NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES

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BY THE AUTHOR OF

'' THE LOKD OF THE FOREST," " VERSES FOR HOLY SEASONS,' AND " THE BARON'S LITTLE DAUGHTER."

OtTT OF THE MOUTH OF BABES AND SUCKLINGS THOU HAST PERFECTED PRAISE." — Si. MATT. Xxi. 16.

JTirst American Qrbiiimt.

PHILADELPHIA : PUBLISHED BY H. HOOKER,

S. W. CORNER OF EIGHTH AND CHESNUT STS.

ADVERTISEMENT.

H. HooKEn keeps a depository of all the books of the Episcopal Sunday School Union, and sells the same at the Union prices. He also keeps a great variety of general books, suitable for Sunday Schools and Parish Libraries. Orders respectfully solicited.

(1)

TO

TO MY LITTLE GODSONS,

1 INSCRIBE THESE SIMPLE LINES,

HOPING THAT

THE LANGUAGE OF VERSE WHICH CHILDREN LOVB MAT HELP TO IMPRESS ON THEIR MINDS

WHAT THEY ARE, WHAT I HAVE PROMISED FOR THEM,

AND WHAT THEY MUST SEEK TO BE.

C. F. H.

(5)

ADVERTISEMENT.

THE following recommendation was received by the publisher from a well known clerical friend.

"I rejoice to hear that you intend to republish " Hymns for Little Children." There is no greater want, at this moment, than books really suited to children ; and nothing certainly more difficult than to produce such books. The charm of this little volume is, that it teaches truths, which all may ponder with advantage, in language so simple, as never to be above the understanding of a child, and yet so pure, that the nicest taste will find nothing to offend it. A true church feeling pervades it. . The devotion which it teaches, is such as Hooker and Herbert would have delighted in. Its instructions are eminently sound, without extrava- gance of any kind, and there is not a dull verse in it. Having used it, or seen it used, for some time in a Paro- chial School, and observed its popularity among the chil- dren, I rejoice to hear of its intended republication, and confidently predict for it, a like welcome reception among the young every where."

S, B. Lancaster, April, 1850

Contents.

MORNING HYMN

EVENING HYMN

HYMN OF THE HOLY TRINITY

HOLY BAPTISM

THE FIRST PROMISE —

To renounce the devil and all his works . The pomps and vanity of this wicked world . And all the sinful lusts of the flesh . . .

THE SECOND PROMISE —

To believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith. OF THE CREED —

I believe in GOD the FATHER, Almighty

Maker of heaven and earth

And in JESUS CHRIST His only SON, our LORD . Who was conceived by the HOLY GHOST, Born of the Mary

PAGE • 13

16

. 18 19

21 22 24

Yirgin

• •

(9)

26 27 28

SO

10 CONTENTS.

PAGE

Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and

buried .......... 31

He descended into hell ; The third day He arose again from

the dead .......... 33

He ascended into heaven, And sitteth at the right hand of GOD the FATHER Almighty; From thence He shall come

to judge the quick and the dead - .... 34

I believe in the HOLT GHOST ....... 35

Tho Holy Catholic Church ....... 37

The Communion of Saints ....... 39

The Forgiveness of Sins ....... 41

The Resurrection of the body ....... 42

And the life everlasting ....... 43

THE THIRD PROMISE —

To keep GOD'S holy will and commandments, and walk in the same all the days of my life

OF THE COMMAJTDMEXTS —

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PRAYER —

My good Child, know this, that tuou art not able to do these things of thyself, nor to walk in the command- ments of GOD, and to serve Him, without His special grace ; which thou mu^t learn at all times to call for by

diligent Prayer ...... . 59

THE LORD'S PRATER —

CONTENTS. 11

PAGE

Our FATHER Which art in heaven .... .60

Hallowed be Thy Name 61

Thy kingdom come 63

Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven ... 64

Give us this day our daily bread 65

And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that

trespass against us 67

And lead us not into temptation 63

But deliver us from evil 70

Therefore I say. Imen, so be it 71

/or Bile flbilton.

1.

iUoruing i^mmt.

Now the dreary night is done, Comes again the glorious sun, Crimson clouds, and silver white, Wait upon his breaking light.

Glistening in the garden beds, Flowers lift up their dewy heads, And the shrill cock claps his wings, And the merry lark upsprings.

2 (13)

14 HYMNS FOR CHILDREN.

When the eastern sky is red, I, too, lift my little head. When the lark sings loud and gay, I, too, rise to praise and pray.

SAVIOUR, to Thy Cottage home Once the daylight used to come, Thou hast ofttimes seen it break Brightly o'er that eastern lake.

Child of Mary, Thou dost know, What of danger, joy, or woe, Shall to-day my portion be, Let me meet it all in Thee.

Thou wast meek and undefiled, Make me holy too, and mild ; Thou didst foil the tempter's power, Help me in temptation's hour.

Thou didst love Thy mother here, Make me gentle, kind and dear ; Thou wast subject to her word, Teach me to obey, O LORD.

Fretful feelings, passion, pride Never did with Thee abide : Make me watch myself to-day, That they lead me not astray.

HYMNS FOR CHILDREN.

With Thee, LORD, I would arise, To Thee look with opening- eyes, All the day be at Thy Side, SAVIOUR, PATTERN, KING, and GUIDE.

15

ing finmn.

ON the dark hill's western side The last purple gleam has died, Twilight to one solemn hue Changes all, both green and blue.

In the fold and in the nest, Birds and lambs are gone to rest; Labour's weary task is o'er, Closely shut the cottage door.

SAVIOUR, ere in sweet repose

I my weary eyelids close,

While my mother through the glooni

Singeth from the outer room

While across the curtain white, With a dim uncertain light, On the floor the faint stars shine, Let my latest thought be Thine. (16)

HYMNS FOR CHILDREN. 17

'Twas a starry night of old, When rejoicing- Angels told The poor shepherds of Thy birth, GOD become a Child on earth.

Soft and quiet is the bed, Where I lay my little head ; Thou hadst but a manger bare, Rugged straw for pillow fair.

SAVIOUR, 'twas to win me grace, Thou didst stoop to that poor place, Loving with a perfect love Child, and man, and GOD above

Here me as alone I lie

Plead for me with GOD on hio-h ;

O "

All that stained my soul to-day, Wash it in Thy Blood away.

If my slumbers broken be, Waking let me think of Thee : Darkness cannot make me fear, If I feel that Thou art near.

Happy now I turn to sleep ; Thou wilt watch around me keep ; Him no danger e'er can harm, Who lies cradled on Thine Arm

ijnmit of tljc ijjoln ®rinitt).

WE are little Christian children ;

We can ran, and talk, and play ; The Great GOD of earth and Heaven,

Made, and keeps us every day.

We are little Christian children;

CHRIST, the SON of GOD Most High, With His precious blood redeemed us,

Dying- that we might not die.

We are little Christian children, GOD the HOLY GHOST is here,

Dwelling' in our hearts, to make us Kind, and holy, good, and dear.

We are little Christian children, Saved by him who loved us most,

We believe in GOD Almighty, FATHER, SON, and HOLY GHOSI

(18)

™ \i .>i-^ r^-cQwB@ *

WE were only little babies,

Knowing neither good nor harm,

When the Priest of GOD Most Holy Took us gently in his arm

And he sprinkled our young faces With the water clear and bright,

And he signed our SAVIOUR'S token On our little foreheads white.

In the Name of GOD the FATHER, Of the SON, and HOLY GHOST,

He baptized us then, and made us Soldiers in our Master's host.

(19)

20 HYMNS FOR CHILDREN.

Then we promised by our sureties,

Vowing for us solemnly, Manfully to fight His battles,

Gentle, kind, and good to be.

At our posts beneath his banner,

We must watch, and strive, and pray,

By the Grace of GOD within us Growing better every day.

For the little flowers grow brightly

In the early morning dew, And when GOD'S good SPIRIT feeds them,

Children's hearts grow holy too.

We must keep our early promise, We must guard what he has given,

Till the LORD, Who loved and saved us, Take us to our home in Heaven.

5. Clje ^irst promise.

TO RENOUNCE THE DEVIL A.'^D ALL HIS WORKS.

Do no sinful action, Speak no angry word,

Ye belong to JESUS, Children of the LORD.

CHRIST is kind and gentle, CHRIST is pure and true,

And His little children Must be holy too.

There's a wicked spirit Watching round you still,

And he tries to tempt you To all harm and ill.

(21)

00 HYMNS FOR CHILDREN.

But ye must not hear him, Though 'tis hard for you

To resist the evil, And the good to do.

For ye promised truly In your infant days,

To renounce him wholly, And forsake his ways.

Ye are new-born Christians, Ye must learn to fight

With the bad within you, And to do the right.

CHRIST is your own Master, He is good and true,

And His little children Must be holy too.

THE POMPS AND VANITY OF THIS WICKED 'WORLD..

AT Nazareth in olden time, A peasant's cottage stood,

Where Joseph the poor carpenter Toiled for his daily food,

HYMNS FOR CHILDREN. 28

An humble Virgin lived with him,

Beneath that lowly shed, And there, her Son, our SAVIOUR CHRIST,

In poverty 'was bred.

He had no glory here on earth,

No riches and no state ; His Christian children must not care

For being rich or great.

Fine clothes, fine houses, pretty things,

That please our longing eyes, Would only make our hearts forget

Our treasure in the skies.

It would be wrong on pomp or dress

To spend our thoughts or hours ; Another lesson CHRIST hath taught,

Showing the simple flowers.

There's not a yellow buttercup

Returning with the spring But it can boast a golden crown,

As bright as any king.

The red rose and the lily fair,

That charm our summer's day ; There's not a lady in the land

As finely dressed as they.

24 lirMNS I OR CHILDREN.

They feel no proud, no foolish thoughts,

Because they are so fair ; They wish for nothing, quite content With sunshine and sweet air.

GOD gave to them their colours bright, To us, faith, hope, and love,

And bade us fear the things of earth, And seek the things above.

7.

ALL THE SINFUL LUSTS OF THE FLESH.

WE were washed in holy water,

We were set CHRIST'S Church within,

Gifted with His HOLY SPIRIT, And forgiven all our sin.

But though born again, and granted Grace to pray and strength to fight,

Still remains our sinful nature,

Weakened, not extinquished quite.

Sinful thoughts of pride and passion,

Greedy wishes, selfish care, In our human hearts lie hidden,

Ready to awaken there.

HYMNS FOR CHILDREN.

Still the wrong way will seem pleasant, Still the right way will seem hard ;

All our life we shall be tempted, We must ever be on guard.

We are soldiers doing battle, Day by day, and hour by hour,

Each one with his own temptations Striving in the SPIRIT'S power',

Still that SPIRIT stronger groweth In the hearts that hold it fast ;

Fie will help us, teach us, crown us, More than conqu'rors at the last.

Second promise.

TO BELIEVE ALL THE ARTICLES OF THE CHRISTIAN FAIT0.

I BELIEVE IX GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY.

How good is the Almighty GOD,

How merciful and mild, Who is to me a FATHER dear,

And I His favoured child.

There's no one in the whole wide earth,

Not my own mother even, Who loves me half as well as He,

My FATHER high in Heaven.

Did He not give His Own dear SON,

To die for sinful men 1 To turn them from their wicked ways,

And bring them hack again;

HYA1XS FOR CHILDREN.

Back to the place that they had lost, Back to their FATHER'S love,

Their FATHER, the Great GOD of all, Their home, His Heaven above]

And I am called by CHRIST'S dear Namr

I took the solemn vow That made me His for evermore,

GOD is my FATHER now.

0.

MAXER OF HEAVEX AND EARTH.

ALL things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful, The LORD GOD made them all.

Each little flower that opens, Each little bird that sino-s,

O '

He made their glowing colours, He made their tiny wings.

The rich man in his castle, The poor man at his gate,

GOD made them, high or lowly, And ordered their estate.

28 HYMNS FOR CHILDREN.

The purple-headed mountain. The river running by,

The sunset and the morning1, That brightens up the sky,

The cold wind in the winter, The pleasant summer sun,

The ripe fruits in the garden, He made them every one.

The tall trees in the greenwood, The meadows where we play,

The rushes by the water, We gather every day ; —

He gave us eyes to see them, And lips that we might tell,

How great is GOD Almighty, Who has made all things well.

A3TD IN JESUS CHRIST HIS ONLY SOX OUR LORD.

WHEN we speak of the LORD JESUS, When His awful Name is said,

We will repeat it solemnly, We will bow the head.

HYMNS FOR CHILDREN. 29

For our LORD He is, and Master,

And he left his FATHER'S side ; He was born a little Baby,

Here He lived and died.

'Tvvas for us He left His glory, Died the death of pain and shame;

We will try to do him honour, We will love His Name.

In the holy Church we say it,

Speaking all with one accord, In our quiet homes we read it

In GOD'S Holy Word.

JESUS CHRIST, our LORD, and Master,—

Whensoe'er that Name is said, We will repeat it solemnly,

WTe will how the head.

30 HYMNS FOR CHILDREN.

11.

TVHO "WAS CONCEIVED BY THE HOLT GHOST BORN OF THE YIKGIN MART.

ONCS in royal David's City,

Stood a lowly cattle shed, Where a mother laid her Baby,

In a manger for His bed. Mary was that mother mild, JESUS CHRIST her little Child.

He came down to earth from Heaven, Who is GOD and LORD of all,

And his shelter was a stable, And his cradle was a stall ;

With the poor, and mean, and lowly,

Lived on earth our SAVIOUR Holy.

And through all his wondions childhood He would honour and obey,

Love and watch the lovely maiden In whose gentle arms He lay.

Christian children all must be

Mild, obedient, good as He

(30)

HYMNS FOR CHILDREN.

For He is our childhood's Pattern, Day by day like us He grew,

He was little, weak and helpless, Tears and smiles like us He knew,

And He feeleth for our sadness,

And He shareth in our gladness.

And our eyes at last shall see Him, Through His Own redeeming love,

For that Child so dear and gentle Is our Lord in heaven above ;

And He leads His children on

To the place where He is gone.

Not in that poor lowly stable, With the oxen standing by,

We shall see Him ; but in Heaven, Set at God's right Hand on high.

When like stars His children crowned,

All in white, shall wait around.

m.

SUFFERED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE, •WAS CRUCIFIED, DEAD, AND BURIED.

THERE is a green hill far away,

Without a city wall, WThere the dear LORD was crucified.

Who died to save us all.

32 HYMNS FOR CHILDREN.

We may not know, we cannot tell What pains He had to bear,

But we believe it was for us, He hung1 and suffered there.

He died that we might be forgiven, He died to make us good,

That we might go at last to Heaven, Saved by His precious Blood.

There was no other good enough To pay the price of sin,

He only could unlock the gate Of Heaven, and let us in.

O, dearly, dearly has He loved. And we must love Kim too,

And trust in His redeeming Blood, And try His works to do.

HYMNS FOR CHILDREN. 33

13.

HE DESCENDED INTO HELL, THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIX FUOM THE DEAD.

THE rich man did of Pilate crave

The lifeless body of the LORD, And laid it in his own new grave ;

There all night long with spear and sword, The Roman soldiers watched the stone, Where the world's SAVIOUR lay alone.

But with the first day's dawning bright.

That heavy stone wTas rolled away, Two glorious Angels all in white

Sat where the SAVIOUR'S Body lay ; The watch, the seal, were all in vain, The LORD of Life was risen again.

There are short graves in churchyard ground, \Vhere little children buried lie,

Each underneath his narrow mound, With stiff cold hand, and close shut eye ;

Bright morning sunbeams kiss the spot,

Yet day by day they open not.

3-$ HYMNS FOR CHILDREN.

But surely as our SAVIOUR rose

On Easter morn from Joseph's cave,

Shall all those mounds at last unclose. And Christian people leave the grave.

He died, He slept, He rose to be

An earnest of our victory.

LORD, Who for us so cold and deep Down in that garden grave hast lain,

When we like Thee must fall asleep, Be with us in our hour of pain,

That strengthened by Thy Grace Divine,

Alive or dead we may be Thine.

HE ASCEXDED I^TO HEAVEN AXD SITTETH AT THE RIGHT HAND

OF GOD THE FATHEE ALMIGHTY, FROM THENCE HE SHALL

COME TO JUDGE THE QUICK AND THE DEAD.

UP in Heaven, up in Heaven,

In the bright place far away, He Whom bad men crucified, Sitteth at His FATHER'S side, Till the Judgment Day.

And He loves His little children,

And He pleadeth for them there, Asking the Great GOD of Heaven That their sins may be forgiven, And He hears their prayer.

HYMNS FOR CHILDREN.

Never more a helpless Baby,

Born in poverty and pain, But with awful glory crowned, With his Angels standing round,

He shall come again.

Then the wicked souls shall tremble,

And the good souls shall rejoice, Parents, children, every one, Then shall stand before His throne. And shall hear His voice.

And all faithful holy Christians,

Who their Master's work have done,

Shall appear at His right hand,

And inherit the fair land That His love has won.

15.

I BELIEVE IN THE HOLT GHOST.

I KNEW a little sickly child ; The lono-, lono- summer's day

O ' O »

When all the world was green and bright,

Alone in bed he lay. There used to come a little dove

Before his window small, And sing to him with her sweet voice,

Out of the fir tree tall.

86 HYMNS FOR CHILDREN.

And when the sick child better grew, And he could crawl alongf

O

Close to that window he would creep,

And listen to her song ; And he was gentle in his speech,

And quiet at his play, He would not for the world have made

That sweet bird fly away.

There is a holy dove that sings

To every Christian child, That whispers to his little heart

A sono- as sweet and mild.

o

It is the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD, That speaks his soul within, That leads him on to all things o-ood,

O O

And holds him back from sin.

And he must hear that still small Voice,

Nor tempt It to depart, The SPIRIT great and wonderful,

That whispers to his heart ; He must be pure, and good and true,

Must strive, and watch, and pray, For unresisted sin at last

Will drive that dove away

HYMNS FOR CHILDREN. 37

10.

THE HOLT CATHOLIC CHURCH.

LITTLE children must be quiet, When to Holy Church they go,

They must sit with serious faces, Must not play or whisper low.

For the Church is GOD'S Own Temple, Where men go for praise and prayer,

And the Great GOD will not love them, Who forget His Presence there.

They were little Jewish children,

Who within the temple cried, " Honour to the Son of David,"

Standing at our SAVIOUR'S side.

How much more should Christian children Know His Name and praise Him too,

Who of His Own Church are members, Sons of GOD, and born anew.

They must walk in reverent order, Stand for praise and kneel for prayer,

For the Church is GOD'S Own Temple, And His Presence dwelleth there.

HYMNS FOR CHILDREN.

THE HOLT CATHOLIC CHTJBCH.

THE faithful men of every land, Who CHRIST'S Own rule obey,

The holy dead of every time — The Church of Christ are they.

The Saints who die, and leave us now,

The Good of long ago, Women, and men, and children )roungt

Still living here below :

Who have the same eternal hope,

The same unceasing care, One universal hymn of praise,

One general voice of prayer :

All members of one body vast, With Jesus for their Head,

And sacraments whereby their souls Are bom again and fed :

And Bishops good to order them, And Priests to train and teach,—

This is the Holy Church, wherein We have our places each.

HYMNS FOR CHILDREN. 39

Since we are members, then, of CHRIST,

How holy should Te be, How faithful to obey our Head,

In truth and purity !

Since we are all made one in Him,

How gentle should we prove, How peaceful in our ways and words

How tender in our love !

So shall our Head, at all times near,

Dwell in His members blest, So lead us in His Church on earth,

Safe to His Church at rest.

17.

THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS.

THE Saints of GOD are holy men, And women good, and children dear,

All those who ever loved the LORD, Who live in faith and fear.

They are not all together now,

For some are dead, and gone before,

And some are striving still on earth, Their trial is not o'er.

40 HYMNS FOR CHILDREN.

Great numbers are they, of all states, And born in every place and land,

Who never saw each other's face, Nor touched each other's hand.

But they are all made one in CHRIST, They love each other tenderly,

The old and young, the rich and poor. Of that great company.

CHRIST'S little children, called His Own, And saved by his Redeeming Blood,

They must be little Saints on earth, And all the Saints are good

They must not fight or disobey, For Saints do never things like these ;

They must be holy, meek, and mild, And try the LORD to please.

And there shall come a glorious Day, When all the good Saints every one,

Shall meet within their FATHER'S home, And stand before His Throne.

HYMNS FOR CHILDREN. 41

THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.

ONCE in baptismal waters bright He washed our sinful spirits white,

Forgave us once for all. But we have sometimes sinned since then ; Now who shall make us clean again ?

And who shall hear our call ?

There is One only Who forgives, CHRIST Who was born, Who died, Who lives, Pleading beside the Throne.

o

Who hath His HOLY SPIRIT sent,

To bless that precious Sacrament

That made us first His Own.

Who when his Holy Church within, Confession sad of all our sin

We make on bended knee, Accepts the penitential prayer, And bids His Minister declare

Our pardon full and free.

He only hears the sinner's cry, He only dries the mourner's eye,

No father half so mild, Not half so kind a mother's kiss, When pardoning what is done amiss,

She soothes her sorrowing child.

42 HYMNS FOR CHILDREN.

We must take heed to cast no stain On souls He bought with so much pain,

And with His Blood made pure, And we must trust to Him alone, Who did for all our guilt atone,

Who made our pardon sure.

10.

THE RESURRECTION OP THE BODY.

WITHIN the churchyard, side by side, Are many long low graves,

And some have stones set over them.— On some the green grass waves.

Full many a little Christian child, Woman and man lies there,

And we pass by them every time When we go in to prayer.

They cannot hear our footsteps come,

They do not see us pass, They cannot feel the bright warm sun

That shines upon the grass.

They do not hear when the great bell

Is ringing over head ; They cannot rise and come to Church

With us, for they are dead.

HYMNS FOR CHILDREN. 43

But we believe a Day shall come,

When all the dead will rise, When they who sleep down in the grave,

Will ope again their eyes.

For CHRIST our LORD was buried once,

He died and rose again, He conquered death, He left the grave,

And so will Christian men.

So when the friends we loved the best

Lie in their churchyard bed, We must not cry too bitterly

Over the happy dead ;

Because for our dear SAVIOUR'S sake,

Our sins are all forgiven, And Christians only fall asleep,

To wake again in Heaven.

20.

AND THE LIFE EVEKLASTING.

EVERY morning the red sun Rises warm and bright,

But the evening cometh on, And the dark cold night.

There's a bright land far away,

Where 'tis never ending day.

44 HYMNS FOR CHILDREN.

Every spring- the sweet young flowers

Open bright and gay, Till the chilly autumn hours

Wither them away. There's a land we have not seen, Where the trees are always green.

Little birds sing songs of praise

All the summer long, But in colder shorter days

They forget their song. There's a place where Angels sing

Ceaseless praises to their King.

CHRIST our LORD is ever near

Those who follow Him, But we cannot see Him here,

For our eye-s are dim. There is a most happy place, W^here men always see His face.

Who shall go to that bright land

All who do the right: Holy children there shall stand,

In their robes of white, For that Heaven so bright and blesl? Is our everlasting rest.

v^-/

21.

TO KEEP GOD'S HOLT WILL AND COMMANDMENTS, AND WALK IN THE SAME ALL THE DATS OF MT LIFE.

(Df ttye C0mmcmbment0. I.

THERE is One GOD, but One alone,

He made all things in earth and Heaven ;

To Him all love and praise are due, All worship must be given.

The little birds sing happy songs, The flowers grow brightly every where,

They do not know the Great LORD GOD, Who made them all so fair.

But we are not like senseless flowers, We are not like the little birds,

For we can love Him with our hearts, And praise Him with our words.

(45)

46 HYMNS FOR CHILDREN.

O ! if the great Almighty GOD

Will hear the prayers that children pray, If He will let us love His Name,

And serve Him day by day,

If we may turn and cling to Him, Before Whose face the Angels fall,

Sure we must give Him our whole hearts, And love him best of all.

THERE are strange countries far away, Where GOD'S Name is unknown,

Where children live who say their prayers To gods of wood and stone.

But Christian children goto Church, They kneel at home in prayer,

And GOD, Who is a Spirit, hears And answers every where.

His ear is open to their call,

In childhood, age, and youth And they must always worship Him

In spirit and in truth.

HYMNS FOR CHILDREN. 47

They must not think of other things,

Light toys, or merry play, When they are listening to GOD'S word,

Or kneeling down to pray.

For they who worship at GOD'S throne,

With hearts so dull and dim, Make idols of their foolish thoughts,

And love them more than Him.

They may not kneel to any form,

Or picture that man paints, Of CHRIST, or of His Mother dear,

Or of His blessed Saints.

They may not worship nor bow down

To cross of stone or wood, Though it be our redemption's sign, —

Such worship is not good.

For we must pray to GOD alone,

Who is in Heaven on high, Who is on earth with us unseen,

Who always hears our cry.

48 HYMNS FOB CHILDREN.

23. III.

HUSH! little Christian child,

Speak not that Holy Name, Not with a laughing lip,

Not in thy playful game ; For the Great GOD of all

Heareth each word we say, He will remember it

In the great Judgment Day.

Hush! — for His hosts unseen

Are watching over thee, His Angels spread their wings,

Thy shelter kind to be. "Wilt thou, with words profane,

Rash, and undutiful, Scatter thine Angel guards,

Glorious and beautiful ?

Honour GOD'S Holy Name,

Speak It with thought and care, Sing to It holy hymns,

Breathe it in earnest prayer; But not with sudden cry,

In thy light joy or pain, " GOD will hold guilty all

Who take His Name in vain."

HYMNS FOR CHILDREN. 49

24.

IV.

PUT the spade and wheel away, Do not weary work to- day ; Let the wayworn horse go free, And the field uncultured be; Leave the flail beside the corn. All must rest on Sunday morn. For the LORD, Who died to save, Hose to-day from Joseph's grave, And with rest and holy mirth, We will keep His feast on earth. Hark— I hear the sweet Church bells, And their quiet music tells, How to keep CHRIST'S holiday In the happiest fittest way: How his children here may meet, All in saintly service sweet, And in presence of their LORD, Sing His praise and hear His word, With our fathers and our mothers, With our sisters and our brother*, To the holy Church we go, The dear Church of high and low, Where the poor man meanly dressed, Is as welcome as the best.

5

50 HYMNS FOR CHILDREN.

And the rich and poor may gather, Kneeling to their common FATHER ;- Yea, our risen LORD is there, Listening kindly to our prayer. — Thus should Christian people all Hold their Master's festival ; Thus with joyous rest and praise, His Own children keep His days.

V.

LITTLE birds sleep sweetly In their soft round nests

Crouching in the cover Of their mothers' breasts.

Little lambs lie quiet,

All the summer night, With their old ewe mothers, Warm, and soft, and white.

But more sweet and quiet

Lie our little heads, With our own dear mothers Sitting by our beds.

HYMNS FOR CHILDREN. 51

And their soft sweet voices

Sing oar hush-a-bies, While the room grows darker

As we shut our eyes.

And we play at evening

Round our father's knees, Birds are not so merry,

Singing on the trees :

Lamhs are not so happy,

Mid the meadow flowers; They have play and -pleasure,

But not love like ours.

But the heart that's loving,

Works of love will do ; Those we dearly cherish,

We must honour too :

To our father's teaching

Listen day by day, And our mother's bidding

Cheerfully obey.

For when in His childhood

Our dear LORD was here, He too was obedient

To His Mother dear.

52 HYMNS FOR CHILDREN

And His little children Must be good as He,

Gentle and submissive. As He used to be.

VI.

Do not quarrel, do not chide : You must love each other:

Every comrade at your side Is your Christian brother :

Ye have all been born anew ;

Love and peace are fit for yon.

Ye became by that new birtli To the LORD most holy,

And His sainted ones on eartli Peaceful are and lowly.

Ye are saints, and ye must be

Worthy of such company.

Give not back the hasty blow, Though 'tis given wrongly ;

Let the foolish scoffer go, Though he tempt thee strongly

Keep thy gentle LORD in mind,

Who was always meek and kind.

HYMNS FOR CHILDREN. 53

He gave back no anorv word,

^ *r

When they did offend Him ; He that was the Ano-els' LORD,

o *

Called none to defend Him, Not when hated and abused, Scorned, and spitted on, and bruised.

But He suffered patiently

Pain and cruel chiding: Meek and patient you must be,

In His Church abidino- ;

O *

Pride and anger would be shame For the Saints who bear His Name.

27.

VII.

I LOVE the little snowdrop flower, The first in all the year,

Without a stain upon its leaf, So snowy white and clear.

I love a little modest child,

That speaketh quietly, That blushes up to its blue eyes,

And hardly answers me.

5*

54 HYMNS FOR CHILDREN.

I sometimes think the Church's Saints Are flowers so fair and bright,

And that her little children are Her snowdrops sweet and white.

For pure of heart, and innocent, And teachable, and mild,

And modest in its ways and words, Should be a Christian child.

I do not like a loud rough tone,

A look too boldly set, A greedy hand outstretched to seize

Whatever it can get.

I'd rather meet with downcast eyes, Sweet voices low arid faint ;

For gentleness and modesty Become a little Saint.

25.

VIII.

ON the goods that are not thine, Little Christian, lay no finger;

Round thy neighbours' better things Let no wishful glances linger.

HYMNS FOR CHILDREN. 55

Pilfer not the smallest thing,

Touch it not, howe'er thou need it,

Though the owner have enough, Though he know it not, nor heed it.

Taste not the forbidden fruit,

Though resistance be a trial ; Grasping hand and roving eye,

Early teach them self-denial.

Upright heart and honest name

To the poorest are a treasure, Better than ill-gotten wealth,

Better far than pomp and pleasure.

Poor and needy though thou art, Gladly take what GOD has given,

With clean hand and humble heart, Passing through the world to Heaven.

20.

IX.

0 CHRISTIAN child ! in CHRIST'S Own Church

So late baptized and born anew, Let all thy thoughts be upright thoughts,

Let all thy words be true.

56 HYMNS FOR CHILDREN.

The little lips that every day

Say prayers to GOD at morn and eve,

They were not made for wicked words, That injure or deceive.

The hearts where GOD'S great Spirit dwells, To cleanse, and teach, and sanctify, "

Should never think a wicked thought, Should never frame a lie.

The LORD GOD sits in Heaven above, The GOD Who is all pure and true,

And CHRIST our LORD is at His side, Beholding all we do.

The wicked father of all lies,

Goes to and fro, and watches nigh,

And he rejoices when he gets A Christian child to lie.

You cannot see the Holy GOD, Nor that bad spirit tempting you ;

But you can watch, and never speak A word that is not true.

For CHRIST Who looks into our hearts, Sees all we think, hears all we say,

Will surely help us to be good, If we but watch and pray.

HYMNS FOR CHILDREN. 57

30. x.

SAW ye never in the meadows, Where your little feet did p-ass,

Down below, the sweet white daisies Growing in the long green grass?

They are like to little children,

Children bred in lowly cot, Who are modest, meek, and quiet,

And contented with their lot.

Saw you never lilac blossoms,

Or acacia white and red, Waving brightly in the sunshine,

On the tall trees overhead ]

They are like to other children, Children of the high and great,

Who are gracious, good, and gentle, Serving GOD in their estate.

Christian children, high and lowly,

Try like little flowers to be. — Day by day the tall tree-blossom Gives to GOD its fragrance free.

58 HYMNS FOR CHILDREN.

Day by day the little daisy Looks up with its yellow eye,

Never murmurs, never wishes It were hanging up en high.

GOD has given each his station;

Some have riches and high place, Some have lowly homes and labour,-

All may have His precious Grace.

You must he content and quiet, Your appointed stations in ;

For to envy, or to covet

Others' goods, is mortal sin.

And the air is just as pleasant, And as bright the sunny sky,

To the daisy by the footpath,

As to flowers that bloom en high.

And GOD loveth all His children, Rich, and poor, and high, and low

And they all shall meet in Heaven, Who have served Him here below

Of

MY GOOD CHILD, KNOW THIS, THAT THOU ART NOTABLE TO DO THESE THINGS

OF THYSELF, NOR TO WALK IN THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, AND TO

SERVE HIM WITHOUT HIS SPECIAL GRACE ; WHICH THOU MUST

LEARN AT ALL TIMES TO CALL FOR BY DILIGENT PRAYER.

WAKE little child, the morn is gay,

The air is fresh and cool ; But pause awhile and kneel to pray, Before you go to merry play,

Before you go to school.

Kneel down and speak the holy words ;

GOD loves your simple prayer, Above the sweet songs of the birds, The bleating of the gentle herds,

The flowers that scent the air.

And when the quiet evenings come,

And dewdrops wet the sod, When bats and owls begin to roam, And flocks and herds are driven home,

Then kneel again to GOD.

Because you need Him day and night,

To shield you with His arm, To help you always to do right, To feed your soul and give it light,

And keep you safe from harm.

(59)

OUT. FATHER WHICH ART IN HEAVEX.

Is there a little orphan child,

Father and mother gone, Who deems himself quite desolate,

Left in the world alone ]

It is not so — while CHRIST'S Own words,

On every lip are laid, While each a FATHER hath in Heaven,

To cheer him and to aid,

O ! let him seek the churchyard ground

Some quiet summer even, When calmly on his father's grave

Looks down the sunset heaven.

And let him gaze on the blue sky, And dry the tears that gather

In his dim eyes, and breathe a prayer

Unto his other FATHER. (60)

HYMNS FOR CHILDREN. 61

Ye happier children, who helow

Still share a father's love, Remember, earthly love is taught,

To lead to things above.

Remember, when ye court his smile,

Or prattling climb his knee, Ye have a FATHER ever near,

More kind, more good than he.

Give Him a love as fond and free,

As fully trust His might, Hold converse with him day by day,

And with as great delight.

For household duties, loves, and joys

Losses and cares are given, To train the sons of GOD to reach

Their FATHER'S House in Heaven.

HALLOWED BE THY NAME.

HALLOWED be our FATHER'S Name, In the hall and in the cot ;

Holy hearts, delight to honour, Lips profane, repeat It not. 6

HYMNS FOR CHILDREN.

Hallowed be our SAVIOUR'S Name,

Of the high and of the low ; Every mouth declare His praises,

Every knee before Him bow.

Hallowed be the SPIRIT'S Name,

Fount eternal, gentle Dovu ; Him all Christians inly cherish,

Hear His voice, and learn His love.

Hallow we our FATHER'S Name, We, His new-born little ones,

Love It like obedient daughters, Honour It like duteous sons.

Hallow we our SAVIOUR'S Name, Let our feet His temple tread,

Speak It there with praise and blessing, Bowing with uncovered head.

Hallow we the HOLY GHOST, Let Him rule our hearts within,

Seek Him, hold Him, love Him better, Every hour we strive with sin.

Ever hallowed be Thy Name,

Thereby called, and therein blessed,

MAKER, SAVIOUR, kind RENEWER, In Thee only we have rest.

HYMNS FOR CHILDREN. 63

THY KINGDOM COME.

WHY do we say, "Thy Kingdom come1?"

Because our KING is far away, And till He come to us again,

O '

We wait, and watch, and pray.

Because some hearts are cold and hard, And some are traitors to His cause,

They do not honour the great KING, They will not keep His laws.

And we would see through all the earth His holy Name beloved alone,

And every knee in homage bowed Before His kingly Throne.

The happy dead who rest with Him Are ever praying the same prayer,

For when CHRIST'S kingdom comes again, His Saints will all be there.

But if we say these solemn words, And hope to share his triumph hour,

Our hearts must be His kingdom now, Wliere he alone hath power.

64 HYMNS FOR CHILDREN.

They must be holy, pure, and true, Obeying CHRIST in every thing,

For they who own His gentle rule, Can have no other king.

So shall our souls be ready found, When from the country far away,

Our King returns in glory crowned, To hail His Sovereign sway,

35.

THT \VTLL BE DONE IN EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN

THE Angels stand around Thy Throne, And wait Thy bidding every one,

As stars around the full bright moon, Or clouds beneath the setting sun.

Fair creatures, beautiful and bright, They do the will of GOD on high,

His ministers to us on earth,

Unseen their white wings gliding by

And children, too, may do God's will, Each in his lowly earthly place ;

For CIIRIST hath said, " our Angels bright Always behold the FATHER'S Face,

HYMNS FOR CHILDREN. 65

LORD, when we say " Thy will be done,"

May heart to lip be ever true : O ! give us grace to serve Thee here,

As gladly as the Angels do.

Like Him, the lowly Child, Who dwelt

Where gleams the Galilean sea, Whose meat it was to do Thy will, —

Our Guide, our Trust, our Pattern, He.

And if Thou send us pain or grief,

If loss or anguish e'er befall, Still teach us, though with quivering lip,

To say, "Thy will be done in all."

Thus did our LORD in anguish pray, Saying, " Not My will, LORD, but Thine :"

So kneel we at our FATHER'S Feet, And all our wills to Him resign.

GIVE US THIS DAT OUR DAILY BREAD.

THE raven builds her nest on high,

The loud winds rock her craving brood,

The forest echoes to their cry ; Who ives the ravens food 1

66 HYMNS FOR CHILDREN.

The lion goeth forth to roam

Wild sandy hills and plains among-,

He leaves his little whelps at home ; Who feeds the lions young- 1

GOD hears the hungry lions howl, He feeds the raven hoarse and gray :

Cares He alone for beast and fowl 1 Are we less dear than they ?

Nay, Christian Child, kneel down and own The Hand that feeds thee day by day,

Nor careless with thy lip alone, For " all things needful" pray.

GOD made thy cottage home so dear, Gave store enough for frugal fare ;

If richer homes have better cheer, 'Twas GOD Who sent it there.

But better far than garners stored, Than bread that honest toil may win.

Than blessings of the laden board, The food He gives within.

The lion and the raven die,

They only ask life's common bread,

Our souls shall live eternally, And they too must be fed.

HYMNS FOR CHILDREN, 67

Then not alone for earthly food, Teach us with lisping tongue to pray ; —

The heavenly meat that makes us good, LORD, give us day by day.

37.

AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES, AS WE FORGIVE THEM THAT TRESPASS AGAINST US.

WHEN thou art kneeling down at night, Beside thy mother's knee to pray,

And thinking over all thy sins, Done through the busy day ;

Then call to mind thy brother's wrong, To strife by angry passions driven,

And in thy heart forgive him all, As thou would'st be forgiven.

Go, throw thy little arms around His neck, and kiss him tenderly,

Nor turn away with pouting lip, And sullen tearful eye.

Thou hast sinned more against thy GOD, Than ever brother sinned to thee ;

If He should turn away His face, How wretched would'st thou be.

HVMNS FOR CHILDREN.

Dost thou remember when thy LORD Hung on His cruel Cross so long,

How in His agony He pray'd For those that did Him wrong1?

They nailed His hands, they pierced His feet, Their angry hearts no pity knew,

" FATHER, forgive them," was His cry, " They know not what they do."

Go, seek thy little brother's side, And press to his thy rosy cheek,

And whisper the forgiveness free, He is too proud to seek.

Then as the brightest ray from heaven Doth on the glittering dewdrop fall,

Thy penitence shall be received, And GOD forgive thee all.

38.

AND LEAD ITS NOT INTO TEMPTATION.

THERE is a land where flowers are fair,

And pleasant paths run through the woods,

But evil beasts are lurking there,

And there the pois'nous adder broods.

HYMNS FOR CHILDREN. 69

If we were in that land afar,

And for the sake of those sweet flowers, Should wander where such dangers are

A cruel doom would sure be ours.

More foolish he, who to the way Of strong- temptation turns his feet,

Who listens what the wicked say, Who looks on the forbidden sweet.

0 ! when we asked at morning hour That GOD would make us good to-day.

And keep us from temptation's power, Did heart and lip together pray ?

Not, if we seek the dangerous spot,

Where we are tempted most to sin, If for a moment be forgfot

o

Our tempter, and the strife within.

He spreads his snares in every place, His voice is sweet, his arm is strong ;-

LORD, keep us by Thy stronger Grace, Nor let our wavering feet go wiong

70 HYMNS FOR CHILDREN

39.

CUT DELIVER US FROM EVli.

CHILD, ere thou wander forth to play, The LORD'S Own words be duly said That thou from sin and danger dread

Delivered be to-day.

The spirit dark that works within, Will whisper evil to thy heart, Will turn thee from the better part,

And tempt thy soul to sin.

Thou canst not tell what danger near, What sorrow never dreamed before, This one short day may have in store

What sudden pain or fear.

As I have seen a boat go down In quiet waters suddenly, When not a wave was on the sea

Nor in the sky a frown.

But happy still in all distress, The child that to his father flies, The heart that on its GOD relies

For strength and holiness.

HYMNS FOR CHILDREN. 7]

GOD'S glorious Angels watch him round, GOD'S SPIRIT on his soul is shed; In vain the tempter's snares are spread,

He walks on guarded ground.

Why should he dread misfortune's blast, Why should he tremble at the foe, Or fear for pain, or shame, or woe ?

His heart is anchored fast.

Like lily flower that to and fro Is tossed upon the waters wide, What cares it for the changeful tide .

Its root is firm below.

THEREFORE I SAT, AMEN, SO BE IT.

So be it, LORD ; the prayers are prayed, But still we pause on bended knee,

And lingering, though the words are said, Look fondly up to Thee.

So be it, LORD; let nothing bad Scatter our incense on the air.

No wandering thoughts that we have had Arise to cloud our prayer.

72 HYMMS FOR CHILDREN.

So be it, FATHER ; yet awhile We hang upon thy patient ear,

And in the brightness of Thy smile A moment tarry here.

Like one who on a cloudy day

Has caught a glimpse of the blue sky,

And though the gleam have passed away, Still looks with longing eye : i

Or like a strain of music sweet,

That dies away in mountain ground, Till one by one the hills repeat The solitary sound :

So down the full Church falls alone The Pastor's voice ; it sinks, and then,

Sweet echo to that solemn tone, We breathe our soft, " Amen."

JUN 1 0 1938