James Montgomery

Prayer for Preservation from sinful Words.

With lawless lips, unbridled tongue,

In language, wanton or profane,

Never, good Lord, from us be wrung

A phrase to take Thy Name in vain.

For every idle word to Thee,

As each must give a strict account,

Well might we tremble, could we see,

Young as we are, the past amount.

Since, not by blasphemy alone,

When sinners curse Thee to Thy face,

A thought, a sign, a look, a tone,

May cast upon Thy Name disgrace.

Thy name they also desecrate,

Who read Thy Word, who pray, and praise,

Yet not on Thee in spirit wait,

Nor honour Thee in all their ways.

Thy Name! -- O by our mouth, that word

Be never spoken, -- in our heart

Conceived, -- or by our ear be heard,

Without remembering who Thou art: --

God, from eternity the same,

For ever blessing, ever blest;

Holy and reverend is Thy Name,

Why is it not by all confest?

Now, fire from heaven, Thy fire of love,

To sanctify our speech be sent,

Till, gather'd to the Church above,

Pure love shall be our element.