Baptism of Children.

2. Lord, Thou seest Thy "little one":

Give Thou benediction!

Ah! Sin lieth in its soul;

Touch the child, and make it whole.

3. Lord, we look beyond the rite; Walk by faith, and not by sight; Thou alone giv'st the "new birth"; 'Tis of Heaven, not of Earth.

4. But, Lord, Thou hast thro' the sign
Giv'n the blessing unto Thine;
O that it may be so now!
Answ'ring pray'r, accepting vow.

5. If it please Thee, spare the child,
Still to grow up undefil'd;
And on reaching years of sense
Grant divine intelligence.

6. That parental vows made known,
He may make them all his own;
And may take Thee at Thy word,
And himself Thy son record.

7. Lord, this child to Thee we bring,
Thine Own rite administ'ring:
Lift Thou now on us Thy Face,
Grant us purifying grace.

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Baptism.

CXXXV. BAPTISM.

"These little ones."-St Matthew xviii. 10.

1. "THESE little ones": Ah! each Thou knowest ; "These little ones" on each bestowest

From first dawning of their life
Thy benediction, ere the strife.

2. "These little ones": O tender word!
Falling like music from their Lord;

We therefore bring them now to Thee,
That of Thy Church they enter'd be.

3. "These little ones" ta'en from the crowd,
Boasting no high descent, or proud;

Them Thou received'st Lord, and Thou,
Unchanging, dost receive these now.

4. "These little ones" Thou'lt not o'erlook; "These little ones "-all in Thy Book;

5.

Behold us, then, with heart of faith,
Suppliants for Thy heav'nly breath.

"These little ones": in "narrow way"
Keep them, O Jesus! day by day;

And as they grow in years attest
That in their BAPTISM they were blest.

LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE.

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Our Father, Thich art in Heaven: Hallowed be Thy Name : Thy Ringdom come: Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven: Give us this day our daily bread: and Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us : and Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory for ever. Amen.-The Lord's Prayer.

CXXXVI. WATCHING BY A DEATH-BED.

"God be merciful to me a sinner."-St Luke xviii. 13.

The dying. 1. "WEAKER and frailer, day by day, I grow; The lamp of life burns low-how low! howlow! Death is predestinate; yet hangs the blow." "O God, be merciful!"

Watcher.

The dying. 2. "The sleep of Thy belov'd, I seek in vain ; Through the long nights unresting in my

Watcher.

pain;

Oh to be laid where lie the silent slain!"
"O God, be merciful!"

The dying. 3. "How dark it is! how full of mystery!
That I as chainèd hound should useless lie;
Aching for death, but still I do not die."
"O God, be merciful!"

Watcher.

The dying. 4. "Arrested in mid-life and laid aside,
Helpless and weary, Christ, to Thee I've

Watcher.

cried;

But cries and tears alike unanswer'd bide."
"O God, be merciful!"

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The dying. 5. "God of my life! art deaf? or dumb? or dead? That I appeal to brazen skies o'erhead;

From which to Thine Own child no dews

are shed."

Watcher.

"O God, be merciful!"