O God of boundless purity,
How strange that thou should'st give to me
This young and tender heart,
To train to walk in thine own ways,
That he may end his mortal days
In glory where thou art!
Alas! how slow, how helpless too
Am I, this sacred work to do!
My utmost strength must fail.
Yet, Holy Spirit, if thy power
Be given to me from hour to hour
I surely shall prevail.
O Gracious Influence, to his heart
Give will to choose the "better part,"
Which none can take away.
By him, O helping God, be found;
To him in gifts of love abound;
Be with him every day.
And, God of grace, his mother bless
With prayer, and faith, and watchfulness,
Now that she has a child.
Let not her weak indulgence spoil,
Nor yet her stern, harsh manner foil,
This heart, so soft and mild.
Help her in every act and word
To follow close her lowly Lord;
Be this her only pride —
That she may holy influence shed
Around this dear immortal's head,
And keep him on thy side.
Then, when the last great trump shall soundd,
And all before their Judge be found
To hear their sentence pass'd,
May he in glory then appear,
Receive thy prize, thy "Well done" hear —
A conqueror at last.
Yes, may this soul, of rarer worth
To me than all the souls of earth,
But wear thy diadem;
Then, through eternity I'll raise
A mother's song of unmixed praise,
To Thee, redeeming Lamb.