1 GOD only wise, almighty, good,
Send forth thy truth and light,
To point us out the narrow road,
And guide our steps aright:
2 To steer our dangerous course between
The rocks on either hand;
And fix us in the golden mean,
And bring our charge to land.
3 Made apt, by thy sufficient grace,
To teach as taught by thee,
We come to train in all thy ways
Our rising progeny:
4 Their selfish will in time subdue,
And mortify their pride;
And lend their youth a sacred clew
To find the crucified.
5 We would in every step look up,
By thy example taught
To alarm their fear, excite their hope,
And rectify their thought.
6 We would persuade their hearts to obey,
With mildest zeal proceed;
And never take the harsher way,
When love will do the deed.
7 For this we ask, in faith sincere,
The wisdom from above,
To touch their hearts with filial fear,
And pure, ingenuous love:
8 To watch their will, to sense inclined;
Withhold the hurtful food;
And gently bend their tender mind,
And draw their souls to God.