A baptismal hymn

406 Ffigysbren. 10. 10. 10. 10.

1 Friend of the home: as when in Galilee
   The mothers brought their little ones to Thee,
   So we, dear Lord, would now the children bring,
   And seek for them the shelter of Thy wing.

2 Thine are they, by Thy love’s eternal claim,
   Thine we baptize them in the threefold Name;
   Yet not the sign we trust, Lord, but the grace
   That in Thy fold prepared the lambs a place.

3 Lord, may Thy Church, as with a mother’s care,
   For Thee the lambs within her bosom bear;
   And grant, as morning grows to noon, that they
   Still in her love and holy service stay.

4 Draw thro' the child the parents nearer Thee,
   Endue their home with growing sanctity;
   And gather all, by earthly homes made one,
   In heav'n, O Christ, when earthly days are done.
                         Howell E. Lewis
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition

<idle musing>
This one only occurs in seventeen hymnals. I'm not sure if I remember singing it at baptismal services or not, but it certainly fits.

While I personally am a firm believer in believer baptism, I grew up in the Methodist Church, which practices infant baptism. This hymn highlights the hopes for infant baptism blossoming into a living faith. And there's a lot to be said for that...
</idle musing>