At the Baptism of a Child

God of eternal truth and love,
Vouchsafe the promised grace we claim,
Thine own great ordinance approve,
The child baptized into Thy name
Partaker of Thy nature make,
And give her all Thine image back.

Born in the dregs of sin and time,
These darkest, last, apostate days,
Burden'd with Adam's curse and crime,
Thou in Thy mercy's arms embrace,
And wash out all her guilty load,
And quench the brand in Jesus' blood.
Father, if such Thy sovereign will,
If Jesus did the rite enjoin,
Annex Thy hallowing Spirit's seal,
And let the grace attend the sign;
The seed of endless life impart,
Seize for Thy own our infant's heart
Answer on her Thy wisdom's end
In present and eternal good;
Whate'er Thou didst for man intend,
VVhate'er Thou hast on man bestow'd.
Now to this favour'd babe be given,
Pardon, and holiness, and heaven.
In presence of Thy heavenly host
Thyself we faithfully require;
Come, Father, Son, and Hoi)- Ghost,
By blood, by water, and by fire,
And fill up all Thy human shrine,
And seal our souls for ever Thine.