Though of earthly hopes bereft,
Yet our hope of heaven is left;
And for these our souls shall raise
Grateful vows and solemn praise.
HYMN 84. C. M.
OUNTAIN of mercy, God of love,
How rich thy bounties are:
The rolling seasons, as they move,
Proclaim thy constant care.
2 When in the bosom of the earth
The sower hid the grain,
Thy goodness mark'd its secret birth,
And sent the early rain.
3 The spring's sweet influence, Lord, was thine,
The plants in beauty grew;
Thou gav'st the summer's suns to shine,
The mild refreshing dew.
4 These various mercies from above
Matured the swelling grain;
A kindly harvest crowns thy love,
And plenty fills the plain.
5 We own and bless thy gracious sway:
Thy hand all nature hails;
Seed-time nor harvest, night nor day,
Summer nor winter fails.
HYMN 85. L. M.
For Public Mercies and Deliverances.
ALVATION doth to God belong,
His power and grace shall be our song;
From him alone all mercies flow,
His arm alone subdues the foe.
2 Then praise this God, who bows his ear
Propitious to his people's prayer;
And though deliverance he may stay,
Yet answers still in his own day.
3 O may this goodness lead our land,
Still saved by thine almighty hand,
The tribute of its love to bring
To thee, our Saviour and our King:
4 Till every public temple raise
A song of triumph to thy praise;
And every peaceful, private home,
To thee a temple shall become.
5 Still be it our supreme delight
To walk as in thy glorious sight;
Still in thy precepts and thy fear,
Till life's last hour, to persevere.
VII. ORDINANCES AND SPECIAL
BAPTISM OF INFANTS.
HYMN 86. III. 3.
AVIOUR, 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 all 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.
HYMN 87. S. M.
HE gentle Saviour 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.
BAPTISM OF ADULTS.
HYMN 88. S. M.
Ephesians vi. 10-13.
SOLDIERS of Christ, arise,
And put your armour on, Strong in the strength which God supplies, Through his eternal Son.
2 Strong in the Lord of hosts,
And in his mighty power,
Who in the strength of Jesus trusts,
Is more than conqueror.
3 Stand then in his great might,
With all his strength endued;
And take, to arm you for the fight,
The panoply of God.
4 That having all things done,
And all your conflicts past,
Ye may behold your victory won,
And stand complete at last.
CONFIRMATION.
HYMN 29. L. M.
HAPPY day, that stays my choice
On thee, my Saviour, and my God:
Well may this glowing heart rejoice,
And tell thy goodness all abroad.
2 O happy bond, that seals my vows,
To him who merits all my love,
Let cheerful anthems fill his house,
While to his sacred throne I move.
3 'Tis done, the great transaction's done; Deign, gracious Lord, to make me thine: Help me, through grace, to follow on, Glad to confess thy voice divine. 4 Here rest, my oft-divided heart,
Fix'd on thy God, thy Saviour, rest; Who with the world would grieve to part? When call'd on angels' food to feast? 5 High heaven, that heard the solemn vow, That vow renew'd shall daily hear,
Till in life's latest hour I bow,
And bless in death a bond so dear.
HYMN 90. C. M.
ITNESS, ye men and angels; now
Before the Lord we speak;
To him we make our solemn vow,
A vow we dare not break:
2 That, long as life itself shall last,
Ourselves to Christ we yield;
Nor from his cause will we depart,
Or ever quit the field.
3 We trust not in our native strength,
But on his grace rely,
That, with returning wants, the Lord
Will all our need supply.
4 Lord, guide our doubtful feet aright,
And keep us in thy ways;
And, while we turn our vows to prayers,
Turn thou our prayers to praise.
YOUTH, when devoted to the Lord,
Is pleasing in his eyes;
A flower, though offer'd in the bud,
Is no vain sacrifice.
2 'Tis easier far if we begin
To fear the Lord betimes;
For sinners who grow old in sin,
Are harden'd by their crimes.
3 It saves us from a thousand snares
To mind religion young;
Grace will preserve our following years, And make our virtues strong.
4 To thee, Almighty God, to thee Our hearts we now resign:
'Twill please us to look back and see That our whole lives were thine.
HYMN 92. C. M.
IN the morn of life, when youth
With vital ardour glows,
And shines in all the fairest charms
That beauty can disclose;
2 Deep in thy soul, before its powers
Are yet by vice enslaved,
Be thy Creator's glorious Name
And character engraved:
3 Ere yet the shades of sorrow cloud
The sunshine of thy days;
And cares and toils, in endless round,
Encompass all thy ways;
4 Ere yet thy heart the woes of age,
With vain regret, deplore,
And sadly muse on former joys,
That now return no more.
5 True wisdom, early sought and gain'd,
In age will give thee rest:
O then, improve the morn of life,
To make its evening blest.
HYMN 93. C. M.
Rev. v. 9, 12, 13.
THOU, God, all glory, honour, power,
Art worthy to receive;
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