5 If orphans they are left behind,
God's guardian care we trust;

That care shall heal our bleeding hearts,
If weeping o'er their dust.

611.

8 & 7s. M.

Children commended to Christ.

ANONYMOUS.

1 SAVIOUR, who thy flock art feeding With the shepherd's kindest care, All the feeble gently leading,

While the lambs thy bosom share,
2 Now, these little ones receiving,
Fold them in thy gracious arm;
There, we know, thy word believing, –
Only there, secure from harm.

3 Never, from thy pasture roving,
Let them be the lion's prey;
Let thy tenderness, so loving,
Keep them all life's dangerous way.

4 Then within thy fold eternal
Let them find a resting-place;
Feed in pastures ever vernal,
Drink the rivers of thy grace.

612.

C. M.

Children included in God's Covenant.

WATTS.

1 HOW large the promise, how divine,
To Abraham 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 covenant proves
And seals the blessing sure.

3 Jesus the ancient faith confirms,
To our great fathers given;
He takes young children to 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 his children's name.

613.

C. M.

STENNETT.

Infants, living or dying, in the Arms 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 for ever thine."

614.

C. M.

ANONYMOUS.

Christ blessing Children.

1 ON, through Judea's palmy plain,
By Jordan's silvery shore,

The Saviour leads the thronging train,
Who follow to implore.

2 'Midst youth, and sire, and blooming maid, He marked the listening child;

His hand upon its head he laid,

And blest in accents mild.

3 Lord, though no more thy hallowed form
Can greet our children's sight,

O, grant, whilst life their breasts shall warm,
Thy words may guide them right.

4 They may not feel thine earthly touch;
But be thy Spirit given,

To make them holy; "for of such
The kingdom is of heaven."

615.

L. M.

STEELE.

Infant Baptism.

1 O LORD! encouraged by thy grace, We bring our infant to thy throne; Give it within thy heart a place,

Let it be thine, and thine alone. 2 We ask not for it earthly bliss,

Or earthly honors, wealth, or fame :
The sum of our request is this,'
That it may love and fear thy name.
3 This infant we by faith commit
To thy kind love and guardian care;
We lay it at the Saviour's feet,
He will not let it perish there.

616.

C. M.

S. F. SMITH.

Baptism,

1 COME, blesséd Spirit, come to-day
To our baptismal scene :

Let thoughts of earth be far away,
And every mind serene.

2 This day we give to holy joy;
This day to heaven belongs:
Raised to new life, we will employ
In melody our tongues.

617.

L. M. W. BOSTON COLL.

Hymn for Baptism.

1 THIS child we dedicate to thee,

O God of grace and purity;

Shield it from sin and threatening wrong,

And let thy love its life prolong.

2 O, may thy Spirit gently draw Its willing soul to keep thy law; May virtue, piety, and truth

Dawn even with its dawning youth.

3 Grant that, with true and faithful heart,
We too may act the Christian's part,
Cheered by each promise thou hast given,
And laboring for the prize in heaven.

618.

C. M.

JAS. NEWTON.

After Baptism.

1 LET plenteous grace descend on those,
Who, hoping in thy word,

This day have solemnly declared
That Jesus is their Lord.

2 With cheerful feet may they advance,
And run the Christian race,
And, through the troubles of the way
Find all-sufficient grace.

3 Lord plant us all into thy death,
That we thy life may prove,
Partakers of thy cross beneath,
And of thy crown above.

The Baptism of a Household.

1 UNITED prayers ascend to thee, Eternal Parent of mankind!

Smile on this waiting family;

COLLYER.

Thy blessing let thy servants find. 2 Let the dear pledges of their love, Like tender plants around them grow : Thy present grace, and joys above, Upon their little ones bestow. 3 Receive, at their believing hand,

The charge which they devote as thine, Obedient to their Lord's command, And seal, with power, the rite divine. 4 To every member of their house Thy grace impart, thy love extend ; Grant every good that time allows, With heavenly joys that never end.

620.

C. M.

DODDRIDGE.

Christians buried and risen with Christ.
1 BAPTIZED into our Saviour's death,

Our souls to sin must die;

With Christ our Lord we live anew,
With Christ ascend on high.

2 There, by his Father's side, he sits,
Enthroned divinely fair,

Yet owns himself our brother still,
And our forerunner there.

3 Rise from these earthly trifles, rise
On wings of faith and love;
Above our choicest treasure lies,
And be our hearts above.

4 But earth and sin will draw us down,
When we attempt to fly;

Lord, send thy strong, attractive power
To fix our souls on high.

A Welcome to Christian Fellowship. 1 COME in, thou blesséd of the Lord, O, come in Jesus' precious name We welcome thee with one accord,

And trust the Saviour does the same. 2 Those joys which earth cannot afford, We'll seek in fellowship to prove, Joined in one spirit to our Lord, Together bound by mutual love.

3 And while we pass this vale of tears,

KELLY.

We 'll make our joys and sorrows known; We'll share each other's hopes and fears, And count a brother's care our own.

4 Once more our welcome we repeat; Receive assurance of our love :

O, may we all together meet

Around the throne of God above!

622.

C. M.

S. F. SMITH.

Christian Fellowship.

1 PLANTED in Christ, the living vine,
This day, with one accord,
Ourselves, with humble faith and joy,
We yield to thee, O Lord.

2 Joined in one body may we be;
One inward life partake;

One be our heart; one heavenly hope
In every bosom wake.

3 In prayer, in effort, tears, and toils,
One wisdom be our guide;