Hymns and Sacred Poems (1749), Hymn 12: Before Any Work of Charity

Jesu, by highest heavens adored,
The church's glorious Head;
With humble joy I call Thee, Lord,
And in Thy footsteps tread.

Emptied of all Thy greatness here
While in the body seen,
Thou wouldst the least of all appear,
And minister to men.

A servant to Thy servants Thou
In Thy debased estate,
How meekly did Thy goodness bow
To wash Thy followers' feet!

And shall a worm refuse to stoop,
His fellow-worms disdain?
I give my vain distinctions up,
Since God did wait on man.

At charity's almighty call
I lay my greatness by,
The least of saints, I wait on all,
The chief of sinners I.

Happy, if I their grief may cheer,
And mitigate their pain,
And wait upon the servants here,
Till with the Lord I reign.