Nothing seen but toils and dangers,
Nothing felt but doubts and fears,
Lord sustain them,
Hear their sighs, and dry their tears.
4 When no fruit appears to cheer them,
And they seem to toil in vain,
Then in mercy, Lord, draw near them,
And their sinking hopes sustain ;
Thus supported,
Let their zeal revive again.
5 In the midst of opposition,
Let them trust, O Lord, in thee ;
When success attends their mission,
May thy servants humbler be;
Never leave them,
Till thy face in heav'n they see.
C. M. The death of a faithful pastor deplored, and a successor sought. Jeremiah iii. 15.
1 To thee, O God! when creatures fail,
Thy flock deserted flies;
And on th' eternal Shepherd's care
Our cheerful hope relies.
2 When o'er thy faithful servant's dust
Thy saints assembled mourn,
In speedy tokens of thy grace,
O Zion's God! return.
3 The pow'rs of nature all are thine,
And thine the aids of
Thine arm has borne thy churches up,
Through each succeeding race.
4 Display thy sacred influence here,
And here thy suppliants bless;
And change, to strains of cheerful praise,
Their accents of distress.
5 With faithful heart, with skilful hand,
May this thy flock be fed;
And persevering in thy ways,
To Zion's mount be led.
L. M. Christ's commission to his apostles, to disciple and baptize all nations. Matt xxviii. 18-20.
1 ERE he ascended to his rest
Jesus, his servants, thus address'd;
"To me without reserve is giv'n
"All pow'r on earth, all pow'r in heav'n.
2 "Go through the world; proclaim my grace,
"To all the tribes of Adam's race;
"Barbarian, Scythian, bond and free,
"The glories of my love shall see.
"As well the Gentile as the Jew,
"The parents and the children too,
"My promises of mercy share ;
"To all the covenant declare.
4 "While ye my kingdom wide proclaim,
"Baptize all nations in the name
"Of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
"The triune God, and Israel's boast.
5 "When thus discipled, make them know
"All that they should believe or do:
"Go forth, fulfilling my commands;
"I'm with you while creation stands."
L. M. Spiritual baptism symbolized.
1 WHAT love and wisdom, Lord! we trace In this appointment of thy grace,
When, as intended by the sign,
We view the mystery divine.
2 Baptismal water here is shed,
A symbol, which our thoughts should lead
To Jesus' wondrous pow'r to cleanse
From the defilement of our sins.
3 Sprinkled with his atoning blood,
Our souls are reconcil'd to God;
Guilt from the conscience is remov'd,
And we become the Lord's belov'd.
4 His Spirit's influence on us pour'd,
Our souls, by his renewing word,
Are born again, a heav'nly race,
The sons of God, and heirs of grace.
5 O Saviour! hear our earnest pray'r;
May we thy cleansing mercy share;
And all who have receiv'd the sign
Enjoy the mystery divine.
C. M. Children initiated to the covenant by baptism as formerly by circumcision.
1 THUS saith the mercy of the Lord,
"I'll be a God to thee;
"I'll bless thy num'rous race, and they
"Shall be a seed for me."
2 Abra'm believ'd the promis'd grace,
And gave his sons to God:
But water seals the blessing now,
That once was seal'd with blood.
3 Thus Lydia sanctified her house,
When she receiv'd the word;
Thus the believing jailor gave
His household to the Lord.
4 Thus later saints, eternal King!
Thine ancient truth embrace;
To thee their infant offspring bring,
And humbly claim thy grace.
278.
7s. Infants brought to the Saviour. Mark x. 14.
1 JESUS, condescending Lord!
We with joy obey thy word,
And, while in their infancy,
Bring our little ones to thee.
2 Born they are, like us, in sin;
Thou alone canst make them clean;
And as they baptized are,
O may each thy mercy share.
3 Water-baptism cannot save,
Forms can no such virtue have;
Early to our rising race,
Grant the baptism of thy grace.
279.
C. M. The Saviour's regard to infants, and parents dedica-
ting their children to him. Luke xviii. 15, 16.
1 SEE Israel's gentle Shepherd stands,
With all-engaging charms;
Hark! how he calls the tender lambs,
And folds them in his arms.
2 "Permit them to approach," he cries,
"Nor scorn their humble name;
"For 'twas to bless such souls as these
"The Lord of angels came."
3 We bring them, Lord, with thankful hearts,
And yield them up to thee;
Joyful that we ourselves are thine,
Thine let our offspring be.
C. M. Believers commending their children to the blessing of the redeeming Angel. Genesis xlviii. 16.
1 THE great redeeming Angel, thee,
O Jesus, we confess;
Do thou our great Deliverer be,
And all our offspring bless.
2 Early discipled to the Lord,
May they be taught of thee:
And, made to know and trust thy word,
Wise to salvation be.
3 Thou who hast borne our sins away,
Our children's sins remove,
And bring them through their evil day,
To sing thy praise above.
4 Partakers of our nature, make
Partakers of thy grace;
And then the heirs of glory take
To dwell before thy face.
C. M. The promise to believers and their seed. Acts iii. 25.
1 INDULGENT God! whose ear attends
Whene'er thy people plead,
Thy promise made of old extends
To them and to their seed.
2 That ancient promise, Lord, we claim
And bring these babes to thee;
Grant, as presented in thy name,
Thine they may ever be.
3 Thine, great Redeemer, may they prove
If spar'd to youthful age;
In early life let heav'nly love
Their tender minds engage.
4 With zeal divine the parents bless,
Their duty may they see;
That they may teach their infant race,
And train them up for thee.
5 Let thy good Spirit, Lord, baptize
Each soul with special grace;
So shall we all at length arise
To see thy blissful face.
|