Such may our young Josiah prove,
And make thy church his pious care,
Cherish with wise, paternal love,
And in his royal bosom bear!
Thyself, O Christ, his keeper be,
The guardian of thy flock defend,
And let the king rejoice in thee
His heavenly everlasting friend.
Such may our young Josiah prove
Hymnal/Album: Originally titled “Kings shall be thy nursing-fathers …”—[Isa.] xlix. 23. Introduced in Charles Wesley, Short Hymns on Select Passages of the Holy Scriptures, Vol. 1 (Bristol: Farley, 1762). Published in The Poetical Works of John and Charles Wesley, Collected and Arranged by G. Osborn, Vol. 9 (London: Wesleyan-Methodist Conference Office, 1870), page 433.
Publishing: Public Domain