O blessèd home where man and wife
Together lead a godly life
By deeds their faith confessing!
There many a happy day is spent,
There Jesus gladly will consent
To tarry with His blessing.

If they have given Him their heart,
The place of honor set apart
For Him each night and morrow,
Then He the storms of life will calm,
Will bring for every wound a balm,
And change to joy their sorrow.

And if their home be dark and drear,
The cruse be empty, hunger near,
All hope within them dying,
Let them despair not in distress;
Lo, Christ is there the bread to bless,
The fragments multiplying.

O Lord, we come before Thy face;
In every home bestow Thy grace
On children, father, mother,
Relieve their wants, their burdens ease,
Let them together dwell in peace
And love to one another.

By vows of love together bound,
The twain, on earth, are one;
One may their hearts, O Lord, be found,
Till earthly cares are done.

As from the home of earlier years
They wander, hand in hand,
To pass along, with smiles and tears,
The path of Thy command.

With more than earthly parents’ care,
Do Thou their steps attend;
And with the joys or woes they share,
Thy loving kindness blend.

O let the memory of this hour
In future years come nigh
To bind, with sweet, attractive power,
And cheer them till they die.

And to that blessèd, fadeless land,
Where partings may not be,
Lead them—a happy household band—
Forever near to Thee.

The voice that breathed o’er Eden, that earliest wedding day,
The primal wedding blessing, it hath not passed away.
Still in the pure espousal of Christian man and maid
The Holy Three are with us, the threefold grace is said.

[The following stanza is used only with 76.76 tunes such as Ma­tri­mo­ny, above]

For dower of blessèd children,
For love and faith’s sweet sake,
For high mysterious union
Which naught on earth may break.

Be present, awful Father, to give away this bride
As Thou gav’st Eve to Adam, a helpmate at his side.
Be present, Son of Mary, to join their loving hands
As Thou didst bind two natures in Thine eternal bands.

Be present, Holy Spirit, to bless them as they kneel,
As Thou for Christ, the Bridegroom, the heav’nly Spouse dost seal.
O spread Thy pure wing o’er them, let no ill power find place
When onward to Thine altar their hallowed 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.
To Father, Son, and Spirit, eternal One and Three,
And was and is forever, all praise and glory be.

A little Child the Savior came,
The Mighty God was still His Name;
And angels worshiped as He lay
The seeming Infant of a day.

He Who, a little Child, began
The life divine to show to man,
Proclaims from Heav’n the message free;
“Let little children come to Me.”

We bring them, Lord, and with the sign
Of sprinkled water name them Thine;
Their souls with saving grace endow;
Baptize them with Thy Spirit now.

O give Thine angels charge, good Lord,
Them safely in Thy way to guard;
Thy blessing on their lives command,
And write their names upon Thy hand.

O Thou, who by an infant’s tongue
Dost hear Thy perfect glory sung,
May these, with all the heav’nly host,
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

If I come to Jesus,
He will make me glad;
He will give me pleasure
When my heart is sad.

Refrain

If I come to Jesus,
Happy I shall be.
He is gently calling
Little ones like me.

If I come to Jesus
He will hear my prayer;
He will love me dearly,
He my sins did bear.

Refrain

If I come to Jesus
He will take my hand,
He will kindly lead me
To a better land.

Refrain

There with happy children,
Robed in snowy white,
I shall see my Savior
In that world so bright.

Refrain

Little children, come away,
From the Savior do not stay:
He is calling us today,
Calling us to Him.

Refrain

Quickly come, gladly come,
From the Savior do not stay;
Quickly come, O gladly come,
He is calling us today.

Little children once He blest,
Laid them in His arms to rest;
He of all our friends the best,
Bids us come to Him.

Refrain

Heed His saying, “Come to Me”;
Happy then we all shall be;
None can give us life but He,
Come, O come to Him.

Refrain

O Lord, the holy innocents
Laid down for Thee their infant life,
And martyrs brave and patient saints
Have stood for Thee in fire and strife.

We wear the cross they wore of old
Our lips have learned like vows to make;
We need not die; we cannot fight;
What may we do for Jesus’ sake?

O day by day each Christian child
Has much to do, without, within;
A death to die for Jesus’ sake,
A weary war to wage with sin.

When deep within our swelling hearts
The thoughts of pride and anger rise,
When bitter words are on our tongues,
And tears of passion in our eyes.

Then we may stay the angry blow,
Then we may check the hasty word,
Give gentle answers back again,
And fight a battle for our Lord.

With smiles of peace and looks of love,
Light in our dwellings we may make,
Bid kind good humor brighten there,
And still do all for Jesus’ sake.

There’s not a child so weak and small
But has his little cross to take,
His little work of love and praise,
That he may do for Jesus’ sake.

Our God of love, who reigns above,
Comes down to us below;
’Tis sweet to tell He loves so well,
And ’tis enough to know.

So deep, so high—like air and sky,
Beyond us, yet around;
He Whom our mind can never find
Can in our heart be found.

Lord God, so far, past sun and star,
Yet close to all our ways!
In love so near, be pleased to hear
Thy little children’s praise.

O may that sign that we are Thine—
Our Father, Savior, Friend—
Which sealed our brow, be on us now,
And with us to the end.

Through all our way, and every day
Believed, beloved, adored;
Be this our grace, to see Thy face
In Jesus Christ our Lord.

Waken! Christian children,
Up and let us sing,
With glad voice the praises
Of our newborn King.

Up! ’tis meet to welcome
With a joyous lay
Christ, the King of Glory,
Born for us today.

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 heav’nly Child;
O’er Him fondly bendeth
Mary, mother mild.

Far above that stable,
Up in Heav’n 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
Infant purity.

Haste we then to welcome
With a joyous lay
Christ, the King of Glory,
Born for us today.

We come in childhood’s joyfulness,
[originally, We come in childhood’s innocence]
We come as children free!
We offer up, O God! our hearts,
In trusting love to Thee.
Well may we bend in solemn joy
At Thy bright courts above:
Well may the grateful child rejoice
In such a Father’s love.

We come not as the mighty come:
Not as the proud we bow;
But as the pure in heart should bend,
Seek we thine altars now.
“Forbid them not,” the Savior cried,
“But let them come to Me”;
O Savior dear, we hear Thy call,
We come, we come to Thee.

To Thee, Thou Lord of life and light,
Amid the angel throng,
We bend the knee, we lift the heart,
And swell the holy song.
How blest the children of the Lord,
Who wait around His throne,
How sweet to tread the path that leads
To yonder heavenly home.

The wise may bring their learning, the rich may bring their wealth,
And some may bring their greatness, and some bring strength and health;
We, too, would bring our treasures to offer to the King;
We have no wealth or learning; what shall we children bring?

We’ll bring Him hearts that love Him; we’ll bring Him thankful praise,
And young souls meekly striving to walk in holy ways;
And these shall be the treasures we offer to the King,
And these are gifts that even the poorest child may bring.

We’ll bring the little duties we have to do each day;
We’ll try our best to please Him, at home, at school, at play;
And better are these treasures to offer to our King;
Than richest gifts without them—yet these a child may bring.

Christ, who once among us as a child did dwell,
Is the children’s Savior, and He loves us well;
If we keep our promise made Him at the font,
He will be our Shepherd, and we shall not want.

There it was they laid us in those tender arms,
Where the lambs are carried safe from all alarms;
If we trust His promise, He will let us rest
In His arms forever, leaning on His breast.

Though we may not see Him for a little while,
We shall know He holds us, often feel His smile;
Death will be to slumber, in that sweet embrace,
And we shall awaken to behold His face.

He will be our Shepherd after as before,
By still heavenly waters lead us evermore,
Make us lie in pastures beautiful and green,
Where none thirst or hunger,
And no tears are seen.

Jesus, our good Shepherd, laying down Thy life,
Lest Thy sheep should perish in the cruel strife,
Help us to remember all Thy love and care,
Trust in Thee, and love Thee
Always, everywhere.

Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast,
There by His love o’ershaded, sweetly my soul shall rest.
Hark! ’tis the voice of angels, borne in a song to me.
Over the fields of glory, over the jasper sea.

Refrain

Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast
There by His love o’ershaded, sweetly my soul shall rest.

Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe from corroding care,
Safe from the world’s temptations, sin cannot harm me there.
Free from the blight of sorrow, free from my doubts and fears;
Only a few more trials, only a few more tears!

Refrain

Jesus, my heart’s dear Refuge, Jesus has died for me;
Firm on the Rock of Ages, ever my trust shall be.
Here let me wait with patience, wait till the night is over;
Wait till I see the morning break on the golden shore.

Refrain

See Israel’s gentle Shepherd stand
With all engaging charms;
Hark! how He calls the tender lambs,
And folds them in His arms.

“Permit them to approach,” He cries,
“Nor scorn their humble name;
For ’twas to bless such souls as these
The Lord of angels came.”

We bring them, Lord, in thankful hands,
And yield them up to Thee;
Joyful that we ourselves are Thine,
Thine let our offspring be.

Ye little flock, with pleasure hear;
Ye children, seek His face,
And fly with transport to receive
The blessings of His grace.

If orphans they are left behind,
Thy guardian care we trust,
That care shall heal our bleeding hearts,
While weeping o’er their dust.

There’s a Friend for little children
Above the bright blue sky,
A Friend who never changes,
Whose love will never die;
Our earthly friends may fail us,
And change with changing years,
This Friend is always worthy
Of that dear Name He bears.

There’s a rest for little children
Above the bright blue sky,
Who love the blessèd Savior,
And to the Father cry
A rest from every turmoil,
From sin and sorrow free,
Where every little pilgrim
Shall rest eternally.

There’s a home for little children
Above the bright blue sky,
Where Jesus reigns in glory,
A home of peace and joy
No home on earth is like it,
Nor can with it compare;
For everyone is happy
Nor could be happier there.

There’s a crown for little children
Above the bright blue sky,
And all who look for Jesus
Shall wear it by and by;
A crown of brightest glory,
Which He will then bestow
On those who found his favor
And loved His Name below.

There’s a song for little children
Above the bright blue sky,
A song that will not weary,
Though sung continually;
A song which even angels
Can never, never sing
They know not Christ as Savior,
But worship Him as King.

There’s a robe for little children
Above the bright blue sky,
And a harp of sweetest music,
And palms of victory.
All, all above is treasured,
And found in Christ alone:
O come, dear little children
That all may be your own.

So near to the kingdom! yet what dost thou lack?
So near to the kingdom! what keepeth thee back?
Renounce every idol, tho’ dear it may be,
And come to the Savior now pleading with thee.

Refrain

Pleading with thee,
The Savior is pleading,
Is pleading with thee.

So near that thou hearest the songs that resound
From those who, believing, a pardon have found!
So near, yet unwilling to give up thy sin,
When Jesus is waiting to welcome thee in!

Refrain

O come; soon thy season of grace may be past,
The door may be closed, and this call be thy last;
O where wouldst thou turn if the light should depart
That comes from the Spirit, and shines on thy heart?

Refrain

To die with no hope! hast thou counted the cost?
To die out of Christ, and thy soul to be lost!
So near to the kingdom! O come, we implore,
While Jesus is pleading, come enter the door.

Refrain

Though kindred ties around us
Like ivy branches twine,
Though life has many pleasures
That o’er my pathway shine,
Though words to friendship sacred
More sweet than music fall,
One look, one smile from Jesus
Is dearer far than all.

Refrain

Dearer, yes, dearer,
Dearer far than all,
One look, one smile from Jesus,
Is dearer far than all.

We meet in Christian converse,
We speak of joys to come,
We lift our eyes expectant
To Eden’s blissful home;
Though sweet and precious blessings
With every moment fall,
One look, one smile, from Jesus
Is dearer far than all.

Refrain

One look, one smile from Jesus,
For Whom our souls would live,
Not Heav’n’s transcendent beauty
Such holy joy can give;
Beyond the silent river
Though spirit voices call,
One look, one smile, from Jesus
Is dearer far than all.

Refrain