  738. 7s. M. Campbell's Coll.Prayer for Children. 1God of mercy, hear our prayer For the children thou hast given; Let them all thy blessings share-- Grace on earth and bliss in heaven. 2In the morning of their days May their hearts be drawn to thee; Let them learn to lisp thy praise In their earliest infancy. 3When we see their passions rise, Sinful habits unsubdued, Then to thee we lift our eyes, That their hearts may be renewed. 4For this mercy, Lord, we cry; Bend thine ever-gracious ear; While on thee our souls rely, Hear our prayer--in mercy hear. 739. C. M. Bp. Heber.Early Religion. 1By cool Siloam's shady rill How sweet the lily grows! How sweet the breath beneath the hill Of Sharon's dewy rose! 2Lo, such the child whose early feet The paths of peace have trod; Whose secret heart, with influence sweet, Is upward drawn to God! 3By cool Siloam's shady rill The lily must decay; The rose that blooms beneath the hill Must shortly fade away. 4And soon, too soon, the wintry hour Of man's maturer age Will shake the soul with sorrow's power, And stormy passion's rage! 5O Thou, who giv'st us life and breath, We seek thy grace alone, In childhood, manhood, age, and death; To keep us still thine own! 740. 7s. & 6s. M. S. F. Smith."Remember thy Creator." 1"Remember thy Creator" While youth's fair spring is bright, Before thy cares are greater, Before comes age's night; While yet the sun shines o'er thee, While stars the darkness cheer, While life is all before thee, Thy great Creator fear. 741. C. M. Watts.Early Piety. 1When children give their hearts to God, 'Tis pleasing in his eyes; A flower, when offered in the bud, Is no vain sacrifice. 2It saves us from a thousand snares To mind religion young; Grace will preserve our following years, And make our virtues strong. 3To thee, Almighty God, to thee May we our hearts resign; 'Twill please us to look back and see, That our whole lives were thine. 742. C. M. Gibbons.The Same. 1In the soft season of thy youth, In Nature's smiling bloom, Ere age arrive, and trembling wait Its summons to the tomb; 2Remember thy Creator, God; For him thy powers employ; Make him thy fear, thy love, thy hope, Thy confidence, thy joy. 3He shall defend and guide thy course Through life's uncertain sea, Till thou art landed on the shore Of blessed eternity. 4Then seek the Lord betimes, and choose The path of heavenly truth: The earth affords no lovelier sight Than a religious youth. 743. L. M. Landon.Permanence of Early Religious Impressions. 1While yet the youthful spirit bears The image of its God within, And uneffaced that beauty wears So soon to be destroyed by sin;-- 2Then is the time for faith and love To take in charge their precious care, Teach the young eye to look above, Teach the young knee to bend in prayer. 3The world will come with care and crime, And tempt too many a heart astray; Still the seed sown in early time Will not be wholly cast away. 4The infant prayer, the infant hymn, Within the darkened soul will rise, When age's weary eye is dim, And the grave's shadow round us lies. 5Lord, grant our hearts be so inclined, Thy work to seek, thy will to do; And while we teach the youthful mind, Our own be taught thy lessons too. 744. C. M. Watts.Importance of the Bible to the Young. 1How shall the young secure their hearts, And guard their lives, from sin? Thy word the choicest rules imparts To keep the conscience clean. 2'Tis, like the sun, a heavenly light, That guides us all the day, And, through the dangers of the night, A lamp to lead our way. 3Thy precepts make us truly wise; We hate the sinner's road: We hate our own vain thoughts that rise, But love thy law, O God! 4Thy word is everlasting truth: How pure is every page! That holy book shall guide our youth, And well support our age. 745. S. M. Anonymous.Youth and the Spring-time. 1Sweet is the time of spring, When nature's charms appear; The birds with ceaseless pleasure sing, And hail the opening year: But sweeter far the spring Of wisdom and of grace, When children bless and praise their King, Who loves the youthful race. 2Sweet is the dawn of day, When light just streaks the sky; When shades and darkness pass away, And morning's beams are nigh: But sweeter far the dawn Of piety in youth; When doubt and darkness are withdrawn, Before the light of truth. 3Sweet is the early dew, Which gilds the mountain tops, And decks each plant and flower we view, With pearly, glittering drops; But sweeter far the scene On Zion's holy hill, When there the dew of youth is seen Its freshness to distil. 746. C. M. Episcopal Coll."Remember thy Creator." 1In the glad morn of life, when youth With generous ardor glows, And shines in all the fairest charms That beauty can disclose; 2Deep on thy soul,--before its powers Are yet by vice enslaved,-- Be thy Creator's lofty name And character engraved. 3For soon the shades of grief may cloud The sunshine of thy days; And cares and toils, an endless round, Encompass all thy ways. 4True wisdom, early sought and gained, In age will give thee rest; O then, improve the morn of life, To make its evening blest! 747. 8s. & 7s. M. R. Streeter.Children's Prayer. 1God of mercy and of wisdom, Hear thy children's lisping cry; Let thy presence, Lord, be with them, Teaching lessons from on high. 2Here, beneath thy wing, we seat us, Up to heaven for wisdom look; Lord, in mercy deign to meet us,-- Meet us in thy sacred book. 3Since thy truth doth gild its pages, May that truth, Lord, make us free; On the Rock of endless ages Let our faith established be. 4To our faith we'll add the graces, Virtue, knowledge, patience, love; When on earth we leave our places, Raise us all to seats above. 748. 7s. M. Grey.Sabbath School Hymn. 1Suppliant, lo! thy children bend, Father, for thy blessing now; Thou canst teach us, guide, defend,-- We are weak, almighty thou. 2With the peace thy word imparts, Be the taught and teacher blest; In their lives and on their hearts, Father, be thy laws imprest. 3Pour into each longing mind Light and knowledge from above: Charity for all mankind-- Trusting faith, enduring love. 749. 8s. & 7s. M. Anonymous.Opening of the School. 1We have met in peace together In this house of God again; Constant friends have led us hither, Here to chant the solemn strain, Here to breathe our adoration, Here the Saviour's praise to sing: May the Spirit of salvation Come with healing in his wing. 2We have met, and Time is flying; We shall part, and still his wing, Sweeping o'er the dead and dying, Will the changeful seasons bring: Let us, while our hearts are lightest, In our fresh and early years, Turn to Him whose smile is brightest, And whose grace will calm our fears. 3He will aid us, should existence With its sorrows sting the breast; Gleaming in the onward distance, Faith will mark the land of rest: There, 'midst day-beams round him playing, We our Father's face shall see, And shall hear him gently saying, "Little children, come to me." 750. C. M. William Cutter.Youthful Example. 1What if the little rain should say, So small a drop as I Can ne'er refresh these thirsty fields, I'll tarry in the sky? 2What if a shining beam of noon Should in its fountain stay, Because its feeble light alone Cannot create a day? 3Doth not each rain-drop help to form The cool, refreshing shower, And every ray of light to warm And beautify the flower? 4Go thou, and strive to do thy share-- One talent,--less than thine,-- Improved with steady zeal and care, Would gain rewards divine. Sabbath School Anniversary. 1From year to year in love we meet; From year to year in peace we part; The tongues of children uttering sweet The thrilling joy of every heart. 2But time rolls on; and, year by year, We change, grow up, or pass away; Not twice the same assembly here Have hailed the children's festal day. 3Death, ere another year, may strike Some in our number marked to fall: Be young and old prepared alike; The warning is to each, to all. 4Oft broke, our failing ranks renew; Send teachers, children, in our place, More humble, docile, faithful, true, More like thy Son, from race to race. 752. L. M. Anonymous.For the Close of a Sabbath School. 1Father, once more let grateful praise And humble prayer to thee ascend; Thou Guide and Guardian of our ways, Our early and our only Friend. 2Since every day and hour that's gone Has been with mercy richly crowned, Mercy, we know, shall still flow on, Forever sure as time rolls round. 3Hear then the parting prayers we pour, And bind our hearts in love alone; And if we meet on earth no more, May we at last surround thy throne. 753. 6s. & 4s. M. J. G. Adams.Sabbath School Anniversary. 1Creation's sovereign Lord! Be thy glad name adored Through earth and sky! Hear, as in youthful days To thee we humbly raise Songs of our grateful praise, Holy and high! 2Thanks for thy light so free, Causing our eyes to see Thy truth and grace; Love, that dispels our fear, Mercy, to sinners dear, Life, dying souls to cheer, For all our race. 3Thanks, that on hearts like ours Thy loving kindness showers Knowledge divine; O let its influence be Fruitful in works for thee, Causing in purity Our lives to shine. 4Bless this our childhood band, And let us ever stand Truthful and strong; Christians in deed and love, Such as thou wilt approve, Till we in worlds above Thy praise prolong! 754. 7s. & 6s. M. S. S. Choir.The Same. 1When, his salvation bringing, To Zion Jesus came, The children all stood singing Hosanna to his name. Nor did their zeal offend him, But, as he rode along, He bade them still attend him, And smiled to hear their song. 2And since the Lord retaineth His love for children still, Though now as king he reigneth On Zion's heavenly hill, We'll flock around his banner, Who sits upon the throne; And cry aloud, "Hosanna To David's royal Son." 3For should we fail proclaiming Our great Redeemer's praise, The stones, our silence shaming, Might well hosanna raise. But shall we only render The tribute of our words? No! while our hearts are tender, They, too, shall be the Lord's. 755. 7s. & 6s. M. Boston S. S. H. Book.Anniversary of Independence. 1We come with joy and gladness To breathe our songs of praise, Nor let one note of sadness Be mingled in our lays; For 'tis a hallowed story, This theme of freedom's birth: Our fathers' deeds of glory Are echoed round the earth. 2The sound is waxing stronger, And thrones and nations hear-- Proud men shall rule no longer, For God the Lord is near: And he will crush oppression, And raise the humble mind, And give the earth's possession Among the good and kind. 3And then shall sink the mountains Where pride and power are crowned, And peace, like gentle fountains, Shall shed its pureness round. O God! we would adore thee, And in thy shadow rest; Our fathers bowed before thee, And trusted and were blest. 756. 8s. & 7s. M. Horne.Autumn Warnings. 1See the leaves around us falling, Dry and withered, to the ground; Thus to thoughtless mortals calling, In a sad and solemn sound:-- 2"Youth, on length of days presuming, Who the paths of pleasure tread,-- View us, late in beauty blooming, Numbered now among the dead. 3"What though yet no losses grieve you, Gay with health and many a grace, Let not cloudless skies deceive you: Summer gives to autumn place." 4On the tree of life eternal, Let our highest hopes be staid: This alone, forever vernal, Bears a leaf that shall not fade. 757. C. M. Anonymous.Death of a Teacher. 1Farewell, dear friend! a long farewell! For we shall meet no more Till we are raised with thee to dwell On Zion's happy shore. 2Our friend and brother, lo! is dead! The cold and lifeless clay Has made in dust its silent bed, And there it must decay. 3Farewell, dear friend, again farewell,-- Soon we shall rise to thee; And when we meet, no tongue can tell How great our joys shall be. 4No more we'll mourn thee, parted friend, But lift our ardent prayer, And every thought and effort bend To rise and join thee there. 758. 12s. & 11s. M. Anonymous.The Same. 1Though lost to our sight, we may not deplore thee, The clear light of faith shall illumine thy road; All through the dark valley shall angels watch o'er thee, And guide thee in peace to the home of thy God. 2Thy heart, while on earth, in his praises delighted, Thy voice ever spoke of his fatherly love; And now, by life's shadows no longer benighted, Thou wilt love him and praise him in heaven above. 3And there may we meet when life shall be ended, All tears wiped away, and all errors forgiven, And there may our prayers together be blended In the sweet song of praise to our Master in heaven. 759. L. M. S. S. Choir.Death of a Scholar. 1We come our Sabbath hymn to raise, Our earnest, humble prayer to pour; One voice is hushed, its notes of praise Shall mingle here with ours no more. 2The lips are still, the eye is dim, That brightly beamed with joy and love; The spirit, it hath gone to Him Who freely gave it from above. 3We will not weep, for Jesus said, "Let little children to me come;" But pray that our young hearts be led To seek our everlasting home. 760. C. M. Boston S. S. H. Book.The Same. 1Death has been here, and borne away A brother from our side: Just in the morning of his day, As young as we he died. 2We cannot tell who next may fall Beneath thy chastening rod; One must be first, but let us all Prepare to meet our God. 3May each attend with willing feet The means of knowledge here; And wait around thy mercy seat, With hope as well as fear. 4Lord, to thy wisdom and thy care May we resign our days; Content to live and serve thee here, Or die and sing thy praise. 761. 8s. & 7s. M. R. C. Waterston.On the Death of a Female Scholar. 1One sweet flower has drooped and faded, One sweet infant's voice has fled, One fair brow the grave has shaded, One dear school-mate now is dead. 2But we feel no thought of sadness, For our friend is happy now; She has knelt in soul-felt gladness, Where the blessed angels bow. 3She has gone to heaven before us, But she turns and waves her hand, Pointing to the glories o'er us, In that happy spirit-land. 4God, our Father, watch above us, Keep us all from danger free; Do thou guard, and guide, and love us, Till like her we go to thee. 762. C. M. Anonymous.A Child's Prayer. 1Lord, teach a little child to pray, And, O, accept my prayer; Thou canst hear all the words I say, For thou art everywhere. 2A little sparrow cannot fall Unnoticed, Lord, by thee; And though I am so young and small, Thou dost take care of me. 3Teach me to do whate'er is right, And, when I sin, forgive; And make it still my chief delight To serve thee while I live. 763. L. M. S. S. H. Book.God--Our Father. 1Great God! and wilt thou condescend To be my Father and my Friend? I but a child, and thou so high, The Lord of earth and air and sky! 2Art thou my Father?--Let me be A meek, obedient child to thee; And try, in every deed and thought, To serve and please thee as I ought. 3Art thou my Father?--I'll depend Upon the care of such a friend; And only wish to do and be Whatever seemeth good to thee. 4Art thou my Father?--Then, at last, When all my days on earth are past, Send down and take me, in thy love, To be thy better child above. |
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