274

C. M.

'I will establish my covenant... to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.'

1 How large the promise, how divine, To Abraham and his seed!

'I'll be a God to thee and thine,

Supplying all

your need.'

2 His words of comprehensive 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 the children's name.

275

C. M.

'Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God.'

1 SEE Israel's gentle Shepherd stand

With all-engaging charms;

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.

4 If orphans they are left behind,
Thy guardian care we trust;

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

276

L. M.

'They brought unto Him also infants.'

1 A LITTLE child the Saviour came,
The Mighty God was still His name,
And angels worshipped, as He lay
The seeming infant of a day.

2 He, who a little child began

The life divine to show to man, Proclaims from heaven the message free, 'Let little children come to Me.'

3 We bring them, Lord, and with the sign Of sprinkled water name them Thine; Their souls with saving grace endow, Baptize them with Thy Spirit now.

4 0 give Thine angels charge, good Lord,
Them safely in Thy way to guard;
Thy blessing on their lives command,
And write their names upon Thy hand.

5 0 Thou, who by an infant's tongue
Dost hear Thy perfect glory sung,
May these, with all the heavenly host,
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

277

8, 7.

'He shall gather the lambs with His arm.'

1 SAVIOUR, Who Thy flock art feeding
With the Shepherd's kindest care,
All the feeble gently leading,

While the lambs Thy bosom share;
Now, these little ones receiving,
Fold them in Thy gracious arm ;
There, we know, Thy word believing,—
Only there, secure from harm!

2 Never, from Thy pasture roving,
Let them be the lion's prey;
Let Thy tenderness, so loving,
Keep them all life's dangerous way:
Then, within Thy fold eternal
Let them find a resting-place,

Feed in pastures ever vernal,

Drink the rivers of Thy grace!

278

78.

'That ye may eat and drink at My
table in My kingdom'

1 JESUS! to Thy table led,
Now let every heart be fed
With the true and living bread.
2 When we taste the mystic wine,
Of Thy outpoured blood the sign,
Fill our hearts with love divine.

3 While on Thy dear cross we gaze,
Mourning o'er our sinful ways,
Turn our sadness into praise.

4 Draw us to Thy wounded side, Whence there flowed the healing tide; There our sins and sorrows hide. 5 From the bonds of sin release; Cold and wavering faith increase; Lamb of God, grant us Thy peace. 6 Lead us by Thy pierced hand, Till around Thy throne we stand, In the bright and better land.

279

108.

'This do in remembrance of Me'

1 HERE, O my Lord, I see Thee face to face; Here would I touch and handle things

Here

unseen;

grasp with firmer hand the eternal grace, And all my weariness upon Thee lean.

2 Here would I feed upon the bread of God; Here drink with Thee the royal wine of heaven;

Here would I lay aside each earthly load;

Here taste afresh the calm of sin forgiven.

3 I have no help but Thine; nor do I need Another arm save Thine to lean upon; It is enough, my Lord, enough indeed; My strength is in Thy might, Thy might alone.

4 Mine is the sin, but Thine the righteousness; Mine is the guilt, but Thine the cleansing blood;

Here is my robe, my refuge, and my peaceThy blood, Thy righteousness, O Lord my God.

5 Too soon we rise; the symbols disappear; The feast, though not the love, is past and gone;

The bread and wine remove, but Thou art here,

Nearer than ever-still my Shield and Sun.

6 Feast after feast thus comes and

passes by; Yet, passing, points to the glad feast above, Giving sweet foretaste of the festal joy, The Lamb's great bridal feast of bliss and

love.