Hymns for Christian Devotion Part 122

738. 7s. M. Campbell's Coll.

Prayer for Children.

1 G.o.d of mercy, hear our prayer For the children thou hast given; Let them all thy blessings share-- Grace on earth and bliss in heaven.

2 In the morning of their days May their hearts be drawn to thee; Let them learn to lisp thy praise In their earliest infancy.

3 When we see their pa.s.sions rise, Sinful habits unsubdued, Then to thee we lift our eyes, That their hearts may be renewed.

4 For 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.

1 By cool Siloam's shady rill How sweet the lily grows!

How sweet the breath beneath the hill Of Sharon's dewy rose!

2 Lo, such the child whose early feet The paths of peace have trod; Whose secret heart, with influence sweet, Is upward drawn to G.o.d!

3 By cool Siloam's shady rill The lily must decay; The rose that blooms beneath the hill Must shortly fade away.

4 And soon, too soon, the wintry hour Of man's maturer age Will shake the soul with sorrow's power, And stormy pa.s.sion's rage!

5 O 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.

1 When children give their hearts to G.o.d, 'Tis pleasing in his eyes; A flower, when offered in the bud, Is no vain sacrifice.

2 It saves us from a thousand snares To mind religion young; Grace will preserve our following years, And make our virtues strong.

3 To thee, Almighty G.o.d, 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.

1 In the soft season of thy youth, In Nature's smiling bloom, Ere age arrive, and trembling wait Its summons to the tomb;

2 Remember thy Creator, G.o.d; For him thy powers employ; Make him thy fear, thy love, thy hope, Thy confidence, thy joy.

3 He shall defend and guide thy course Through life's uncertain sea, Till thou art landed on the sh.o.r.e Of blessed eternity.

4 Then 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.

1 While yet the youthful spirit bears The image of its G.o.d within, And uneffaced that beauty wears So soon to be destroyed by sin;--

2 Then 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.

3 The 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.

4 The 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.

5 Lord, 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.