When we are in society,
And when we are alone;
In the silence of the night,
Amid the cares of the day,

Still may our hearts be moved by love to thee.
Bless us, O God, through thine almighty power,
Through thine infinite wisdom;

By that Saviour whom thou didst send to us;

With that Holy Spirit that still comes from thee;

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Bless us in the enjoyments of life;

Bless us in the hour of death;

Through all the scenes of time,

And through the ages of eternity;

And to thy great name be everlasting praises.

Amen.

XIII.

FOR A CHILDHOOD LIKE THAT OF JESUS.

GOD and Father of Jesus Christ!

Whom he worshipped with praise and prayer; To whom he has directed us to go,

Telling us that him thou always hearest,

And whatsoever we ask in his name,

Thou wilt give it to us.

May we be like thy beloved Son:

Bearing his image in every period of life,
May we bear it especially in our early years.
Like him, in the spirit of gentle obedience,
May we be subject to our parents;
Like him, as we increase in stature,
May we grow in favor with God and man;
Like him, may we love thy holy house,
And seek the teachers of heavenly truth;
Like him, may we feel our tie to thee,
And be about our Father's business;

Like him, may we take up life's work,

Giving ourselves wholly to thy service,
With a meek and lowly temper,

Willing to suffer, patient to bear;

Remembering that for this we are born,
And for this purpose are sent into the world,
That we may bear witness to the truth.

Holy Father, thus do we pray to thee,
We, who are so far behind Him,
Who, though tempted, yet knew no sin.
To the heights of his spotless purity
We would lift up adoring eyes.

May something of the grace of that holy child.

Rest on us, thy children, now:

And to thee, through him, be the glory. Amen.

XIV.

FOR AN EARLY CONSECRATION TO CHRIST.

O FATHER of our Lord and Christ!
Who hast given us thy holy child Jesus,
A new and living Way to thee,
A pattern in duty, a guide to truth,
A Saviour of all that call on his name;
We thank thee for this unspeakable gift.
For ever blessed be the Lord our God,
That on us this light hath arisen,
That to us this salvation hath come.

Impress upon our minds, we pray thee,
That we are sharers of this great blessing,
Not by flesh, nor by the will of man,
Only by Christ's spirit in our hearts.
To him, our rightful Lord and Master,
Would we now give ourselves;
To him, the Shepherd of Souls,
We come as lambs of his flock;

To him, the only name given under heaven
Whereby we can be saved from our sins,
Would we look, with believing and grateful hearts,
For pardon and eternal life.

O God, his God and Father, and ours,
Bless this purpose of our souls;

Help us to arise and follow Jesus;

In his footsteps may we daily walk;

His be the temper of our inmost hearts.

Thus joined to Christ on earth,

May we be gathered into his fold in heaven,
And neither life nor death separate us
From the love of God in Jesus Christ.

To thy holy name be the glory for ever.

Amen.