Prayer For A Blessing On The Young.
By William Cowper
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, whereer 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 staind with many crimes,
But mercy reigns above.
True, you are young, but theres 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 Spirits power to teach;
You cannot be too young to love
That Jesus whom we preach.