3 Our Saviour, ever good and kind, To us his word hath given,

That young ones, such as we, may find A certain path to heaven.

4 Stretch out, O Lord, thy gracious hand To guide our erring youth;

And lead us to that blissful land

Where dwells eternal truth.

COMMON.

89.

WATTS.

HAPPY the child whose tender years

Receive instruction well:

Who hates the sinner's path, and fears
The road that leads to hell.

2 When we devote our youth to God,
'Tis pleasing in his eyes;

A flower, when offer'd in the bud,
Is no vain sacrifice.

3 'Tis easier work if we begin
To fear the Lord betimes;
While sinners that grow old in sin
Are harden'd in their crimes.

4 "Twill save us from a thousand snares
To mind religion young:
Grace will preserve our following years,
And make our virtue strong.

5 To thee, Almighty God, to thee
Our childhood we resign;

"Twill please us to look back and see That our whole lives were thine.

6 Let the sweet work of prayer and praise Employ our youngest breath:

Thus we're prepared for longer days,
Or fit for early death.

EIGHTS.

90.

BRACKENBERRY

COME, children, 'tis Jesus commands,
The voice of your Saviour obey;

When Jesus inviting you stands,

No trifles should turn you away.
2 Though children in stature and years,
Salvation is needed by you:
For children, it plainly appears,
Must answer for all that they do.
3 Then give to the Saviour your heart,
And learn without further delay;
He'll teach you to choose the good part,
Which ne'er shall be taken away.
4 His hand shall supply all your wants.
Though ever so many or great;
His love shall redress your complaints,
And render your portion complete.

1

COMMON.

91.

WHY should we spend our youthful days

In folly and in sin,

When wisdom shows her pleasant ways,

And bids us walk therein?

2 Folly and sin our peace destroy,
They glitter and are past;

They yield us but a moment's joy,
And end in death at last.

3 But, if true wisdom we possess,
Our joys shall never cease;
Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her paths are peace.

4 O may we, in our youthful days,
Attend to wisdom's voice;

And make these holy, happy ways,
Our own delightful choice!

EIGHTS AND SEVENS

92.

WESLEY.

TEACHER, guide of young beginner
Let a child approach to thee,

Thee, who cam'st to ransom sinners,
Thee, who diedst to ransom me;
Into thy protection take me,

Full of goodness as thou art ;
After thine own image make me,
Make me after thy own heart.
2 Exercise the potter's power
Over this unshapen clay;
Call me in the morning hour,
Teach my youthful mind the way;

With a tender awe inspire,

That I never more may rove: The faint spark of good desire Blow into a flame of love.

SINCE Jesus loves to hear his praise
Arise from infant tongues,

Let us not waste our youthful days
In vain and foolish songs.

2 Too soon we ne'er can serve the Lord, Nor love his name too dear;

Nor prize too much his precious word,
Nor learn too soon his fear.

3 To us, O Lord, thy grace impart,
And every song shall be
The tribute of a faithful heart,
A song of praise to thee.

COMMON.

ON PRAYER.

94.

TAYLOR.

WHEN daily I kneel down to pray,

As I am taught to do,

God does not care for what I say,
Unless I feel it too.

2 Yet foolish thoughts my heart beguile;
And when I pray or sing,
I'm often thinking all the while
About some other thing.

3 0 let me never, never dare
To act a trifler's part,

Or think that God will hear a prayer
That comes not from the heart.

4 But if I make his ways my choice,
As holy children do,

Then, while I seek him with my voice,
My heart will love him too.

ALMIGHTY God, to thee I
Assist a child's infirmity:

WESLEY.

cry,

Nor let me with my lips draw nigh,
While my heart wanders far from thee
2 Ah! never let me speak a word
But what with all my soul I mean;
Or lie to thee, thou glorious Lord,
By whom my every thought is seen.
3 With what submissive lowliness
Should I approach thy glorious throne!
How can I hope by words to please,
To please a God I have not known?
4 I know not what to do or say
Till thy bless'd Spirit I receive,