Grace Before Meat

Parent of good, whose plenteous grace
O'er all Thy creatures flows,
Humbly we ask Thy power to bless
The food Thy love bestows.

Thy love provides the sober feast:
A second gift impart,—
Give us with joy our food to taste,
And with a single heart.

Let it for Thee new life afford,
For Thee our strength repair,
Blest by Thine all-sustaining word,
And sanctified by prayer.

Thee let us taste; nor toil below
For perishable meat:
The manna of Thy love bestow,
Give us Thy flesh to eat.

Life of the world, our souls to feed
Thyself descend from high!
Grant us of Thee the Living Bread
To eat, and never die!