Bless, O Lord, the op'ning year,
To each soul assembled here;
Clothe thy word with pow'r divine,
Make us willing to be thine.
Shepherd of thy blood-bought sheep!
Teach the stony heart to weep;
Let the blind have eyes to see,
See themselves, and look on thee!
Let the minds of all our youth,
Feel the force of sacred truth;
While the gospel call they hear,
May they learn to love and fear.
Shew them what their ways have been,
Shew them the desert of sin;
Then thy dying love reveal,
This shall melt a heart of steel.
Where thou hast thy work begun,
Give new strength the race to run :
Scatter darkness, doubts, and fears,
Wipe away the mourner's tears.
Bless us all both old and young;
Call forth praise from ev'ry tongue;
Let the whole assembly prove,
All thy pow'r and all thy love.
GOD of my life, to thee belong
The thankful heart, the grateful song;
Touch'd by thy love, each tuneful chord,
Resounds the goodness of the Lord.
Thou hast preserv'd my fleeting breath,
And chas'd the gloomy shades of death;
The venom'd arrows vainly fly,
When God our great deliv❜rer's nigh.
Yet why, dear Lord, this tender care?
Why does thy hand so kindly rear
A useless cumberer of the ground,
On which no pleasant fruits are found?
Still may the barren fig-tree stand!
And, cultivated by thy hand,
Verdure, and bloom, and fruit afford,
Meet tribute to its bounteous Lord.
So shall thy praise employ my breath
Through life, and in the arms of death
My soul the pleasant theme prolong,
Then rise to aid th' angelic song.
Christ's condescending regard to little children.
Mark x. 14.
SEE Israel's gentle Shepherd stand
With all engaging charms :
Hark, how he calls the tender lambs,
And folds them in his arms!
"Permit them to approach," he cries,
"Nor scorn their humble name;
"For 'twas to save such souls as these,
"The Lord of angels came."
We bring them, Lord, in thankful hands,
And yield them up to thee;
Joyful, that we ourselves are thine,
Thine let our offspring be.
Ye little flock, with pleasure hear,
Ye children, seek his face;
And fly with transports to receive
The blessings of his grace.
If orphans they are left behind,
Thy guardian care we trust:
That care shall heal our bleeding hearts,
If weeping o'er their dust.
Children praising the Saviour.
LORD of hosts, while angels bless thee,
Thou art every creature's praise;
Lord of babes too we confess thee,
And our feeble voices raise.
Children though we be and simple,
Thou wilt not our song disdain
Children prais'd thee in the temple,
Children praise thee, Lord, again.
Meek and lowly was the Saviour,
Haughty sinners look'd with scorn;
Yet his constant kind endeavour,
Was to bless the most forlorn.
Oft he suffer'd here severely,
Cold and want content to bear;
Sinners whom he lov'd so dearly,
Little thought what love was there.
But his sorrows how amazing,
upon the cross he hung!
When
Men and angels, wonder'd gazing,
Mute was ev'ry tuneful tongue.
How his soul too was distressed!
Which of us the cause can tell?
'Twas to make us sinners blessed ;
'Twas to save our souls from hell.
Hallelujah, Amen!
HYMN CXVIII.
Prayer for Children.
BLEST be the God of providence,
That bere our feet are found!
Blest be the God of love and grace,
For mercy's joyful sound!
Though young in years, our feet have run
In sin's destructive way;
O lead them now in holy paths,
And never let them stray.
Corrupted principles within,
Nourish'd with ev'ry breath,
Grow and produce the awful fruits,
Of sin, and shame, and death.
O Lord! thy mercy we implore;
O lead us in thy truth;
Through Jesus pardon all our sins,
And sanctify our youth.
Be every holy gift and grace,
By thy good Spirit giv'n ;
Thee may we love and serve on earth,
And glorify in heav'n.
HEAR! mighty God of sov'reign grace,
Our youthful supplications hear;
Before thy throne we seek thy face,
And worship thee with love sincere.
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