Poem by William Cowper

Olney Hymn 23. Pleading for and with Youth

    Sin has undone our wretched race;
        But Jesus has restored, 
    And brought the sinner face to face
        With his forgiving Lord.

    This we repeat from year to year
        And press upon our youth; 
    Lord, give them an attentive ear,
        Lord, save them by Thy truth!

    Blessings upon the rising race!
        Make this a happy hour, 
    According to Thy richest grace,
        And thine Almighty power.

    We feel for your unhappy state
        (May you regard it too), 
    And would a while ourselves forget
        To pour our prayer for you.

    We see, though you perceive it not,
        The approaching awful doom; 
    Oh tremble at the solemn thought,
        And flee the wrath to come!

    Dear Saviour, let this new-born year
        Spread an alarm abroad; 
    And cry in every careless ear,
        "Prepare to meet thy God!" 

1. Olney Hymn 4. Jehovah-Nissi. The Lord My Banner
2. Olney Hymn 17. The House of Prayer
3. Olney Hymn 13. The Covenant
4. An Ode, on Reading Mr. Richardson's History of Sir Charles Grandison
5. Olney Hymn 55. The Heart Healed and Changed by Mercy

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