144

3 O Holy Ghost, who broodedst o'er the wave,
Descend upon this child;

Give him undying life, his spirit lave

With waters undefiled;

Grant him from earliest years to be

Thy learner apt, a home for Thee,
O Holy Ghost!

4 O Triune God, what Thou command'st is done;
We speak, but Thine the might;

This child has scarce yet seen our earthly sun,
O pour on him Thy light,

In faith and hope, in joy and love,

Thou Sun of all below, above,

O Triune God!

A. Knapp, 1841

C. M.

German

be

O Lord, our little ones

to Thee In faith and hope we give;

We know that through this myster-y Their new-born souls shall live.

2 We pour the water on their brow,
The sacred words we say;
Baptize them with the Spirit now,
And keep them Thine alway.

3 Help them to go from strength to strength,
Until, full-grown in Thee,

They come before Thy face at length,
And all Thy glory see.

4 And then, with all the heavenly host,
In everlasting songs,

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
To whom all praise belongs.

W. Whiting. 1872

145 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 8.

Johann Rudolph Ahle, 1664

Blessed Jesus! here we stand, Met to do as Thou hast spok-en;

And this child, at Thy com-mand, Now we bring to Thee, in tok - en

That to Christ it here is giv-en; For of such shall be His heav

2 Yes, Thy warning voice is plain,
And we fain would keep it duly:
He who is not born again,

Heart and life renewing truly,
Born of water and the Spirit,

Shall God's kingdom ne'er inherit.

3 Therefore hasten we to Thee;

Take the pledge we bring, O take it!
Let us here Thy glory see,

And in tender pity make it
Now Thy child, and leave it never,
Thine on earth and Thine forever.

4 Make it, Head, Thy member now;
Shepherd, take Thy lamb and feed it;
Prince of Peace, its peace be Thou;
Way of life, to heaven, O lead it:
Vine, this branch may nothing sever,
Grafted firm in Thee for ever.

5 Now upon Thy heart it lies,

What our hearts so dearly treasure;
Heavenward lead our burdened sighs,
Pour Thy blessing without measure;
Write the name we now have given,
Write it in the book of heaven.

B. Schmolk, 1709