Great God, and Wilt Thou Condescend?

Great God! and wilt Thou con­des­cend

To be my fa­ther and my friend?

I but a child—and Thou so high

The Lord of earth and air and sky!

Art Thou my fa­ther? Canst Thou bear

To hear my poor im­per­fect pray­er?

Or stoop to list­en to the praise

That such a lit­tle one can raise?

Art Thou my fa­ther? Let me be

A meek

obe­di­ent child to Thee;

And try

in word and deed and thought

To serve and please Thee as I ought.

Art Thou my fa­ther? I’ll de­pend

Upon the care of such a friend;

And on­ly wish to do and be

Whatever seem­eth good to Thee.

Art Thou my fa­ther? Then

at last

When all my days on earth are past

Send down

and take me

in Thy love

To be Thy bet­ter child ab­ove.