882

The children's jubilee.

C. M.

OSANNA! be the children's song, To Christ, the children's King; His praise, to whom our souls belong, Let all the children sing.

2 Hosanna! sound from hill to hill,
And spread from plain to plain,
While louder, sweeter, clearer still,
Woods echo to the strain.

3 Hosanna! on the wings of light,
O'er earth and ocean fly,

Till morn to eve, and noon to night, And heaven to earth, reply.

4 Hosanna! then, our song shall be; Hosanna to our King!

This is the children's jubilee;
Let all the children sing.

James Montgomery.

883

The Lord's love to children.

7,6.

W To Zion Jesus came,

HEN, his salvation bringing,

The children all stood singing
Hosanna to his name;

Nor did their zeal offend him,
But as he rode along,

He let them still attend him,

And smiled to hear their song.

2 And since the Lord retaineth
His love to children still,
Though now as King he reigneth
On Zion's heavenly hill,
We'll flock around his banner,

We'll bow before his throne,

And cry aloud, "Hosanna
To David's royal Son."

3 For should we fail proclaiming
Our great Redeemer's praise,
The stones, our silence shaming,
Would their hosannas raise.
But shall we only render
The tribute of our words?
No; while our hearts are tender,
They too shall be the Lord's.

884

WE

Grateful praise.

John King.

7, 6.

E bring no glittering treasures,
No gems from earth's deep mine;

We come, with simple measures,
To chant Thy love divine.
Children, thy favors sharing,

Their voice of thanks would raise;
Father, accept our offering,
Our song of grateful praise.
2 The dearest gift of Heaven,
Love's written word of truth,
To us is early given,

To guide our steps in youth;
We hear the wondrous story,
The tale of Calvary;
We read of homes in glory,
From sin and sorrow free.
3 Redeemer, grant thy blessing!
O teach us how to pray,
That each, thy fear possessing,
May tread life's onward way;
Then, where the pure are dwelling
We hope to meet again,

And, sweeter numbers swelling,

Forever praise thy name. Harriet Phillips.

885 Shepherd of tender youth.

SH

HEPHERD of tender youth,
Guiding in love and truth
Through devious ways;

6, 4.

Christ our triumphant King,
We come thy name to sing;
Hither our children bring
To shout thy praise.

2 Thou art our holy Lord,
The all-subduing Word,
Healer of strife:

Thou didst thyself abase,
That from sin's deep disgrace
Thou mightest save our race,
And give us life.

3 Thou art the great High Priest;
Thou hast prepared the feast
Of heavenly love;

While in our mortal pain
None calls on thee in vain;
Help thou dost not disdain,
Help from above.

4 Ever be thou our guide,
Our shepherd and our pride,
Our staff and song:

Jesus, thou Christ of God,
By thy perennial word
Lead us where thou hast trod,
Make our faith strong.

5 So now, and till we die,
Sound we thy praises high,
And joyful sing:

Infants, and the glad throng
Who to thy Church belong,
Unite to swell the song

To Christ our King.

Clement of Alexandria, (220.) Tr. by H. M. Dexter.

886 Early piety.

I

7,6.

LOVE to hear the story
Which angel voices tell,
How once the King of glory
Came down on earth to dwell.

I am both weak and sinful,
But this I surely know,
The Lord came down to save me,
Because he loved me so.

2 I'm glad my blessed Saviour
Was once a child like me,
To show how pure and holy
His little ones may be;
And if I try to follow
His footsteps here below,
He never will forget me,
Because he loves me so.
3 To sing his love and mercy
My sweetest songs I'll raise;
And though I cannot see him
I know he hears my praise;
For he has kindly promised
That even I may go
To sing among his angels,
Because he loves me so.

Mrs. Emily H. Miller.

887 For a blessing on children.

H

8,7.

OLY Father, send thy blessing On thy children gathered here; Let them all, thy name confessing, Be to thee forever dear.

Holy Saviour, who in meekness

Didst vouchsafe a child to be; Guide their steps and help their weakness. Bless, and make them like to thee. 2 Bear the lambs, when they are weary, In thine arms and at thy breast; Through life's desert dark and dreary Bring them to thy heavenly rest. Spread thy wings of blessing o'er them, Holy Spirit, from above;

Guide, and lead, and go before them,

Give them peace, and joy, and love.

Unknown.

888

SAVI

The lambs enfolded.

8, 7.

MAVIOUR, 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.

889

William A. Muhlenberg.

8.7.

He shall gather the lambs with his arm.-Isa. 40: 11.
RACIOUS Saviour, gentle Shepherd,
Little ones are dear to thee;
Gathered with thine arms, and carried
In thy bosom may we be;
Sweetly, fondly, safely tended,
From all want and danger free.
2 Tender Shepherd, never leave us
From thy fold to go astray;
By thy look of love directed
May we walk the narrow way;
Thus direct us, and protect us,
Lest we fall an easy prey.
3 Taught to lisp the holy praises
Which on earth thy children sing,
Both with lips and hearts unfeigned
May we our thank-offerings bring;
Then with all thy saints in glory
Join to praise our Lord and King.

Jane E. Leeson and J. Whittemore.