The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley

Except the house Jehovah raise,
Fruitless is all the builder's care;
Except Jehovah guard the place,
In vain the watch is station'd there:
Nothing without His hand is done;
To make and keep are God's alone.

In vain your labour ye repeat
From earliest dawn to latest night,
The bread of care and sorrow eat;
'Tis God who grants the true delight,
And gives His people food and rest,
And makes them in His blessing bless'd.

His blessing makes the mother bear;
The issue of the womb is His;
The gift of God your children are;
He bids your little ones increase:
Receive them as your faith's reward,
Their heavenly Father is the Lord.

As arrows in the giant's hand,
Fly the bold youths to your defence;
Or in the gate your champions stand,
And drive the furious battle thence:
Happy the man who gladly owns
His guardians were his pious sons!

244

Happy the man who always sees
The Source from whence his blessings flow,
His life, his safety, and his peace,
His every comfort here below;
Who takes them as by heaven bestow'd,
And looks through all his gifts to God.

University of Virginia Library

PSALM CXXVII.

[Except the house Jehovah raise]