O Father, for this little life Entrusted from above, Ere yet he face earth's sin and strife, We supplicate thy love. As Hannah to the Temple gate Her dearest treasure bore, So, Lord, to thee we consecrate This child for evermore. Thy faithful soldier, may he fight With falsehood, sin, and shame, And loosing all to win the right Confess thy holy name. Thy faithful servant, may he learn To love and labour still, And with a flaming spirit burn To know and do thy will. O Saviour, all he is is thine, And all he yet may be: O shelter him with love divine, And draw him near to thee. For thou, O Lord, art all our life, In thee all struggles end: Through all the sorrow and the strife Our Maker and our Friend.