251

L. M

Anticipating the heavenly Sabbath.
ORD of the Sabbath, hear us pray,
this
And own, as grateful sacrifice,
The songs which from thy servants rise.
2 Thine earthly Sabbaths, Lord, we love,
But there's a nobler rest above;
To that our lab'ring souls aspire,
With ardent hope, and strong desire.
3 No more fatigue, no more distress,
Nor sin nor hell shall reach the place;
No sighs shall mingle with the songs,
Which warble from immortal tongues.
4 No rude alarms of raging foes;
No cares to break the long repose;
No midnight shade, no clouded sun;
But sacred, high, eternal noon.

5 0 long-expected day, begin;
Dawn on these realms of wo and sin:
Fain would we leave this weary road,
And sleep in death, to rest with God.
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oyful in the house prayer.
YLAD was my heart to hear
U My old companions say,-
Come, in the house of God appear;

For 'tis a holy day.

2 Thither the tribes repair,

Where all are wont to meet;
And, joyful in the house of prayer,
Bend at the mercy-seat.

S. M.

3 Pray for Jerusalem,
The city of our God!
Lord, send thy blessings down to them
That love the dear abode!

4 Within these walls, may peace
And harmony be found!
Zion, in all thy palaces,
Prosperity abound!

5 For friends and brethren dear,
Our prayer shall never cease:
Oft as they meet for worship here,
God send his people peace!

BAPTISM.

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3d P. M. 4 6s & 2 8s.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
APTIZED into thy name,
Mysterious One in Three,
Our souls and bodies claim

BA

A sacrifice to thee:

And let us live our faith to prove,

The faith which works by humble love.

20 that our light may shine,
And all our lives express

The character divine,
The real holiness;

And then receive us up to' adore
The triune God forever more.

254

The covenant with Abraham.

large the promise, how divine,

HW

I am a God to thee and thine,
Supplying all their need.

C. M.

2 The words of his unbounded love.
From age to age endure;
The Angel of the Cov'nant proves
And seals the blessing sure.

3 Jesus the ancient faith confirms,
To our great father given;
He takes our children to his arms,
And calls them heirs of heaven.
4 O God, how faithful are thy ways!
Thy love endures the same;
Nor from the promise of thy grace
Blots out our children's name.

255

L. M.

The sacramental seal.

COME

OME, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Honour the means ordain'd by thee; Make good our apostolic boast, And own thy glorious ministry.

2 We now thy promised presence claim; Sent to disciple all mankind,Sent to baptize into thy name,

We now thy promised presence find. 3 Father, in these reveal thy Son;

In these, for whom we seek thy face, The hidden mystery make known,

The inward, pure, baptizing grace. 4 Jesus, with us thou always art;

Effectual make the sacred sign; The gift unspeakable impart,

And bless the ordinance divine. 5 Eternal Spirit, from on high, Baptizer of our spirits thou, The sacramental seal apply,

And witness with the water now. 256

Suffer the little children to come unto me.

EE, Israel's gentle Shepherd stands

C. M.

Hark, how he calls the tender lambs,
And folds them in his arms.

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.
UR children thou dost claim,

O

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.

S. M.

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.

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Little ones brought to Jesus.

JESUS, kind, inviting Lord,
We with joy obey thy word,
And in earliest infancy
Bring our little ones to thee.

5th P. M. 4 lines 7s.

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

The Spirit's hallowing seal. (OD of eternal truth and love,

1st P. M. 6 lines 8s.

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.

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2 0 what a pure delight
Their happiness to see;
Our warmest wishes all unite,
To lead their souls to thee.

A blessing on the ordinance.
YREAT God, now condescend
To bless our rising race;
Soon may their willing spirits bend,
The subjects of thy grace.

S. M.

3 Now bless, thou God of love,
This ordinance divine;
Send thy good Spirit from above,
And make these children thine.