Hymns, Songs, and Fables, for Young People | Page 2

and learn of me";?He was gentle, lowly, meek,--?So should all his followers be.
When our Saviour from above,?From his Father did descend,?He took them in his arms of love,?And children knew him for their friend.
All little children Jesus blessed,--?Blessed in innocence they are;?Little children he caressed;?Praise him in your infant prayer.
HYMN.
Praise to God! O let us raise?From our hearts a song of praise!?Of that goodness let us sing?Whence our lives and blessings spring.
Praise to him who made the light,?Praise to him who gave us sight,?Praise to him who formed the ear;?Will he not his children hear?
Praise him for our happy hours,?Praise him for our varied powers,?For these thoughts that rise above,?For these hearts he made for love,
For the voice he placed within,?Bearing witness when we sin;?Praise to him whose tender care?Keeps this watchful guardian there.
Praise his mercy, that did send?Jesus for our guide and friend;?Praise him, every heart and voice,?Him who makes all worlds rejoice.
HYMN FOR A LITTLE BOY.
"What, mother, makes it seem to me,?When I am all alone,?As if some one could hear and see,?And all my thoughts were known?
"Sometimes it makes me very glad,?And dance and sing with joy;?Sometimes it makes me very sad,?And frights your little boy.
"O, tell me, mother, tell me why;?For I have never known?Why 'tis I laugh, or why I cry,?When I am all alone."
"My child, you never are alone;?There is a watchful eye?To which your very thoughts are known;?'Tis God is ever nigh.
"He made your little heart for joy,?He tunes your happy song;?O, then, my little timid boy,?Fear only doing wrong.
"For he who makes your heart so glad,?Who bids the good be gay,?With the same love will make it sad,?Whene'er you disobey.
"He is our Father, and he hears?Your weakest, faintest prayer;?He wipes away an infant's tears,?And children are his care."
"THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH."
Almighty Father! I am weak,?But thou wilt strengthen me,?If from my heart I humbly seek?For help and light from thee.
When I am tempted to do wrong,?Then, Father, pity me,?And make my failing virtue strong;?Help me to think of thee!
Let Christian courage guard my youth;?That courage give to me?Which ever speaks and acts the truth,?And puts its trust in thee.
HYMN.
Will God, who made the earth and sea,?The night, and shining day,?Regard a little child like me,?And listen when I pray?
If I am hungry, poor, and cold,?Then will he hear my cry??And when I shall be sick and old,?O, then will God be nigh?
Yes; in his holy word we read?Of his unfailing love;?And when his mercy most we need,?His mercy he will prove.
To those who seek him, he is near;?He looks upon the heart,?And from the humble and sincere?He never will depart.
He sees our thoughts, our wishes knows,?He hears our faintest prayer;?Where'er the faithful Christian goes,?He finds his Father there.
Obedient children need not fear;?God is a faithful friend,?And when no other help is near,?He will deliverance send.
Then fear not hunger, cold, or pain,?But fear to disobey?That power which does your life sustain,?And guards you every day.
"THY WILL BE DONE."
How sweet to be allowed to pray?To God, the Holy One,?With filial love and trust to say,--?"Father, thy will be done!"
We in these sacred words can find?A cure for every ill;?They calm and soothe the troubled mind,?And bid all care be still.
O, let that will, which gave me breath?And an immortal soul,?In joy or grief, in life or death,?My every wish control!
O, could my heart thus ever pray,?Thus imitate thy Son!?Teach me, O God, with truth to say,--?"Thy will, not mine, be done!"
SABBATH DAY.
How sweet upon this sacred day,?The best of all the seven,?To cast our earthly thoughts away,?And think of God and heaven!
How sweet to be allowed to pray?Our sins may be forgiven;?With filial confidence to say,?"Father, who art in heaven"!
With humble hope to bend the knee,?And, free from folly's leaven,?Confess that we have strayed from thee,?Thou righteous Judge in heaven!
And if to make all sin depart?In vain the will has striven,?He who regards the inmost heart?Will send his grace from heaven.
If from the bosom that is dear?By cold unkindness driven,?The heart that knows no refuge here?Shall find a friend in heaven.
Then hail, thou sacred, blessed day,?The best of all the seven,?When hearts unite their vows to pay?Of gratitude to Heaven.
THE GOOD BOY'S HYMN ON GOING TO BED.
How sweet to lay my weary head?Upon my quiet little bed,?And feel assured, that all day long?I have not knowingly done wrong!
How sweet to hear my mother say,?"You have been very good to-day!"?How sweet to see my father's joy?When he can say, "My dear, good boy!"
How sweet it is my thoughts to send?To many a dear-loved distant friend,?And feel, if they my heart could see,?How very happy they would be!
How sweet to think that He whose love?Made all these shining worlds above?My pure and happy heart can see,?And loves a little boy like me.
[Illustration]
GOD IS GOOD.
Thou art