Characters of the Children of God

So new-born babes desire the breast,
To feed, and grow, and thrive;

So new-born babes desire the breast,
To feed, and grow, and thrive;
So saints with joy the gospel taste,
And by the gospel live.

With inward gust their heart approves
All that the word relates;
They love the men their Father loves,
And hate the works he hates.

Not all the flatt’ring baits on earth
Can make them slaves to lust;
They can’t forget their heav’nly birth,
Nor grovel in the dust.

Not all the chains that tyrants use
Shall bind their souls to vice;
Faith, like a conqueror, can produce
A thousand victories.

Grace, like an uncorrupting seed,
Abides and reigns within;
Immortal principles forbid
The sons of God to sin.

Not by the terrors of a slave
Do they perform his will,
But with the noblest powers they have
His sweet commands fulfill.

They find access at every hour
To God within the veil;
Hence they derive a quick’ning power,
And joys that never fail.

O happy souls! O glorious state
Of overflowing grace!
To dwell so near their Father’s seat,
And see his lovely face!

Lord, I address thy heav’nly throne;
Call me a child of thine;
Send down the Spirit of thy Son
To form my heart divine.

There shed thy choicest loves abroad,
And make my comforts strong:
Then shall I say, “My Father God!”
With an unwav’ring tongue.

Isaac Watts