Poem by William Cowper

Olney Hymn 22. Prayer for Children

    Bestow, dear Lord, upon our youth,
        The gift of saving grace; 
    And let the seed of sacred truth
        Fall in a fruitful place.

    Grace is a plant, where'er it grows,
        Of pure and heavenly root; 
    But fairest in the youngest shows,
        And yields the sweetest fruit.

    Ye careless ones, O hear betimes
        The voice of sovereign love! 
    Your youth is stain'd with many crimes,
        But mercy reigns above.

    True, you are young, but there's a stone
        Within the youngest breast; 
    Or half the crimes which you have done
        Would rob you of your rest.

    For you the public prayer is made;
        Oh! Join the public prayer! 
    For you the secret tear is shed:
        Oh shed yourselves a tear!

    We pray that you may early prove
        The Spirit's power to teach; 
    You cannot be too young to love
        That Jesus whom we preach. 

1. Olney Hymn 18. Lovest Thou Me?
2. Olney Hymn 28. Jesus Hasting to Suffer
3. Olney Hymn 32. The Shining Light
4. Olney Hymn 37. Temptation
5. Olney Hymn 44. On Opening a Place for Social Prayer

Print

1649 Views

Last Poems

To Russian version