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

God's gracious promises.

S. M.

OUR

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

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.
ESUS, 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,

UT 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'd,
Now to this favour'd child be given,
Pardon, and holiness, and heaven.

260

A blessing on the ordinance.

GRE bless our rising race;

REAT God, now condescend

S. M

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

2 0 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.

261

C. M.

Children in the arms of Jesus.
EHOLD what condescending love
Jesus on earth displays!—

BEHO

To babes and sucklings he extends
The riches of his grace.

2 He still the ancient promise keeps,
To our forefathers given;

Young children in his arms he takes,
And calls them heirs of heaven.
3 Forbid them not, whom Jesus calls,
Nor dare the claim resist,
Since his own lips to us declare

Of such will heaven consist.

4 With flowing tears, and thankful hearts, We give them up to thee;

Receive them, Lord, into thine arms;
Thine may they ever be.

262

Baptized into His death.

C. M.

ESUS, we lift our souls to thee;
Thy Holy Spirit breathe,

And let this little infant be
Baptized into thy death.

2 0 let thine unction on him rest,
Thy grace his soul renew,
And write within his tender breast
Thy name and nature too.

3 If thou shouldst quickly end his days, His place with thee prepare;

And if thou lengthen out his race,
Continue still thy care.

4 Thy faithful servant let him prove,
Begirt with truth divine;

A sharer in thy dying love,

A follower of thine.

263

IN

THE LORD'S SUPPER.

1st P. M. 6 lines 8s

Its institution.

N that sad, memorable night, When Jesus was for us betray'd, He left his death-recording rite:

He took, and blest, and brake the bread And gave his own their last bequest, And thus his love's intent express'd :— 2 Take, eat, this is my body, given To purchase life and peace for you,— Pardon, and holiness, and heaven: Do this, my dying love to show: Accept your precious legacy, And thus, my friends, remember me. 3 He took into his hands the cup, To crown the sacramental feast, And, full of kind concern, look'd up,

And gave to them what he had blest: And,-Drink ye all of this, he said,— In solemn mem'ry of the dead.

4 This is my blood, which seals the new Eternal cov'nant of my grace:

My blood, so freely shed for you,

For and all the sinful race:
you

My blood, that speaks your sins forgiven,
And justifies your claim to heaven.

264

Its design.

C. M.

THAT

HAT doleful night before his death,
The Lamb, for sinners slain,

Did, almost with his dying breath,
This solemn feast ordain.

2 To keep the feast, Lord, we have met, And to remember thee:

Help each poor trembler to repeat,-
For me he died, for me!

3 Thy suff'rings, Lord, each sacred sign To our remembrance brings:

We eat the bread, and drink the wine,
But think on nobler things.

4 0 tune our tongues, and set in frame
Each heart that pants for thee,

To sing,-Hosanna to the Lamb,
The Lamb that died for me!

265

Approaching the table.

C. M.

JESUS, at whose supreme command,
We now approach to God,

Before us in thy vesture stand,
Thy vesture dipp'd in blood.

2 Now, Saviour, now thyself reveal,
And make thy nature known;
Affix thy blessed Spirit's seal,
And stamp us for thine own.

3 The tokens of thy dying love,
O let us all receive,

And feel the quick'ning Spirit move,
And sensibly believe.

4 The cup of blessing, blest by thee,
Let it thy blood impart;

The bread thy mystic body be,

To cheer each languid heart.

5 The living bread sent down from heaven,

In us vouchsafe to be:

Thy flesh for all the world is given,

And all may live by thee.