A Parent's Prayer

O never let my children live
The devil's to become,
Their God by wickedness to grieve,
Their substance to consume;
Far from Thy family to rove,
The tempter's easy prey,
And forfeit Thine eternal love,
And cast their souls away.
Rather permit them to expire
In life's unclouded morn,
And join them to the virgin-choir,
The church of the first-born:
Before Thy statutes they forsake,
Allow my just request,
And through the wounds of Jesus take
The infants to Thy breast.
My fairest prospects I forego,
So Thou with safety bless,
And ere they good or evil know,
The innocents release:

I ask as with my parting breath,
To each allotted be
A holy life, or early death:
But which I leave to Thee.