IX.

A Prayer from Parents on the Birth of a Child.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him.

Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord.

He maketh his servants to be the joyful parents of children. He hath put a new song in our mouth, even praise to our God.

I will be the God of your children from one generation to another.

OUR FATHER in heaven, we now look up unto thee with especial gratitude, with joyful devotion. Thou hast not only joined us twain together in the tenderest relation, but thou hast permitted us now to become parents. Thou hast presented to our hands and bestowed on our hearts this most precious treasure, a child of our own. We thank thee fervently for the opening and sweet delight of parental affection.

But, O Being of beings, this is thine offspring, rather than ours. Thou art the framer of the body and the father of the spirit, and thou art now and thou ever wilt be the life of the life; and thou lovest the child more than we, even in the utmost, can love; for thy name is Love, and thou art infinite. Through us, thou but reachest forth this image of thyself into existence. Making us nearest in earthly relationship, thou hast made us also nearest in endearing attach

ment, that through our opportunity and care this child may be faithfully nurtured. Into our persons thine own gracious providence would descend, that the frail body may be preserved from harm, that the faculties may be trained for usefulness here, and that the immortal soul may be prepared for an ever-blessed hereafter.

We now earnestly pray that we may truly appreciate our sacred office, and feel our solemn responsibility. May we most deeply realize that upon us, more than upon any others, the welfare of this little one both for time and eternity will depend. But, O how weak we are of ourselves! Father Almighty and most merciful, we utterly rely upon thee; all our strength and success must come from thee. Dispose us therefore to frequent prayer, that in our ignorance, and sinfulness, and helplessness, thou mayest be near with thy Divine compassions. Assist us to guard this priceless trust from the temptations of the world; and may we be especially watchful against those tendencies within, which are ready to start forth into sin and lead to misery. May we be wise and diligent to repress every depraved appetite and passion, and early to fill the soul with love for God. O save us from the folly, from the great wickedness, of ever becoming ourselves the foremost and most dangerous tempters to evil. Suffer not that affection, which thou hast implanted in our bosoms to insure fidelity, to degenerate into debasing indulgence.

Rather may we turn the opening soul toward thee, that thine own Holy Spirit may flow in with purifying power. Especially may we set the face of this little child, from the earliest capacity, to look unto Jesus, and in due time bear to the Saviour's arms an offering which he will bless. Dispose us to fulfil all righteousness, and to lead our loved one into the way of perfect discipleship to the Divine Master. Thus bring a new-created spirit into the fullest communion with Christ, and to the reception of his salvation.

Now, O Father of Light, to these ends wilt thou open our understandings to thy word; dispose us to embrace all its holy truths. God of all grace, pour into our hearts thy regenerating and sanctifying Spirit. We would not cease to cry unto thee to make us perfect even as thou art perfect. Thus in self-distrust and humility, but in faith and hope, we consecrate ourselves to the sacred duties of parentage. To thy service, anew and more than ever, we now dedicate our home.

"Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

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X.

Death of a Child.

And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them; and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.

But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said to them, Suffer little children to come to me, and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of God.

Verily I say to you, Whoever shall not receive the kingdom of God, as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones: for 1 say to you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.

O GOD, who art thyself a Father, who knowest every feeling thou hast wrought into the parental heart, we appear before thee now bowed down with sorrow. The child that thou gavest us, the delight of our eyes, the joy of our hearts, thou hast taken away, and this infant blossom hath withered at early morn. O thou Comforter of the afflicted, be nigh unto us, and let faith and hope, the blessed token of thy presence, fill our hearts.

In faith would we follow this departed child in its ascending flight. The tie which bound it to us is broken, but it never can be separated from thee. We called it ours, but it was thine, and to thee it is

May we rejoice, with

united far more intimately than to us. It was sent hither with the will of him who doeth nothing in vain, and by the same wise will it is summoned hence. Help us to recognize it as the sacred property of God, as it were an angel alighting among us for a little while, upon a mission of love. a joy deep beyond utterance, at the thought of that goodness which lent us that precious treasure to gladden our hearts, although but for a brief space. A messenger from heaven has been here. May the heavenly tidings which it brought be graven on our inmost souls, not to be erased by the grief of the present hour, but deepened by the tears which we shed. Sanctify the memory of this dear child, and may it prove a fountain of blessed and saving thoughts. May that other world which thy Gospel hath unveiled rise before our faith in new brightness, as the home of the beloved. May we be drawn unto him who took children in his arms and said, Suffer them to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven. O may we henceforth be more in earnest in the great work of life. May we strive more diligently to prepare ourselves for communion and fellowship with the pure and the blessed in thine everlasting kingdom.

Almighty God, what shadows we are! What is our life? It is vapor, which appeareth for a little while, and then vanisheth away. We take a few steps in life. We suffer and we enjoy, and then we