ON THE BAPTISM OF A CHILD. 219 secrated to the Saviour. Suffer the babe to come unto thee, O thou, who wast the babe of Bethlehem; and forasmuch as it is not the will of our Father, who is in heaven, that this little one should perish, receive it to thine arms, and at some remote period admit it to thy glory. ON THE BAPTISM OF A CHILD. Thou hast promised to be a God to thy people and to their children after them, keeping mercy for thousands from generation to generation, and we are encouraged to dedicate our beloved offspring unto thee. Behold the little one we are about to present, in the ordinance of baptism, to thy service and glory. Accept the offering at the hand of parents who wish to be thine, and to have the name of Christ named on all their household. Sprinkle this dear babe with clean water; baptize it with thy Holy Spirit ; may it grow up to feel the obligations of a baptised child, on whom the seal of thy covenant is placed; and finally attain to the happiness and purity of thy kingdom. May we have grace to train up our child for thy service, and be privileged to behold him growing in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. FOR THE LIFE OF AN INFANT. We approach thee in the hour of affliction and sorrow, and plead for the life of our infant now held in doubt. Thou hast a right to do what thou wilt with thine own, and we dispute not the wisdom or the mercy of thy dealings; but thou hearest prayer and we cry unto God most High, who performeth all things for us. Through that Saviour who listened to the voice of parental entreaty, Come down ere my child die! we beseech thee to command deliverance for us, if consistent with thy holy will. And, Oh, give us grace to submit, without murmuring, to the arrangements of thy Providence if this sickness should be unto death. Thy will be done. May the child live to love and serve thee on earth, but if taken from us by an early death may our souls be comforted with the thought that, Of such is the kingdom of heaven. THANKSGIVING FOR THE SAME. Thou art the God of comfort and consolation, and we bless thee that thou hast heard prayer, and raised up our dear child from the gates of the grave. Our hearts, relieved from anxiety, and saved from the anguish of separation, thou hast filled with joy. May they overflow with gratitude, and be drawn forth in fervent suppli ON THE DEATH OF AN INFANT. 221 cation that the life redeemed from destruction. may be devoted unto thee. We have asked this gift of thee, O Lord, and would lend him unto thee, so long as he liveth. May we train him up in thy nurture and admonition, and have the happiness of seeing him walk in the truth. ON THE DEATH OF AN INFANT. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away. Death has again triumphed over one who had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression. Thou hast lent for a brief period the flower, and transplanted it to the garden of thy love. Thou hast taken our treasure from the evil to come, and it is now secure in thy kingdom. Its spirit beholds thy face, for absent from the body it is present with the Lord. While sorrow hath filled our hearts we would not com plain, but would rather be dumb, and open not our mouth, for thou hast done it. Good, though painful, is the will of the Lord concerning us. Sustain our minds with the conviction that it is well with the child, and by the hope that we shall go to him, though he cannot return to us. Henceforth may we feel that we have an additional attraction to that heavenly state into which Jesus, the Forerunner, is entered. FOR THE CONVERSION OF CHILDREN. Permit us to plead with thee, O our Father God, for the early conversion of the younger branches of this family. Give them grace to value, and to improve their privileges, so that they may grow up in thy fear and realize the blessedness of youthful piety. Teach them early in life, by the disappointment of their hopes of worldly pleasure, and in the endurance of their childlike sorrows, that vanity is stamped on the creature, and that none but God can make them truly happy. Pour thy Spirit on our children, and thy blessing on our offspring. May they know the scriptures, which are able to make them wise unto salvation. Grant that some good thing may be found in them toward the Lord, and in after life may they have the pleasure of remembering, that they feared the Lord from their youth. When we are removed from this world, may they rise up imbued with thy love and consecrated to thy service. In the day of final judgment may we all be found at the right hand of our Saviour and Lord, FOR A CHILD LEAVING HOME. We commend to thee the youth who is about to leave the domestic roof. May the cloud of thy providential guidance go before him. In all his ways may he acknowledge thee, and do thou direct his steps. Preserve him from the snares which may beset his path. Give him grace to shun those habits and companions which would lead him astray from thee. Grant him favour in the sight of those with whom he may dwell, and may thy grace so influence his heart and regulate his conduct that he may be useful in his day, fulfil his course with joy, and be kept looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, unto eternal life. Support him with thy presence, when he feels the heart of a stranger, for the Lord God loveth the stranger. As a father pitieth his children, so do thou pity him. Comfort him, as one whom his mother comforteth. O God, before whom our fathers did walk, feed and lead him all his life long! O thou Angel of the covenant, who hast redeemed us from all evil, bless our child! We ask not great things for him, but that he may be a comfort to his parents, a credit to his family, and an honour to thy church. When we meet him again may it be with confidence and joy, and as oft as we hear of his welfare, may we learn that his soul is in health and prospering. ON GOING A JOURNEY. We lift up our eyes to the Lord, and commend to God himself, and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, the way of thy servant now going forth from this abode. Watch between us while |