BALCLUTHA. L. M.

620

I How sweet to leave the world awhile,
And seek the presence of our Lord:
Dear Saviour, on Thy people smile,
According to Thy faithful word.

2 From busy scenes we now retreat
That we may here converse with Thee;
O Lord, behold us at Thy feet;
Let this the gate of heavén be.

3 "Chief of ten thousand" now appear, That we by faith may view Thy face; Oh speak, that we Thy voice may hear, And let Thy presence fill the place. 621

I KINDRED in Christ, for His dear sake
A hearty welcome here receive;
May we together now partake
The joys which only He can give.
2 To you and us by grace is given
To know the Saviour's precious Name;
And shortly we shall meet in heaven,
Our hope, our way, our end the same.
3 May He by whose kind care we meet,
Send His good Spirit from above,
Make our communications sweet,
And cause our hearts to burn with love.

4 Forgotten be each earthly theme
When Christians see each other!

BOYLSTON. S. M.

623

1 OUR 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,
Joined 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 fathers' God,

To latest times Thy blessings share,
And sound Thy praise abroad.

624

I O GOD of Abraham, hear

The parents' humble cry;
In covenant mercy now appear,
While in the dust we lie.

2 These children of our love,

In mercy Thou hast given,

That we through grace may faithful prove

In training them for heaven.

3 Oh grant Thy Spirit, Lord,

Their hearts to sanctify;

Remember now Thy gracious word,
Our hopes on Thee rely.

4 Draw forth the melting tear,
The penitential sigh;

Inspire their hearts with faith sincere,
And fix their hopes on high.

5 These children now are Thine,

We give them back to Thee;
Oh lead them by Thy grace divine,
Along the heavenly way.

625

I THE Saviour kindly calls.

Our children to His breast;
He folds them in His gracious arms,
Himself declares them blest.

2 "Let them approach," He cries,

"Nor scorn their humble claim; The heirs of heaven are such as these, For such as these I came."

3 With joy we bring them, Lord,
Devoting them to Thee,
Imploring that as we are Thine,
Thine may our offspring be.

DOXOLOGY.

PRAISE to the Father be;

Praise to His Only Son; Praise to the blesséd Paraclete, While endless ages run.

I FATHER, in these reveal Thy Son,
In these, for whom we seek Thy face;
Adopt and seal them as Thine own,
By Thy regenerating grace.

2 Jesus, with us Thou always art;
Now ratify the sacred sign,
The gift unspeakable impart,
And bless Thy sacrament divine.

3 Come, Holy Spirit, from on high,
Baptizer of our spirits, Thou!
The purifying grace apply,
And witness with the water now.

4 Pour forth Thine energy divine,
And sprinkle the atoning blood;
May Father, Son and Spirit join
To seal each child a child of God.

627

1 GOD of that glorious gift of grace
By which Thy people seek Thy face,
When in Thy presence we appear,
Vouchsafe us faith to venture near.

2 Confiding in Thy truth alone,

Here, on the steps of Jesus' throne, We lay the treasure Thou hast given, To be received and reared for heaven.

3 Lent to us for a season, we

Lend him forever, Lord, to Thee!

Assured that if to Thee we live
We gain in what we seem to give.

4 Large and abundant blessings shed,
Warm as these prayers, upon his head ;
And on his soul, the dews of grace,
Fresh as these drops upon his face!

5 Make him and keep him Thine own child,

Meek follower of the Undefiled,
Possessor here of grace and love,
Inheritor of heaven above.

628

I DEAR Saviour, if these lambs should stray

From Thy secure enclosure's bound, And, lured by worldly joys away, Among the thoughtless crowd be found; 2 Remember still that they are Thine, That Thy dear sacred Name they bear ; Think that the seal of love divine, The sign of covenant grace, they wear.

3 In all their erring, sinful years,

Oh let them ne'er forgotten be;
Remember all the prayers and tears
Which made them consecrate to Thee.

4 And when these lips no more can pray,

These eyes can weep for them no more,
Turn Thou their feet from folly's way,
The wanderers to Thy fold restore.

STEPHENS. C. M.

632

634

I LET children hear the mighty deeds

Which God performed of old, Which in our younger years we saw, And which our fathers told.

2 He bids us make His glories known,

His works of power and grace; And we'll convey His wonders down

Through every rising race.

3 Our lips shall tell them to our sons,
And they again to theirs,
That generations yet unborn
May teach them to their heirs.

4 Thus they shall learn, in God alone
Their hope securely stands,
That they may ne'er forget His works,
But practise His commands.

Thy people still are fed ;

Who through this weary pilgrimage

Hast all our fathers led:

2 Our vows, our prayers, we now present Before Thy throne of grace:

God of our fathers, be the God
Of their succeeding race.

3 Through each perplexing path of life
Our wandering footsteps guide ;
Give us each day our daily bread,
And raiment fit provide.

4 Oh spread Thy covering wings around,
Till all our wanderings cease,
And at our Father's loved abode
Our souls arrive in peace.

5 Such blessings from Thy gracious hand
Our humble prayers implore;
And Thou shalt be our chosen God,
Our Portion evermore.

DOXOLOGY.

To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,

One God, whom we adore, Be glory as it was, is now,

And shall be evermore.