Classic Poem

I.

Almighty Father, gracious Lord,
Kind guardian of my days,
Thy Mercies, let my heart record
In songs of grateful praise.

II.

In life's first dawn, my tender frame
Was thy indulgent care,
Long ere I could pronounce thy name,
Or breathe the infant prayer.

III.

When reason with my stature grew,
How weak her brightest ray!
How little of my God I knew!
How apt from thee to stray!

IV.

Around my path what dangers rose!
What snares spread all my road!
No power could guard me from my foes,
But my preserver, God.

V.

When life hung trembling on a breath,
'Twas thy almighty love
That sav'd me from impending death,
And bad my fears remove.

VI.

How many blessings round me shone,
Where'er I turn'd my eye!
How many past almost unknown,
Or unregarded, by.

VII.

Each rolling year new favours brought
From thy exhaustless store:
But ah! in vain my labouring thought
Would count thy mercies o'er.

VIII.

While sweet reflection, through my days
Thy bounteous hand would trace;
Still dearer blessings claim my praise,
The blessings of thy grace.

IX.

Yes, I adore thee, gracious Lord,
For favours more divine;
That I have known thy sacred word,
Where all thy glories shine.

X.

'Tis here, I view with pleasing pain,
How Jesus lest the sky,
(Almighty love! surprising scene!)
For man, lost man, to die.

XI.

When blest with that transporting view,
That Jesus died for me,
For this sweet hope what praise is due,
O God of grace, to thee!

XII.

And may I hope that Christ is mine?
That source of every bliss,
That noblest gift of love divine —
What wonderous grace is this!

XIII.

My highest praise, alas, how poor
How cold my warmest love!
Dear Saviour, teach me to adore
As angels do above.

XIV.

But frail mortality in vain
Attempts the blissful song;
The high, the vast, the boundless strain,
Claims an immortal tongue.

XV.

Lord, when this mortal frame decays,
And every weakness dies,
Compleat the wonders of thy grace,
And raise me to the skies.

XVI.

Then shall my joyful powers unite,
In more exalted lays,
And join the happy sons of light
In everlasting praise.