Such helpless babes thou didst embrace,
While dwelling here below:
To us, and ours, O God of grace,
The same compassion shew.
In early days their hearts, we pray,
From worldly snares secure;
And let them in thy righteous way
Still to the end endure.
Grant us before them, Lord, to live
In holy faith and fear;
And then to heav'n our souls receive,
And bring our children there.
Lord's Supper.
HYMN XXXI.-(P. M.)
BREAD of Heav'n! on Thee we feed,
For thy flesh is meat indeed :
Ever let our souls be fed
With this true and living bread!
Vine of Heav'n! Thy blood supplies
This blest cup of sacrifice:
Lord! thy wounds our healing give;
To thy cross we look, and live.
Day by day with strength supplied,
Through the life of Him who died;
Lord of life! O let us be
Rooted, grafted, built on thee!
HYMN XXXII.-(P. M.)
FORGIVE, O Lord, our wand'rings past, Henceforth we would obey thy call:
Our sins far from us let us cast,
And turn to thee devoutly all:
Then with archangels shall we sing
Praises to heav'n's Eternal King.
Hear us, O God, in mercy hear;
With sorrow we our guilt deplore;
Pity our anguish, calm our fear,
And give us grace to sin no more.
Then with archangels, &c.
While at thy table low we kneel,
And of the sacred feast partake, Our pardon, Lord, vouchsafe to seal, For Jesus, our Redeemer's sake. Then with archangels, &c.
HYMN XXXIII.-(L. M.)
My God! and is thy table spread?
And doth thy cup with love o'erflow?
Thither be all thy children led,
And let them all thy bounty know.
Lord, let thy table honour'd be,
And furnish'd well with joyful guests; May ev'ry soul salvation see,
Who here its sacred pledges tastes. Let crowds approach with hearts sincere, And round thy holy altar bend; And, having felt thy presence here, Let not the joy or profit end. Revive thy dying churches, Lord, Bid all our drooping graces live; More of that life and strength afford, A Saviour's blood alone can give.
HYMN XXXIV. (L. M.)
O GOD, how infinite thy love!
Its height or depth what tongue can tell? It raises man to heav'n above,
And saves him from the curse of hell.
It dries the contrite sinner's tears,
Strengthens the feeble child of dust,
Bids him dismiss his anxious fears,
And in a Saviour's merits trust.
What shall we render to the Lord
For all his mercy, all his love?
Or what can sinful man afford,
That shall a grateful off'ring prove?
His gracious will let us obey;
Salvation's offer'd cup receive;
With holy saints glad homage pay,
And thanks and praises ever give.
HYMN XXXV.—(L. M.)
Look down, O Lord! and on our youth
Bestow thy gifts of heavenly grace;
And let the seed of sacred truth,
Find in each heart a fruitful place.
Soon to appear before thy sight,
Their vow and promise to renew ;
Prepare them for the solemn rite,
Bid each his heart and life review.
The cross, that marked their infant brow,
May it a faithful emblem prove,
That they shall keep that sacred vow,
And walk as children of thy love.
Lord teach them to remember thee,
Their great Creator, from their youth;
Advancing to maturity
In years, in knowledge, grace, and truth.
Now in the strength of pow'r divine,
Oh! may they all, with glad accord,
In holy covenant combine,
And join themselves to Christ, the Lord.
The Ember Weeks.
HYMN XXXVI. (L. M.)
FATHER of mercies, bow thine ear,
Attentive to our earnest pray'r;
We plead for those who plead for thee:
Successful pleaders may they be!
How great their work, how vast their charge!
Do thou their anxious souls enlarge:
For us they seek their heaven-born powers,
And all their richest gifts are ours.
Clothe, then, O Lord, with pow'r divine
Their words, and let those words be thine;
To them thy sacred truth reveal;
Suppress their fear, expand their zeal.
Teach them to sow the precious seed;
Teach them thy chosen flock to feed;
Teach them immortal souls to gain,
Souls that will well reward their pain.
National Fast and Thanksgiving.
HYMN XXXVII.-(c. M.)
LORD! look on all assembled here,
Who in thy presence stand,
NATIONAL FAST AND THANKSGIVING.
To offer up united prayer
For this our sinful land.
Oh may we all, with one consent,
Fall low before thy throne;
With tears the nation's sins lament,
The church's, and our own.
Great God of Hosts, deliv'rance bring;
Guide those who hold the helm;
Support the state, preserve the king,
And spare the guilty realm.
Or, should the dread decree be past,
And we must feel the rod,
Let faith and patience hold us fast
To our correcting God!
HYMN XXXVIII.—(L. M.)
BEFORE Jehovah's awful throne,
Ye nations bow with sacred joy!
Know that the Lord is God alone!
He can create, and he destroy.
His sov'reign pow'r without our aid
Made us of clay, and form'd us men;
And, when like wand'ring sheep we stray'd,
He brought us to his fold again.
We'll crowd his gates with thankful songs,
High as the heav'ns our voices raise;
And earth, with her ten thousand tongues,
Shall fill his courts with sounding praise.
Wide as the world is his command;
Vast as eternity his love;
Firm as a rock his truth shall stand,
When rolling years shall cease to move.
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