Churching of Women

Be with us, Saviour! on this happy day.
As Thou wast with us through long nights of care.
Best Friend in sorrow! through our glad- ness stay,
And let our praise be fervent as our prayer.

Back, through Thy Love, back from the gates of death,
Where, in the midst of life, we sudden stood.
Brought back in peace, health's first pure grateful breath
We offer unto Thee, for Thou art good!

Life's sky unclouded! suddenly o'ercast!
Life's cup fill'd brimful, ready to run o'er.
The clouds unbroken into sunshine past.
The cup still safe, though fuller than before.

Another life in the bright bundle bound.
Another centre where affections meet.
The very fears that trembled o'er it found
To make, by contrast, sweetest joys more sweet.

Home made more home-like, Heav'n itself more near,
A purer motive and a higher aim,
Earth's cherish'd gifts made more divinely dear.
The saved held safer in the Saviour's Name.

O Virgin-bom! by the pure joy that stole
On Thy young mother's spirit fix)m above,
When the diviner worship of her soul
Mixt with the human passion of her love:

By all the trembling tenderness of tears.
By all the bursting hopefulness of joy.
With which she watch'd Thy fresh unfolding years.
The perfect Godhead in the growing boy:

Pity our frailty! our devotion bless!
Our human Friend, and Heav'nly succour be!
O sanctify our household happiness,
And stoop to hear our household hymn to Thee I