II. DEDICATION.

[Pronouncing the given name of the child, say—]

We receive thee as a member of the mystical body of Christ, the Great Head of the Church universal; and as such, we dedicate thee to Him to whom thou properly belongest, to be baptized with his baptism, in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. We pronounce on thee the blessing which God commanded his servant Aaron to pronounce on the congregation of Israel, saying, The Lord bless thee and keep thee! The Lord be gracious unto thee! The Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace forAmen.

ever.

III. HYMN. C. M.

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 't was to save 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 thiue,
Thine let our offspring be.

If orphans they are left behind,
Thy guardian care we trust;

That care shall heal our bleeding hearts,
If weeping o'er their dust.

IV. Address to the Parents.

The solemn dedication or baptism of a child to God, through Christ, implies a devout pledge of fidelity to its moral and religious interests. To these interests do you be faithful, while you neglect not an affectionate and judicious care of the body. May the life of this child be a blessing to you and your home, and the sweet assurance be yours that it is given to immortal affections. May the peace of God be with you. Amen.

SPECIAL PRAYERS.

I. FOR A SUPERINTENDENT SICK. Source of all help in the hour of trouble! mercifully regard the cry of thy children, and grant us answers of peace. O, graciously look upon the Superintendent of this school, now on the bed of sickness. We mourn this dispensation of thy providence, and pray that he may feel thy presence, and be upheld by thy free Spirit. May he find happiness in the remembrance of his labors of love in this school; and O, bear to his soul, Great Father, the assurance of our love that we pray for him that we long to see him once more in our midst, the friend of us all. Prepare him, and O, prepare us, for all thy will; and as the thought of death comes to our minds, may we find comfort in the gracious promises of thy love, in the great hope of immortality. By these promises, by this hope, sustain thy servant, and uphold him through all the trials of life. Make him, and us all, meet for thy presence in heaven, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

II. FOR A TEACHER SICK.

Merciful God! we pray for our suffering friend, whom sickness keeps from our Sabbath school. Only in thee is our hope. Bless, O Lord, the ministry of human skill and affection, and let thy servant live. Too few are the laborers in the field of our Divine Master, and we would not spare even one. Turn our fear into hope; give us rejoicing for trembling, and may the vacant place again

be filled. But we own thy perfection, and pray in submission to thee. Send the calm of celestial peace to thy servant, and let the fulness of the Gospel hope be enjoyed. O, give to us all the joy of a conquering faith, and may we minister to each other as the changes of life may demand. May none of us live to self alone, but in sickness, as in health, strive to exalt the power of love in the rule of our spirit and the kindness of our lives. May we use all opportunities to thy praise, and be ready for death with the hope of immortality and reünion, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

III. FOR A SCHOLAR SICK.

Hear, O Father, the cry of our anxious hearts for one on whom sickness lies with a heavy burden. Brittle is the thread of life, and thou alone canst make it endure. We own all life to be from thee. Thine, is our schoolmate. Thou hast wise and gracious purposes when thou permittest sickness to come to our homes; and O, now that we mourn its presence, now that a form dear to us is laid low, may we not forget to own and to adore thy Providence. Send healing, O God, to that home where the sick one lies, and let the fear of bereavement pass from our minds. But, Father of mercies, we would pray in submission to thy holy will, and we would not rebel against thy sovereign pleasure. Sanctify to our schoolmate, to us, and to all who sorrow as we do, the anxiety felt. Prepare us to look aright upon the issue, and to learn how frail we are. May we ever live to thee

then we shall not be afraid when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, for our hearts will be with thee in heaven. O, hear our prayer, and send answers of peace and hope, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

From Western Harp.

bb4

I'll awake at dawn on the Sabbath day, For 'tis

be my rule, Nev-er to be late at the Sabbath School,

垂

Birds awake betimes, every morn they sing,
None are tardy there, when the woods do ring;
So when Sunday comes, this shall be my rule,
Never to be late at the Sabbath School.

When the summer's sun wakes the flowers again,
They the call obey-none are tardy then;
Nor will I forget that it is my rule,

Never to be late at the Sabbath School.

104

Joy to the World! C. M.

Carmina Sacra-by permission.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come,Let earth re

room, And heav'n and nature sing, And heav'n and nature