277. The Love of Christ for Children.

NEW SABBATH. L. M.

CONG. IN hymns of joy your voices raise
To sing the great Redeemer's praise;
Yet who, but happy saints above,

Can tell the riches of his love?

CHIL. Prais'd be his name! that love is shed
In heav'nly blessings on our head ;*
He calls the young to seek his face,
And bids them know his wondrous grace:
The hungry soul his goodness feeds ;
His feeble flock he gently leads;
Deigns in his arms the young to bear,
And makes them his peculiar care.
CONG. O gracious Saviour, to thy side

These helpless innocents we guide ;
Let not their footsteps go astray, -
But make them love thy perfect way,

278. Children's Praise for God's condescending

Goodness.

SHIRLAND. S. M.

THE Lord, whose name is love,
Will hear an infant's prayer;
For though he reigns enthron'd above,
His grace the lowly share.

From him the gen'rous breast
With pity learns to glow;

And, on the needy and distrest,
Its bounty to bestow.

His love inspir'd your heart
To help us in distress;

Thanks for the good which you impart ;

But God your gifts must bless.

Then, while our grateful praise
To him alone is given,

For you, and all our friends, we'll raise
Our earnest prayer to heaven.

279.

Children seeking a Blessing. •

WARWICK.

C. M.

LORD, no forbidding voice is here,
To keep us from thy feet;
But christian friends invite us near
Thy gracious call to meet.
O teach and help us to improve
The means by mercy given,
To fill our hearts with truth and love,
And lead our steps to heaven.
Though we are feeble, thou, O Lord,
Wilt keep us with thy might,
Though we are dark, thy heav'nly word
Can fill the mind with light.
O look on those, whose kind concern
Would lead us to thy rest;
And with a blessing, Lord, return
Their gifts to ev'ry breast.

280. Children acknowledging their Dependence upon God.

SEE, Lord, before thy mercy-seat,
In Christ's prevailing name,
A band of little children meet,
Their Father's love to claim.

Our foolish hearts, alas, are slow
To understand thy way;

O, teach us, Lord, thy will to know,
And help us to obey.

Kind are the friends who lead us here,
To learn thy holy word;
But vain is all their hope and care,
Without thy blessing, Lord.

Fulfil their hopes; thy grace display
In ev'ry youthful mind;

And, while they guide us in thy way,
Let them a blessing find.

281. Men Stewards of God's Bounties. EES

CREATION. D. L. M.

GREAT God! o'er heaven and earth supreme,
Whose glories all creation fill,

Our souls adore thine awful name,
And humbly wait to do thy will:

Thy glorious power what tongue can tell!
What force thy sov'reign word withstand!
Yet thou dost stoop with men to dwell,
And give thy blessings through their hand.
"Tis ours to feed these lambs of thine,
And train their footsteps on to heaven;
We hail with joy the charge divine,
And freely give as thou hast given:
O Fount of love! all gracious God!
What can we offer but thine own?
For we are thine, redeem'd with blood,-
The precious blood of Christ thy Son.

On these,-on us, thy grace bestow,
The contrite heart, the lowly mind,
The love of God in Christ to know,
The wisdom from above to find:
Defend us from the
of sin;
power
Save us from all self-righteous pride;
Our sure support, thy peace within;
Our only plea, that Christ hath died.

282.

Praise from Young and Old.

VIENNA. P. M.

WORSHIP, honor, glory, blessing,
Lord, we offer to thy name;
Young and old, thy praise expressing,
Join their Saviour to proclaim.
As the saints in heaven adore thee,
We would bow before thy throne;
As thine angels serve before thee,
So on earth thy will be done.

A

283.

Children taught their Duty.

BRUNSWICK.

L. M.

CHIL. O THOU, who from the infant's tongue,
Wert wont of old to perfect praise,
Almighty Father, hear the song

Which we, thy helpless servants, raise.

CONG. How blest are they, who, early taught
To know, and love thy word of truth,
Far from the sinner's path are brought
To serve their Maker in their youth.

CHIL. And blest are they, whose pious care
Forbids the youthful foot to stray;

Unfolds the Book of Truth, and there
To life eternal points the way.

WHOLE Accept our praise, O Lord, and still
CONG. Let streams of heav'nly goodness flow;
That all the earth may learn thy will,
And babes thy power and glory shew.

284.

Children praising God.

ASHLEY. C. M.

ALMIGHTY Lord, with joy to thee
Our infant voices rise;
Accept, O God, our feeble praise,
And humble sacrifice.
Chorus. Glory, honor, praise, and power,
Be unto the Lamb for ever:
Jesus Christ is our Redeemer;
Hallelujah! praise ye the Lord.

We glorify, we bless thy name,

For all thy mercies given;

But most for Jesus Christ, who died,

To raise our souls to heaven. Glory, honor, &c.

Oh bless the Lord, our gracious God,

Whose mercies thus we prove ;

Who bids the infant tongue proclaim

The wonders of his love. Glory, honor, &c.

285. For God's Blessing on brotherly Union,

NEW SABBATH.

L, M.

OUR souls shall magnify the Lord;
In him our spirits shall rejoice;
Assembled here with glad accord,

We'll praise him with our heart and voice.
The poor are his peculiar care;
To them his promises are sure;
His gifts the poor in spirit share
Oh may we thus be always poor
God of our hope, to thee we bow;
Thou art our refuge in distress;
The husband of the widow thou;
The father of the fatherless.

May we the christian law fulfil,
To bear each other's burdens here;
And thus unite to do thy will,
With perfect love, and holy fear.

286.

CHARITY.

Motives to Charity.

MANSFIELD. S. M.

MY Maker, and my King!

What thanks to thee I owe!
Thy sov'reign bounty is the spring,
Whence all my blessings flow.

The creature of thy hand;
On thee alone I live;
My God! thy benefits demand

More praise than tongue can give.

O, ever good and kind!

My best affections move;
With holy thoughts inspire my mind,

And warm my heart to love.

To succour those in need,
My grateful breast incline:
Yet let me never boast the deed;
For all I give is thine.