The Gospel Miracles In A Series of Poetical Sketches: With Illustrative Conversations. By Richard Mant |
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LITTLE CHILDREN BROUGHT UNTO CHRIST. |
 | The Gospel Miracles |  |
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LITTLE CHILDREN BROUGHT UNTO CHRIST.
“Why the parents' care withstand
For their children's blessedness?
Why withhold my pray'r, my hand,
Which would fain the children bless?
From reproof, resistance, free,
Let the children come to me:
Suffer that the babes be brought,
Suffer, and forbid them not!
For their children's blessedness?
Why withhold my pray'r, my hand,
Which would fain the children bless?
From reproof, resistance, free,
Let the children come to me:
Suffer that the babes be brought,
Suffer, and forbid them not!
Do not they the bounty prove,
Which by God to man is given?
Share not they my Father's love?
Are not they the heirs of heaven?
Happy they, who come to me
With a child's simplicity:
None but such God's kingdom win;
None but such can enter in.”
Which by God to man is given?
Share not they my Father's love?
Are not they the heirs of heaven?
Happy they, who come to me
With a child's simplicity:
None but such God's kingdom win;
None but such can enter in.”
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With this mild but grave rebuke
On his rash disciples' haste,
Christ the offer'd children took,
And within his arms embrac'd.
With a parent's fostering look
In his arms the babes he took;
With his hands their head imprest;
With his benediction blest.
On his rash disciples' haste,
Christ the offer'd children took,
And within his arms embrac'd.
With a parent's fostering look
In his arms the babes he took;
With his hands their head imprest;
With his benediction blest.
Who, the Christian's name that bear,
Who, that bear the Christian's heart,
Would not that their children share
In the Saviour's love a part?
Suffer then, at his command,
Duly to the Saviour's hand
They in life's first spring be brought:
Suffer, and forbid them not!
Who, that bear the Christian's heart,
Would not that their children share
In the Saviour's love a part?
Suffer then, at his command,
Duly to the Saviour's hand
They in life's first spring be brought:
Suffer, and forbid them not!
Be it yours, in life's fresh spring,
Born in sin, expos'd to wrath,
To his fourt the babes to bring,
To his own appointed bath!
He will pleas'd receive them there,
Hallow'd by his Church's pray'r:
With his arms of love embrace;
And impart his Spirit's grace.
Born in sin, expos'd to wrath,
To his fourt the babes to bring,
To his own appointed bath!
He will pleas'd receive them there,
Hallow'd by his Church's pray'r:
With his arms of love embrace;
And impart his Spirit's grace.
Thus, when rul'd the law of old,
By his covenanting rite
God to his elected fold
Chose the new-born Israelite.
Thus, when rose the Gospel grace,
Parents with their infant race,
“They and theirs,” were taught to lave
In the sanctifying wave.
By his covenanting rite
God to his elected fold
Chose the new-born Israelite.
Thus, when rose the Gospel grace,
Parents with their infant race,
“They and theirs,” were taught to lave
In the sanctifying wave.
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Be it yours, at reason's dawn,
To their opening mind to hold
Truths, by Jesus' Spirit drawn,
And in Jesus' book inroll'd.
There to point with holy awe,
How in terrors spake the law;
And, to bid those terrors cease,
How the Gospel whispers peace!
To their opening mind to hold
Truths, by Jesus' Spirit drawn,
And in Jesus' book inroll'd.
There to point with holy awe,
How in terrors spake the law;
And, to bid those terrors cease,
How the Gospel whispers peace!
Thus the youthful Timothy
By maternal care was train'd,
All the truths of God to see
With the eye of faith unfeign'd.
By the Scripture's light discern'd,
Thus the wisdom true he learn'd,
Which by faith in Jesus shews
To the fainting soul repose.
By maternal care was train'd,
All the truths of God to see
With the eye of faith unfeign'd.
By the Scripture's light discern'd,
Thus the wisdom true he learn'd,
Which by faith in Jesus shews
To the fainting soul repose.
Be it yours, their childish step
To the house of pray'r to lead,
There to form their childish lip
To pronounce the Christian's creed:
There devotion's voice to pour;
There imbibe religion's lore;
And to fix their ear attent
On the teachers God hath sent!
To the house of pray'r to lead,
There to form their childish lip
To pronounce the Christian's creed:
There devotion's voice to pour;
There imbibe religion's lore;
And to fix their ear attent
On the teachers God hath sent!
Jesus thus himself would fain,
In the morning tide of youth,
In his Father's house remain,
Listening to the words of truth.
Fain would take the scholar's seat
At the appointed teacher's feet;
And, with modest aspect meek,
Humbly hear, and sagely speak.
In the morning tide of youth,
In his Father's house remain,
Listening to the words of truth.
Fain would take the scholar's seat
At the appointed teacher's feet;
And, with modest aspect meek,
Humbly hear, and sagely speak.
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Be it yours, to bid them join
Those who round yon chancel kneel,
Studious to receive the sign
Of their Father's love; and seal,
Pledg'd anew, the Christian vow;
While the modest head they bow,
And before the Church's face
Seek the Spirit's sevenfold grace!
Those who round yon chancel kneel,
Studious to receive the sign
Of their Father's love; and seal,
Pledg'd anew, the Christian vow;
While the modest head they bow,
And before the Church's face
Seek the Spirit's sevenfold grace!
Thus, when Jesus' Church was young,
To the new elect of heaven
Blessing from the Apostles' tongue,
From the Apostles' hands, was given.
Call'd again in Jesus' name,
Prompt the Holy Spirit came,
And on each regenerate head
Graces more abundant shed.
To the new elect of heaven
Blessing from the Apostles' tongue,
From the Apostles' hands, was given.
Call'd again in Jesus' name,
Prompt the Holy Spirit came,
And on each regenerate head
Graces more abundant shed.
Be it yours, their steps to train
Aye the onward path to press;
That, thro' pleasure's fair domain,
Thro' the desert of distress,
Unseduc'd, unterrified,
They may pass, nor turn aside;
But toward the narrow gate
Hold the right way and the strait!
Aye the onward path to press;
That, thro' pleasure's fair domain,
Thro' the desert of distress,
Unseduc'd, unterrified,
They may pass, nor turn aside;
But toward the narrow gate
Hold the right way and the strait!
As they tread the tangled maze,
Christ's commission'd wait beside,
With his word's enlight'ning rays
Charg'd their darkling course to guide.
To allure and lead them on,
Christ himself before is gone:
Where his passing radiance glow'd,
Gleams of glory mark the road.
Christ's commission'd wait beside,
With his word's enlight'ning rays
Charg'd their darkling course to guide.
To allure and lead them on,
Christ himself before is gone:
Where his passing radiance glow'd,
Gleams of glory mark the road.
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Happy they, who thus are brought,
Infants to their Lord's embrace!
Happy they, in childhood taught
Thus to run their Christian race!
Happy, who in opening youth,
Grounded on the Gospel truth,
To the Gospel dictates true,
Faith's obedient vow renew!
Infants to their Lord's embrace!
Happy they, in childhood taught
Thus to run their Christian race!
Happy, who in opening youth,
Grounded on the Gospel truth,
To the Gospel dictates true,
Faith's obedient vow renew!
Happy, who in after age,
Like their pattern undefil'd,
Strive to go their pilgrimage
With the meekness of a child.
Such as from thy fount they came,
Cleans'd from sin, exempt from blame,
From the world's corruption free,
And regenerate, Lord, by Thee!
Like their pattern undefil'd,
Strive to go their pilgrimage
With the meekness of a child.
Such as from thy fount they came,
Cleans'd from sin, exempt from blame,
From the world's corruption free,
And regenerate, Lord, by Thee!
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