The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley

I will with other children bless,
With sudden infinite increase
Thy long-lamented loss repair;
Straiten'd for more and larger room
Thy children unto thee shall come,
And ask thy kind maternal care.

Then shalt thou say with glad surprise,
Who gave me these to bless mine eyes,
The widow's mournful heart to cheer?
They come, begotten from above,
Dear pledges of my Jesu's love,
They all the sons of God appear!

I had my former children lost,
A captive sad, by tempests toss'd,
I wander'd to and fro distress'd;
But in my desolate state I see
A new succeeding progeny
Who rise and call their Father bless'd:

Where have they been in secret bred?
The Lord preserved a faithful seed
Their great Preserver to proclaim,
His truth and love to glorify,
Apostate Israel's place supply,
And spread through earth the Christian name.

University of Virginia Library

1188.

[I will with other children bless]