Matthew 19: The truth of love's simplicity

The truth of love's simplicity
Which leads us to partake with Thee
An everlasting throne.

Passing through life in every stage,
Our childhood and maturer age
Upon Himself he took,
Every estate to sanctify
And save whoe'er to Him apply
And for His blessing look.

Our Model, the meek Son of Man,
Did here the characters sustain
Of youth and infancy:
Old age alone did not become
The God who did my flesh assume,
And died a Lamb for me.

Ah! Lord, we must with shame confess.
Though Thou art ready still to bless
Few in their harmless infancy
Will let their babes be brought to Thee:
We tremble lest Thy gracious touch
Should make them righteous overmuch,
Defeat our worldly hopes, and aim,
And brand them with their Master's shame.

We fear lest when Thy grace o'erpowers.
Our children should be Thine, not ours:
Should unto God their hearts resign,
And only 'seek the things Divine:
We never shall devote our race.
Or yield them up to Thine embrace;
O'erwhelm'd with our own misery
Unless we come ourselves to Thee.