A YOUNG MOTHER'S PRAYER.

OCCASIONED BY AN EXCLAMATION UTTERED BY MRS. C

HER FIRST-BORN, IN THE PRESENCE OF THE WRITER.

"LORD, bless my babe!" the youthful mother cried,
And fondly pressed her infant to her breast;
Then offered it to Him, who loved and died,
To give poor suffering mothers peace and rest.

It was her first-born, and she lov'd it well,
Admired each feature, full of strange delight;
Then turned the kindness of her God to tell,
Whose tender care had bless'd her with the sight.

Perhaps she thought, "Ah! If I had been blind,
And felt my lov'd one on my bosom lie,
But could not see its face,-my God, how kind
To let me see my baby's lovely eye!

<Its little head had slumbered on iny breast, Its velvet cheek awakened sweet surprise;

Its ruby lips a mother's bosom prest,

Who longed to see it with her poor blind eyes.

"Or, if I had been deaf, and could not hear

Its little voice which thrills through all my soul. How often had I shed the bitter tear,

And found it hard my feelings to control.

ΟΥΚΡ

"To know it prattled, pleasing all around,

And calling Mother with an angel's voice! Unable to drink in the charming sound,

How could I with a mother's joy rejoice!

"But I have eyes to see my darling child,
And ears to listen to its feeblest cry;
My heart has danced already, while it smiled,
And I have seen strange beauty in its eye.

"Or, had my babe been blind, and could not see
Its mother's face, or nature's beauties bright;
How painful and distressing unto me,

Its sightless eye-balls destitute of light.

"Or, if it had been deaf, and could not hear

My voice, which seeks to soothe and hush its crios; That were a burden I could scarcely bear,

Though to complain, in me, would be unwise.

"But my sweet babe has sight and hearing too,
Its senses and its members are complete;
The goodness of my God in this I view,
And lay my lov'd one at my Saviour's feet.

"I do feel grateful, O thou God of love!
Accept the praises of my thankful heart;
And let me, though a sinner, daily prove
The peace thy presence only can impart.

"Lord, bless my babe! thy daughter let it be;
In early life convert it by thy word:
Oh, may it soon thy great salvation see,
And own thee as its Saviour and its Lord!

"A youthful mother offers up her child,

Saviour, accept and fill it with thy love; May it be holy, gentle, loving, mild,

And all the riches of thy mercy prove.

"Teach me to train it in thy holy ways,

And early lead it to thy gracious throne; Oh, let my babe show forth my Saviour's praise, And by it may thy holy will be done!

"I would not nurse it for the world or sin.
Or see it prove an enemy to thee;

I'll early try its little heart to win,
And pray that it may consecrated be.

"It was thy gift, I love it for thy sake,

And hope to see it live thy name to fear; Mother and babe into thy keeping take,

And all through life, oh, may we find thee near!

"Nor let my child assume my Saviour's place;
To him my warmest love is ever due;
Blest Spirit, daily fill my mind with grace,
That Jesu's glory I may still pursue.

"Lord, bless my babe! and spare it to me still,
Healthy and strong to comfort my fond heart;

Oh, may it walk by thy preceptive will,
And in thy service all its powers exert.

"'Tis thine, created by thy power alone-
As thine, I wish to treat it day by day;
Oh, may thy precious blood its sins atone,

And from its spirit purge each stain away.

"Accept my feeble praise for mercies given,

And keep me near thy side through all my way; Conduct and teach me 'till I enter heaven, Nor let me from thy holy precepts stray.

"A mother's heart, before a Saviour's throne, Would thus her fondest wishes now express; To me be all thy tender mercy shown,

And do, dear Saviour, do my baby bless!

"Thou hadst a mother once, when here on earth;
Thou know'st how anxious is a mother's heart;
Oh, grant, do grant my child a second birth,
Thy Holy Spirit to her soul impart.

"A mother's tears are precious in thy sight,
A mother's prayers thou surely wilt receive;
Oh, fill a mother's breast with joyous light,
And to my darling girl thy blessing give.

"Jesus, to thee eternal praise be given,
I bless and magnify thy holy name:
May all who live on earth or reign in heaven,
Unite with heart and soul to do the same.

"Thou, thou art worthy honour to receive,

The highest honour earth or heaven can raise ; Let all who from thy fulness, grace receive,

In one harmonious anthem sound thy praise.'

An Address to a Newly Formed Church of Christ...

344

An Apostolic Requirement

252

An Example to Deacons

309

An Important Question

359