BAPTISM, AND EARLY INSTRUCTION.

HYMN 490. C. M. [b or #]

Dedication of Children.
1 Lo, Israel's gentle Shepherd stands

With all-engaging charms;
See how he takes the tender lambs,

And folds them in his arms!
2 Permit them to approach, he cries,

Nor scorn their humble name;
It was to bless such souls as these

The Lord of glory 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.
4 Ye little flock, with pleasure hear;

Ye children, seek his face ;
And fly with transport to receive

The blessings of his grace.
If orphans they are left behind,

Thy guardian care we trust ;
That care shall heal our bleeding hearts,

If weeping o'er their dust.

HYMN 491. C. M. [#]

Children blessed. 1 How large the promise, how divine,

To Abram and his seed !
I'll be a God to thee and thine,

Supplying all their need.
2 The words of his extensive love

From age to age endure;
The angel of the promise proves,

And seals, the blessing sure. 3 Jesus the ancient faith confirms,

To our great fathers given;
He takes young children in his arms,

And calls them heirs of heaven. 4 Our God, how faithful are his ways !

His love endures the same ;
Nor from the promise of his grace

Blots out the children's name.

HYMN 492. S. M. [#]

Our Offspring the Care of God. 1 LORD, what our ears have heard

Our eyes delighted trace;
Thy love in long succession shown

To Zion's chosen race.
2 Our children thou dost claim,

And mark them out for thine : Ten thousand blessings to thy name,

For goodness so divine,

3 Thee let the fathers own,

And thee the sons adore ;
Joined to the Lord in solemn vows,

To be forgot no more.
4 How great thy mercies, Lord !

How plenteous is thy grace,
Which, in the promise of thy love,

Includes our rising race !

HYMN 493. C. M. [#]

Infants blessed of Christ.
1 Thy life I read, my dearest Lord,

With transport all divine ;
Thine image trace in every word,

Thy love in every line.
2 With joy I see a thousand charms

Spread o'er thy lovely face,
While infants, in thy tender arms,

Receive the smiling grace.
3 I take these little lambs, said he,

And lay them on my breast;
Protection they shall find in me,

In me be ever blest. 4 Death may the bands of life unloose,

But can't dissolve my love;
Millions of infant souls compose

The family above.
5 His words, ye happy parents, hear,

And shout, with joys divine,
Dear Saviour, all we have and are

Shall be forever thine.

HYMN 494. L. M. [#]

Religious Education. 1 CHILDREN, in years and knowledge young,

Your parents' hope, your parents' joy, Attend the counsels of my tongue;

Let pious thoughts your minds employ. 2 If you desire a length of days,

And peace to crown your mortal state, Restrain your feet from impious ways,

Your lips from slander and deceit. 3 To humble souls and broken hearts

God with his grace is ever nigh; Pardon and hope his love imparts,

When youth in deep contrition lie. 4 He tells their tears; he counts their groans ;

His Son redeems their souls from death ; His spirit heals their broken bones:

They in his praise employ their breath.

HYMN 495. C. M. [#]

Early Piety.
1 COME, children, learn to fear the Lord;

And, that your days be long,
Let not a false or sinful word

Be found upon your tongue.
2 Depart from mischief, practise love,
Pursue the works of

peace;
So shall the Lord your ways approve,

And set your souls at ease.

3 His eye awakes to guard the just,

His ear attends their cry;
When broken spirits dwell in dust,

The God of grace is nigh. 4 What though the sorrows here they taste

Are sharp and tedious too,
The Lord, who saves them all at last,

Is their Supporter now.

HYMN 496. S. M. [#]

Early Instruction.
1 LET children learn the deeds

Which God performed of old;
Which in our younger years we saw,

And which our fathers told. 2 He makes his glories known, His works of power and

grace ; And we'll convey his wonders down

Through every rising race.
3 We'll tell them to our sons,

And they again to theirs,
That generations yet unborn

May teach them to their heirs. 4 Thus shall they learn in God

Their hope securely stands,
That they may still record his works,
And practise his commands.

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