Invitation to the Sacrament.

Thither be all Thy children led,

And let them all Thy sweetness know.

Hail, sacred Feast, which Jesus makes,

Rich banquet of His Flesh and Blood! Thrice happy he who here partakes

That sacred stream, that heavenly food.

Why are its dainties all in vain

Before unwilling hearts display'd? Was not for them the Victim slain? Are they forbid the children's bread?

Oh, let Thy table honour'd be,

And furnish'd well with joyful guests; And may each soul salvation see

That here its sacred pledges tastes.

Let crowds approach, with hearts prepared ;
With hearts inflamed let all attend;
For, when we leave our Father's board,
The pleasure or the profit end.

Revive Thy dying churches, Lord!
And bid our drooping graces live,
And more, that energy afford,
A Saviour's love alone can give.

Invitation to the Sacrament.

CHARLOTTE RICHARDSON.

HE Lord of Hosts a feast prepares,

THE

And bids the poor and needy come: Ye wanderers haste, for He declares

For every sinner there is room.

373

Ye broken-hearted, self-abhorr'd,

Who groan beneath the weight of sin, Approach the table of the Lord,

His word hath power to make you clean.

Ye faithful followers of the Lord,

Whom the unthinking world despise,
Who boldly dare His love record,
Now let your prayers like incense rise.

Here in the mystic bread and wine
Your Saviour's death you see display'd;
Here the Redeemer's glories shine,
'Tis here His faithful ones are fed.

Ye, who your Saviour love, draw near,
Once more your sacred covenant seal,
His own blest ordinance revere,

And all your wants to Him reveal.

Wayfaring pilgrims bound for heaven,
And travelling through a dangerous road,

Lord, let Thy grace to us be given,
And guide us to Thy blest abode.

May all who now assemble here,

And Jesus "Lord and Master" call; In yon bright realms of bliss appear, Where God we know is All in All!

Holy Matrimony.

375

Holy Matrimony.

REV. JOHN KEBLE.

THE voice that breathed o'er Eden,

That earliest wedding day,

The primal marriage blessing,
It hath not pass'd away:

Still in the pure espousal

Of Christian man and maid The Holy Three are with us, The threefold grace is said.

For dower of blessèd children,
For love and faith's sweet sake,

For high mysterious union

Which nought on earth may break.

Be present, awful Father,
To give away this bride,

As Eve Thou gavest to Adam
Out of his own pierced side;

Be present, Son of Mary,

To join their loving hands,
As Thou didst bind two natures
In Thine eternal bands;

Be present, Holiest Spirit,

To bless them as they kneel,
As Thou for Christ, the Bridegroom,
The heavenly spouse dost seal.

Oh, spread Thy pure wing o'er them,
Let no ill power find place,

When onward to Thine Altar
The hallow'd path they trace.

To cast their crowns before Thee
In perfect sacrifice,

Till to the home of gladness

With Christ's own Bride they rise.

The Child.

REV. JOHN NEWTON.

QUIET, Lord, my froward heart,

Make me teachable and mild;

Upright, simple, free from art,

Make me as a weanèd child:

From distrust and envy free,

Pleased with all that pleases Thee.

What Thou shalt to-day provide,
Let me as a child receive;
What to-morrow may betide,
Calmly to Thy wisdom leave:

'Tis enough that Thou wilt care;
Why should I the burden bear?

As a little child relies

On a care beyond his own; Knows he's neither strong nor wise,

Fears to stir a step alone;

Let me thus with Thee abide,

As my Father, Guard, and Guide.

Children Praising Christ.

Thus preserved from Satan's wiles,
Safe from dangers, free from fears,
May I live upon Thy smiles,

Till the promised hour appears,

When the sons of God shall prove
All their Father's boundless love!

Children Praising Christ.

JAMES MONTGOMERY.

WHEN

HEN Jesus left His Father's throne,
He chose an humble birth;

Like us, unhonour'd and unknown,
He came to dwell on earth.

Like Him, may we be found below
In wisdom's paths of peace;
Like Him, in grace and knowledge grow,
As years and strength increase.

Jesus pass'd by the rich and great

For men of low degree;

He sanctified our parents' state,
For poor like them was He.

Sweet were His words, and kind His look,
When mothers round him press'd;

Their infants in His arms He took,
And on His bosom bless'd.

Safe from the world's alluring harms,

Beneath His watchful eye, Thus in the circle of His arms

May we for ever lie!

377