Hymns for the Amusement of Children (1791)/Patience

For works with similar titles, see Patience.
212678Hymns for the Amusement of Children — Hymn XIX. Patience1791Christopher Smart

Karina Williamson notes: "The patience of Christ in accepting incarnation and crucifixion is cited in the Collect for the Sunday before Easter as an example for Christians to follow".

  1. 3—4. See Job 28:16—19, where said that wisdom (but not patience) to be more precious than jewels.
  2. 5—6. See Jubilate Agno B405 and n.
  3. 18. Him — in some other editions (71, 72, 72a, 75) him.
  4. 19. had nor — in some other editions (72, 72a, 86) had not.
  5. 17—20. See 1 Kings 17:5—6, and John 18:1. Here Smart mixes Elijah in the wilderness (who drank of the brook) with Jesus (who crossed Cedron).

HYMN XIX.

PATIENCE.

By sin and Satan un-intic't,
JOB, type of our Emmanuel Christ,
With all the gems he had in store,
None half so bright as Patience wore.[1]

5 JOB, son of Issachar, at length
Proves Patience is the child of Strength;[2]
Yet Jesus cou'd new pow'rs create,
And e'en in weakness made her great.

Long-suff'ring God, whose goodness can
10 Bear with, and bless provoking man;
Let us like thee attempt our parts,
And 'gainst false brethren arm our hearts.

Teach us in sickness to adore
Thine hand, and all our ills restore;
15 Or let us meditate in death,
On Thee — poor man of NAZARETH.

Teach me in poverty to think
Of Him[3] who drank on Cedron's brink;
But had nor[4] mansion-house, nor bread,
20 Or to repose him, or be fed.[5]

Teach me 'midst all the griefs below,
This transient State, this world of woe,
Submissive on my bended knee,
To take my cross and follow Thee.

Notes

This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.

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