39.

DEDICATION, OR BAPTISM.

8s. & 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 in 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.

40.

C. M.

DODDRIDGE.

Children received by Christ.

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 't was to bless such souls as these
The Lord of angels came."

3 We bring them, Lord, by fervent prayer,
And yield them up to thee;
Joyful that we ourselves are thine,
Thine let our offspring be!

4 Ye little flock, with pleasure hear;
Ye children, seek his face;
And fly with transport to receive
The blessings of his grace.

41.

S. M.

ANONYMOUS.

Christ calling Children to himself.

1 THE Saviour gently calls

Our children to his breast;

He folds them in his gracious arms;
Himself declares them blest.

2 "Let them approach," he cries,
"Nor scorn their humble claim;
The heirs of heaven are such as these,
For such as these I came."

3 Gladly, we bring them, Lord,
Devoting them to thee;

Imploring, that, as we are thine,
Thine may our offspring be.

42.

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 forever thine."

43.

L.M. W. BOSTON COLL.

Dedication of Children.

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.

44.

7s. M.

BOWRING.

Infant Baptism.

1 DROP the limpid waters now
On the infant's sinless brow;
Dedicate the unfolding gem
Unto Him who blessed the stem.

2 Let our aspirations be
Innocent as infancy;

Pure the prayers that force the way,
As the child for whom we pray.

3 In the Christian garden we
Plant another Christian tree;
Be its blossoms and its fruit
Worthy of the Christian root.

4 To that garden now we bring
Waters from the living spring;
Bless the tree, the waters bless,
Holy One! with holiness.

5 When life's harvests all are past,
O, transplant the tree, at last,
To the fields where flower and tree
Blossom through eternity.

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;

46.

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

S. M. L. H. SIGOURNEY.

Baptism.

1 SAVIOUR, thy law we love,

Thy pure example bless,

And with a firm, unwavering zeal,
Would in thy footsteps press.