251

Anticipating the heavenly Sabbath.

L. M.

LORD of the Sabbath, hear us pray,
In this thy house, on this thy day;
And own, as grateful sacrifice,

The songs which from thy servants rise.
2 Thine earthly Sabbaths, Lord, we love,
But there's a nobler rest above;
To that our lab'ring souls aspire,
With ardent hope, and strong desire.
3 No more fatigue, no more distress,
Nor sin nor hell shall reach the place;
No sighs shall mingle with the songs,
Which warble from immortal tongues.
4 No rude alarms of raging foes;
No cares to break the long repose;
No midnight shade, no clouded sun;
But sacred, high, eternal noon.
5 O long-expected day, begin;
Dawn on these realms of wo and sin:
Fain would we leave this weary road,
And sleep in death, to rest with God.
S. M.
Joyful in the house of prayer.
LAD was my heart to hear

252

G companions

Come, in the house of God appear;

For 'tis a holy day.

2 Thither the tribes repair,

Where all are wont to meet; And, joyful in the house of prayer, Bend at the mercy-seat.

3 Pray for Jerusalem,

The city of our God!

Lord, send thy blessings down to them

That love the dear abode !

4 Within these walls, may peace
And harmony be found!
Zion, in all thy palaces,
Prosperity abound!

5 For friends and brethren dear,
Our prayer shall never cease:
Oft as they meet for worship here,
God send his people peace!

253

BAPTISM.

3d P. M. 4 6s & 2 Ss.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

BAPTIZED into thy name,

Mysterious One in Three,

Our souls and bodies claim

A sacrifice to thee:

And let us live our faith to prove,
The faith which works by humble love.
2 O that our light may shine,

And all our lives express

The character divine,

The real holiness;

And then receive us up to' adore

The triune God forever more.

254

C. M.

The covenant with Abraham.
TOW large the promise, how divine,

HOW pro his seed,

I am a God to thee and thine,
Supplying all their need.

2 The words of his unbounded love
From age to age endure;

The Angel of the Cov'nant proves
And seals the blessing sure.

3 Jesus the ancient faith confirms,
To our great father given;
He takes our children to his arms,
And calls them heirs of heaven.

4 O God, how faithful are thy ways!
Thy love endures the same;
Nor from the promise of thy grace
Blots out our children's name.

255

The sacramental seal.

L. M.

COME, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,

Honour the means ordain'd by thee; Make good our apostolic boast,

And own thy glorious ministry.

2 We now thy promised presence claim; Sent to disciple all mankind,Sent to baptize into thy name,

We now thy promised presence find. 3 Father, in these reveal thy Son; In these, for whom we seek thy face, The hidden mystery make known,

The inward, pure, baptizing grace. 4 Jesus, with us thou always art; Effectual make the sacred sign; The gift unspeakable impart,

And bless the ordinance divine. 5 Eternal Spirit, from on high, Baptizer of our spirits thou,

The sacramental seal apply,

And witness with the water now.

256

C. M.

Suffer the little children to come unto me. EE, Israel's gentle Shepherd stands With all-engaging charms;

SEE

Hark, how he calls the tender lambs,
And folds them in his arms.

2 Permit them to approach, he cries,
Nor scorn their humble name;

For 'twas to bless such souls as these
The Lord of angels 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.

257

OUR

God's gracious promises.

UR children thou dost claim,
O Lord our God, as thine:

S. M.

Ten thousand blessings to thy Name,
For goodness so divine.

2 Thee let the fathers own,

Thee let the sons adore;

Join'd to the Lord in solemn vows,
To be forgot no more.

3 How great thy mercies, Lord!
How plenteous is thy grace,
Which, in the promise of thy love,
Includes our rising race.

4 Our offspring, still thy care,
Shall own their father's God;
To latest times thy blessings share,
And sound thy praise abroad.

258

5th P. M. 4 lines 7s.

Little ones brought to Jesus.

JESUS, kind, inviting Lord,
We with joy obey thy word,
And in earliest infancy
Bring our little ones to thee.

2 Born they are, as we, in sin;
Make the' unconscious lepers clean;
Purchase of thy blood they are,—
Let them in thy glory share.

259

1st P. M. 6 lines 8s.

The Spirit's hallowing seal. YOD of eternal truth and love,

GOD

Vouchsafe the promised aid we claim,
Thine own great ordinance approve ;
The child, baptized into thy name,
Partaker of thy nature make,
And give him all thine image back.

2 Father, if such thy sov'reign will,
If Jesus did the rite enjoin,
Annex thy hall'wing Spirit's seal,
And let thy grace attend the sign:
The seed of endless life impart;
Take for thine own this infant's heart.

3 Answer on him thy wisdom's end,
In present and eternal good;
Whate'er thou didst for man intend,
Whate'er thou hast on man bestow'a,
Now to this favour'd child be given,
Pardon, and holiness, and heaven.

260

A blessing on the ordinance.

REAT God, now condescend

G To bless our rising race;

S. M.

Soon may their willing spirits bend,
The subjects of thy grace.

2 O what a pure delight

Their happiness to see;

Our warmest wishes all unite,

To lead their souls to thee.

3 Now bless, thou God of love, This ordinance divine;

Send thy good Spirit from above,

And make these children thine.