O Lord, the Holy Innocents

O Lord

the ho­ly in­no­cents

Laid down for Thee their in­fant life

And mar­tyrs brave and pa­tient saints

Have stood for Thee in fire and strife.

We wear the cross they wore of old

Our lips have learned like vows to make;

We need not die; we can­not fight;

What may we do for Je­sus’ sake?

O day by day each Christ­ian child

Has much to do

with­out

with­in;

A death to die for Je­sus’ sake

A wea­ry war to wage with sin.

When deep with­in our swell­ing hearts

The thoughts of pride and an­ger rise

When bit­ter words are on our tongues

And tears of pass­ion in our eyes.

Then we may stay the ang­ry blow

Then we may check the has­ty word

Give gen­tle an­swers back again

And fight a bat­tle for our Lord.

With smiles of peace and looks of love

Light in our dwell­ings we may make

Bid kind good hu­mor bright­en there

And still do all for Je­sus’ sake.

There’s not a child so weak and small

But has his lit­tle cross to take

His lit­tle work of love and praise

That he may do for Je­sus’ sake.