CATECHISM: HYMNS FOR CHILDREN.

Oh, give me Samuel's mind, A sweet unmurmuring faith, Obedient and resign'd

To Thee in life and death, That I may read with childlike eyes Truths that are hidden from the wise. Amen.

471 I Love to hear the story Which angel voices tell, How once the King of glory Came down on earth to dwell. I am both weak and sinful, But this I surely know, The Lord came down to save me, Because He loved me so. I'm glad my blessèd Saviour Was once a child like me, To show how pure and holy His little ones might be; And if I try to follow

His footsteps here below, He never will forget me,

Because He loves me so. To sing His love and mercy My sweetest songs I'll raise; And though I cannot see Him, I know He hears my praise; For He has kindly promised That even I may go To sing among His angels, Because He loves me so. Amen.

472 WAKEN! Christian children, Up and let us sing, With glad voice, the praises Of our new- born King. Come, nor fear to seek Him, Children though we be; Once He said of children, " Let them come to Me." In a manger lowly,

Sleeps the heavenly Child; O'er Him fondly bendeth Mary, mother mild. Far above that stable, Up in heaven so high, One bright star out- shineth, Watching silently. Fear not then to enter, Though we cannot bring Gold, or myrrh, or incense Fitting for a King. Gifts He asketh richer, Offerings costlier still, Yet may Christian children Bring them if they will. Brighter than all jewels Shines the modest eye; Best of gifts He loveth Childlike purity.

Haste we then to welcome With a joyous lay Christ the King of Glory, Born for us to- day. Amen. 114

473 THE Son of God, in might

love,

Came down to Bethlehem for me a Forsook His throne of light above, An Infant upon earth to be. In love, the Father's sinless Child Sojourn'd at Nazareth for me; With sinners dwelt the Undefiled, The Holy One in Galilee. Jesus, whom angel hosts adore,

Became a Man of griefs for me; In love, though rich, becoming poor, That I, through Him, enrich'd might be.

Though Lord of all above, below, He went to Kedron's vale for me; He drank the bitter cup of woe And wept in dark Gethsemane.. The ever- blessèd Son of God

Went up to Calvary for me; There paid my debt, there bore my In His own body on the tree.[ load, Jesus, whose dwelling is the skies, Went down into the grave for me: And overcame my enemies,

And won the glorious victory. ' Tis finish'd all; the veil is rent,

The welcome sure, the access free; Now may we leave our banishment, O Father, to return to Thee. Amen. 474 ONCE 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 in a stall; With the poor, and mean, and lowly, Lived on earth our Saviour holy. And through all His wondrous child. He would honour and obey,[ hood Love, and watch the lowly mother In whose gentle arms He lay: Christian children all must be Mild, obedient, good as He. 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,