3100.
[That childish ignorance of ill]
In malice be ye children, but in understanding, &c.
—xiv. 20.
That childish ignorance of ill,
I long continually to feel,
With ripest understanding join'd,
That judgment of the heavenly mind;
My absolute simplicity
I owe to none, O God, but Thee,
And blindly to Thy will submit,
Implicit, passive at Thy feet.
On creatures I no more rely,
But cautiously the spirits try;
My best-enlighten'd reason use,
The good to take, the bad refuse.
I dare not hastily believe,
I dare not aught unproved receive,
Nor follow man before I see
How far my leader follows Thee.
Ah, give me wisdom to discern,
What I through instruments may learn;
Ah, give me, Lord, Thyself to know,
And daily in Thy grace to grow;
My faith and patient love increase,
My real life of holiness,
Till bright, I with Thy brightness shine,
A perfect man, a man Divine.
