5 So this great Universe, so he, and Thou,
The central source and wondrous bound of things,
May fill my heart with rest as deep as now
To land and sea and air Thy presence brings.
1 When round Thy wondrous works below
My searching rapturous glance I throw,
Tracing out Wisdom, Power, and Love,
In earth or sky, in stream or grove;-
2 Or by the light Thy words disclose
Watch Time's full river as it flows,
Scanning Thy gracious Providence,
Where not too deep for mortal sense; -
3 When with dear friends sweet talk I hold,
And all the flowers of life unfold;-
Let not my heart within me burn,
Except in all I Thee discern.
4 When the soft dews of kindly sleep
My wearied eyelids gently steep,
Be my last thought, how sweet to rest
For ever on my Saviour's breast.
5 Abide with me from morn till eve,
For without Thee I cannot live:
Abide with me when night is nigh,
For without Thee I dare not die.
1 Great 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! 2 Art Thou my Father? Let me be A meek, obedient child to Thee; And try, in word and deed and thought, To serve and please Thee as I ought. 3 Art 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. 4 Art 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.
1 Oh say not, dream not, heavenly notes To childish ears are vain,
That the young mind at random floats, And cannot reach the strain.
2 Was not our Lord a little child,
Taught by degrees to pray,
By father dear and mother mild
Instructed day by day?
3 And loved He not of Heaven to talk
With children in His sight,
To meet them in His daily walk,
And to His arms invite?
4 And if some tones be false or low,
What are all prayers beneath,
But cries of babes, that cannot know
Half the deep thought they breathe?
5 In Christ's own words we God adore,
But angels, as we speak,
Higher above our meaning soar
Than we o'er children weak:
6 And yet the words mean more than they,
And yet He owns their praise:
Why should we think He turns away
From infants' simple lays?
1 "The spirit unto Thee,
And the body to the dust!
Father! we say it mournfully,
But we say it still in trust.
2 We cannot choose but weep
For the one Thou madest dear,
But we know that Thou wilt safely keep What we have treasured here.
3 Henceforth a shade must rest
Where he made such pleasant light,
But our faith stands sure that he is blest,
An Angel pure and bright.
1 From year to year in love we meet;
From year to year in peace we part;
The tongues of children uttering sweet
The bosom-joy of every heart.
2 But 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.
3 Death, ere another year, shall strike
Some of our number, marked to fall;
Be young and old prepared alike,
The warning is to each, to all.
4 This sole occasion then is ours;
This day we ne'er again shall see;
Lord God! awaken all our powers,
To spend it for eternity.
5 Our times, our lives are in Thy hand;
On Thee for all things we rely;
Assured, while in Thy grace we stand,
To live is Christ, and gain to die.
6 Meanwhile our failing ranks renew;
Send children, teachers, in our place;
More humble, docile, faithful, true,
More like Thy Son,-from race to race.
1 The heart of childhood is all mirth;
We frolic to and fro,
As free and blithe, as if on earth
Were no such thing as woe.
2 Who, but a Christian, through all life
That blessing may prolong?
Who, through the world's sad day of strife,
Still chant his morning song?
3 Fathers may hate us, or forsake,
God's foundlings then are we :
Mother on child no pity take,
But we shall still have Thee.
4 We may look home, and seek in vain
A fond fraternal heart,
But Christ hath given his promise plain
To do a brother's part.
5 Nor shall dull age, as worldlings say,
The heavenward flame annoy :
The Saviour cannot pass away,
And with him lives our joy.
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