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4 0 give thy angels charge, good Lord,
Them safely in thy way to guard;
Thy blessing on their lives command,
And write their names upon thy hand.

5 0 Thou who by an infant's tongue
Dost hear thy perfect glory sung,
May these, with all the heavenly host,
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Amen.

342

William Robertson, 1861

10.6.10.6.8.8.4

ATHER of heaven, who hast created

FAT

all

In wisest love, we pray,

Look on this child, who at thy gracious call

Is entering on life's way!

O make it thine, thy blessing give,
That to thy glory it may live,
Father of heaven!

2 O Son of God, atoning Lord, behold We bring this child to thee;

Take it, O loving Shepherd, to thy Fold,
For ever thine to be:

Defend it through this earthly strife,
And lead it in the path of life,

O Son of God!

3 O Holy Ghost, who broodest o'er the wave,
Descend upon this child;
Give it undying life, its spirit lave
With waters undefiled;

And make it evermore to be

A child of God, a home for thee,
O Holy Ghost!

4 O Triune God, what thou hast willed is

done;

We speak: but thine the might;

This child hath scarce yet seen our earthly sun,

Yet pour on it thy light

Of faith, and hope, and joyful love,
Thou Sun of all below, above,

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Albert Knapp, 1841; Tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1858, alt.

343

8.7.8.7

AVIOUR, who thy flock art feeding,
With the shepherd's kindest care,

All the feeble gently leading,

While the lambs thy bosom share:

2 Now, these little ones receiving,
Fold them in thy gracious arm;
There we know, thy word believing,
Only there secure from harm.

3 Never from thy pasture roving
Let them be the lion's prey;
Let thy tenderness, so loving,
Keep them all life's dangerous way.

4 Then, within thy fold eternal,
Let them find a resting-place;

Feed in pastures ever vernal,

Drink the rivers of thy grace. Amen.

344

William A. Mühlenberg, 1826

IN Christ crucified to own,

N token that thou shalt not fear

We print the cross upon thee here,
And stamp thee his alone.

C.M.

2 In token that thou shalt not blush
To glory in his Name,

We blazon here upon thy front
His glory and his shame.

3 In token that thou too shalt tread
The path he traveled by,
Endure the cross, despise the shame,
And sit thee down on high;

4 Thus outwardly and visibly
We seal thee for his own:

And may the brow that wears his cross
Hereafter share his crown. Amen.

Henry Alford, 1832

345

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8.7.8.7 D., 6

LET the children come to me," Dear Saviour, thou commandest; And for these innocents we see

How thou in welcome standest.
Still goes thy Spirit freely forth,
To gladden souls that need thee,
And thou bestowest heavenly birth,
If they like children heed thee,
For theirs the kingdom is.

2 By water and the Spirit thou
Our sinful nature cleansest;
Thy word doth show the path to go,
And daily grace thou sendest.
O may thy sanctifying love

Surround us all with blessing;
And may we all thy favour prove
In daily thee confessing,
Abiding close to thee.

3 O soul of man, remember well
The holy Name thou bearest.
Of everything that tongue can tell
That Name is still the dearest.
O child of God, his voice attend,
Live worthy of his choosing:
For he is thy eternal friend;
Beware lest thou be losing
His grace so freely thine.

Swedish; Johan O. Wallin, 1779–1839;
Tr. G. Mott Williams, 1915

346

ADULTS

OLDIERS of Christ, arise,

SOLD

And put your armour on;

S.M.

Strong in the strength which God supplies, Through his eternal Son.

2 Strong in the Lord of Hosts,
And in his mighty power:
Who in the strength of Jesus trusts
Is more than conqueror.

3 Stand then in his great might,
With all his strength endued,
And take, to arm you for the fight,
The panoply of God.

4 From strength to strength go on,
Wrestle, and fight, and pray:
Tread all the powers of darkness down,
And win the well-fought day.

5 That, having all things done,
And all your conflicts past,

Ye may o'ercome, through Christ alone,
And stand complete at last.

6 To God, the Father, Son,
And Spirit, ever blest,

The One in Three, the Three in One
Be endless praise addressed. Amen.

347

G

Charles Wesley, 1749, cento

Catechism

LORY to the blessèd Jesus!
Who for us was born,

In the stable, cold and poor,
On glad Christmas morn.

2 Glory to the blessèd Jesus!
Who was crucified

On Good Friday for our sins:
Loving us he died.

3 Glory to the blessed Jesus!
Who for sinners lay

In the tomb, and rose upon
Happy Easter Day.

4 Glory to the blessed Jesus!
He, who is our Way,
Went up in a cloud to heaven
On Ascension Day.

5 Glory to the blessèd Jesus!
Who at Whitsuntide

Sent his Holy Spirit down
With us to abide.

6 Glory to the blessed Jesus!
We will praise his love,
All our days on earth below,
And for aye above. Amen.

8.5.7.5

Anonymous

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