7 We seize it, Lord, before 'tis past;
We yield ourselves to Thee;
Thine be our earliest years, our last,
And our eternity.

540.

For the Children in a Charity School. 1 WHILE Saints and Angels, glorious King, Day without night, thy praises sing; Thou wilt not humbler strains despise, The songs of children reach the skies. 2 Amidst the whole creation's cares,

The meanest worm thy bounty shares,
Thine eyes the depths of ocean see,
The grave itself hides nought from Thee.
3 While want and hardship were our lot,
Thou knew'st us, though we knew Thee not;
Now we adore thine hand that sends
Our earthly comforts, home, and friends.
4 With these thy heavenly gifts afford,
Thy Son, thy Spirit, and thy word:

-Thy word, to teach our wayward youth
Thy pure commandments, God of Truth!
5-Thy Spirit, to dispel the night
Of sin and error, God of light!
-Thy Son, to raise our minds above
This world's affections, God of love!

6 For all the good thy grace imparts,
What shall we give Thee ?-Take our hearts;
O seal them by thy power divine,
In life, in death, forever thine!

Poor children praying for grace.

1 O LORD our God, thy light and truth To us thy children send,

That we may serve Thee in our youth;
And love Thee to the end.

2 By nature sinful, weak, and blind,
The downward path we trod,

Our wandering heart and wayward mind
Were enemies to God.

3 But friends and guardians now, through grace,
Our heedless steps restrain,
They teach us, Lord, to seek thy face,
Which none shall seek in vain.

4 Hence to the hills we lift our eyes,
From which salvation springs;
O Son of Righteousness, arise
With healing in thy wings!

5 Arise, and o'er this vale of tears,
Shine into perfect day;

Still heavenward, through progressive years,
Pointing the Christian's way.

542.

For the children of National, British, or Sunday Schools. 1 THY throne, O God, in righteousness,

For ever shall endure;

We bow before it; deign to bless
The children of the poor.

2 Thy wisdom fix'd our lowly birth,
Yet we thy goodness share;

Still make us, while we dwell on earth,
The children of thy care.

3 Strangers to Thee, though thine by name,
We heard thy welcome voice,
And, gather'd from the world, became
The children of thy choice.

4 Thou art our Shepherd;-glorious God,
Thy little flock behold,

And guide us by thy staff and rod,
The children of thy fold.

5 We praise thy name that we were brought
To this delightful place,

Where we are watch'd, and warn'd, and taught,
-The children of thy grace.

6 O may our friends, thy servants here,
Meet all our souls above,
And they and we in heaven appear,
-The children of thy love.

543.

Poor children praying for themselves and their benefactors.
1 GOD over all, the sun by day
Reveals thy glory in his light:

The moon and stars thy voice obey,
And mark thy presence through the night.

2 God over all, the earth that yields
Her flowers and fruits at thy command,
From mountains, rivers, woods, and fields,
Pours the rich bounties of thy hand.

3 To us, the poorest of the poor,
High as Thou art, thy care descends;
Thy mercies are for ever sure,

Thou art our Father, these our friends.

4 Are these our friends?-Thou, God of grace,
Reward their love a thousand fold;

And may they ever, in thy face,
Their best, their dearest friend behold.
5 Art Thou our Father?-we confess,
With grief and shame, our sin and guilt;
O turn from our unrighteousness,
Look on thy Son,-his blood was spilt.
6 He bore the chastening of thy rod,
That we might by his stripes be heal'd;
He died for us, the Lamb of God!
He rose, and our redemption seal'd.
7 And shall we, dare we, can we still
Resist thy fear, thy love despise ?

No, take us,-soul, affection, will,-
A free and living sacrifice.

544.

Children praising God.

1 GLORY to the Father give,

7

God in whom we move and live,
Children's prayers He deigns to hear,
Children's songs delight his ear.

2 Glory to the Son we bring,
Christ our Prophet, Priest and King;
Children, raise your sweetest strain
To the Lamb, for He was slain.
3 Glory to the Holy Ghost;
Be this day a Pentecost;

Children's minds may He inspire,
Touch their tongues with holy fire.

4 Glory in the highest be
To the blessed Trinity,

For the gospel from above,

For the word, that "God is love."

545.

For a Sunday School Union Anniversary Meeting.

1 FROM year to year in love we meet,
From year to year in peace we part;
The tongues of thousands uttering sweet
The bosom-joy of every heart.

2 But time rolls on, and year by year,
We change, grow up, or pass away;
Not twice the same assembly here
Have hail'd the children's festal day.

3 Death, ere another spring, shall strike
Some in our union, mark'd to fall;
Be young and old prepared alike,
The warning is to each, to all.

1

2

3

4 This sole occasion then is ours;
This day we ne'er again shall see;
Lord God, awaken all our powers
To spend it for eternity.

5 Our times, our lives, are in thine hand;
On Thee for all things we rely;
Assured, while in thy grace we stand,
To live is Christ, and gain to die.

6 Meanwhile our failing ranks renew;
Send children, teachers, in our place,
More humble, docile, faithful true,
More like thy Son, from race to race.

546.

For Sunday Schools.

WITHIN these walls be peace, Love through our borders found: In all our little palaces

Prosperity abound.

God scorns not humble things;
Here, though the proud despise,

The children of the King of kings
Are training for the skies.

May none who thus are taught
From glory be cast down,

But all through faith and patience brought

To an immortal crown.

547.

For a Congregation of Negroes.

1 OUR Master, Jesus, reign'd above,
The Lord of all was He,

And yet He chose to set his love,
O wondrous love! on me.

2 Our Master, Jesus,-bless his name!
I love to hear the sound,-

When I was lost to seek me came,
And, O thank God! He found.