On His Son Samuel's Perversion to Popery. (1784)

Farewell, my all of earthly hope.
My nature's stay, my age's prop.
Irrevocably gone!
Submissive to the will Divine,
I acquiesce, and make it mine;
I offer up my son!

But give I God a sacrifice
That costs me naught? my gushing eyes
The answer sad express, —
My gushing eyes, and troubled heart.
Which bleeds with its beloved to part,
Which breaks through fond excess!

Yet since he from my heart is torn.
Patient, resign'd, I calmly mourn
The darling snatch'd away:
Father, with Thee Thy own I leave;
Into Thy mercy's arms receive,
And keep him to that day.

Keep (for I nothing else desire)
The bush unburn'd amidst the fire;
And freely I resign
My child, for a few moments lent,
My child no longer!) I consent
To see his face no more!

But hear my agonizing prayer.
And O preserve him, and prepare
To meet me in the skies,
When throned in bliss the Lamb appears,
Repairs my loss, and wipes the tears
For ever from my eyes!

Bereaved by His revoking word,
I will not sin against the Lord,
To pray I will not cease
For the dear author of my woes.
Till death these weary eyelids close,
And I depart in peace.

But while an exile here I live,
I live for a lost son to grieve.
And in Thy Spirit to groan.
Thy blessings on his soul to claim,
Through Jesu's all-prevailing name.
Presented at Thy throne.

Still let Thine eye his steps pursue,
And keep the fugitive in view.
Where'er he rashly strays;
Control his violence of will,
Withhold him, Lord, from pleasing ill.
And the destroyer's ways.

That poison of the Romish sect,
O let it not his soul infect,
With close serpentine art.
With bitter, persecuting zeal;
But from those mysteries of hell
Preserve his simple heart.

Surround him with Thy guardian power
When ended the Satanic hour,
And darkness flees away,
When infidels without disguise
Tear open his unwilling eyes.
And drag him into day.