 | The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley |  |
CLXXXVI. AN HYMN FOR A MOTHER.
Father of all, whose Sovereign will
Hath call'd Thy servant to fulfil
The softer parent's part,
With gifts and graces from above,
With calmest care, and wisest love
Instruct my simple heart.
Hath call'd Thy servant to fulfil
The softer parent's part,
394
With calmest care, and wisest love
Instruct my simple heart.
Oh! may I every moment see
The end for which alone to me
Thou hast my children given,
A blessed instrument Divine
Through Thee to make, and keep them Thine,
And train them up for heaven.
The end for which alone to me
Thou hast my children given,
A blessed instrument Divine
Through Thee to make, and keep them Thine,
And train them up for heaven.
My first concern their souls to rear,
And principled with godly fear
In virtue's paths to lead,
The hunger after Thee to' excite,
And stir them up with all their might
To seek the living Bread.
And principled with godly fear
In virtue's paths to lead,
The hunger after Thee to' excite,
And stir them up with all their might
To seek the living Bread.
Be this, dear Lord, my chief desire,
That every child may still aspire
To those pure joys above,
Lay up their heart and treasure there,
Content on earth with Mary's share,
And blest in Jesu's love.
That every child may still aspire
To those pure joys above,
Lay up their heart and treasure there,
Content on earth with Mary's share,
And blest in Jesu's love.
If anxious here for their success,
A momentary happiness
I labour to secure,
How should it all my powers engage
Their never failing heritage,
Their endless bliss to' ensure?
A momentary happiness
I labour to secure,
How should it all my powers engage
Their never failing heritage,
Their endless bliss to' ensure?
If for their bodies I provide,
And from the slightest suffering hide
The suckling on my knee,
Shall I by my neglect expose
Their dearer souls to fearful woes
Through all eternity?
And from the slightest suffering hide
The suckling on my knee,
395
Their dearer souls to fearful woes
Through all eternity?
Shall I the haughty wish instil,
Or give them up to their own will,
And every vain desire?
As kind the pagan parent was,
Who made his sons and daughters pass
To Moloch through the fire.
Or give them up to their own will,
And every vain desire?
As kind the pagan parent was,
Who made his sons and daughters pass
To Moloch through the fire.
Exposed in this bleak wilderness
To pining want or sad distress
Could I my offspring see?
Could I the heavier burden bear
To see them void of sacred care,
And lost for want of Thee?
To pining want or sad distress
Could I my offspring see?
Could I the heavier burden bear
To see them void of sacred care,
And lost for want of Thee?
Thou, Lord, the fatal ill prevent,
And guard whom Thou to me hast lent,
And guide them by Thine eye;
Convert—or to Thyself receive,
And let them to Thy glory live,
Or innocently die!
And guard whom Thou to me hast lent,
And guide them by Thine eye;
Convert—or to Thyself receive,
And let them to Thy glory live,
Or innocently die!
| The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley | |