saviour, who didst condescen

Young children in thine arms to take, Still prove thyself the children's friend, And save them for thy mercy's sake.

2 'Tis by the guidance of thy hand

That they within thy house appear, And in thine awful presence stand,

To hear thy word, and join in prayer 3 Like precious seed, in fruitful ground, Let the instruction they receive, To thy immortal praise abound,

And make them to thy glory live. 4 Give them a sober, steady mind,

Strength to withstand the snares of sin, Boldly to cast the world behind,

And strive eternal life to win.

5 To read thy word their hearts incline;
To understand it, light impart;
O Saviour, consecrate them thine,"
Take full possession of each heart.

1

48

IN

For the Spirit's Influence. C.M. thy great name, O Lord, we come, To worship at thy feet;

O pour thy Holy Spirit down

On all that now shall meet.

2 We come to hear Jehovah speak,
To hear the Saviour's voice:
Thy face and favour, Lord, we seek,
Now make our hearts rejoice.

3 Teach us to pray, and praise, and hear And understand thy word;

To feel thy blissful presence near,
And trust our living Lord.

4 Here let thy power and grace be felt,
Thy love and mercy known;

The icy hearts, blest Saviour, melt,
And break the heart of stone.

5 Let sinners, Lord, thy goodness prove,
And saints rejoice in thee;
Let rebels be subdued by love,
And to the Saviour flee.

49

A Child's Prayer.

C.M.

LORD, teach a sinful child to pray,

And then accept my prayer;
For thou canst hear the words I say,
For thou art everywhere.

2 A little sparrow cannot fall
Unnoticed, Lord, by thee;

And though I am so young and small,
Thou dost take care of ine.

3 Teach me to do the thing that's right,
And when I sin, forgive;
And make it still my chief delight
To serve thee while I live.

4 Whatever trouble I am in,

To thee for help I'll call;

But keep me, more than all, from sin,
For that's the worst of all.

50 The Presence of Christ desired. L. M

THOU, to whose all-searching sight The darkness shineth as the light, Search, prove my heart, it pants for thee Oh, burst these bonds, and set it free.

2 If in this darksome wild I stray,
Be thou my light, be thou my way;
No foes, no violence I fear,

No fraud, while thou, my God, art near