Verse 1
But chiefly Those in Moses’ seat
The Sons of Levi, we revere,
To all their just commands submit
Honor their sacred Character
Their heavenly Office magnify
Servants and Priests of the Most-high.

Verse 2
Their Apostolic claim we own,
Their Right by Providence divine
From age to age deliver’d down
God’s covenants in his name to sign,
Watchmen of Israel’s house confest,
To guard and govern all the rest.

Verse 3
Of these if some their charge betray,
And careless, or ungodly live,
Must they not answer in that day
When call’d a strict account to give?
And shoud they not our pity move,
Demand our prayers, and tenderest love?

Verse 4
Whoe’er the fiery spirit feel,
Or good and bad alike decry,
We dare not rail with bitter zeal,
Or the whole Order vilify,
Or e’er expose a father’s shame,
And share the curse of impious Ham.

Verse 5
The men who as Gamaliel wise,
Stand still our whole design to see
Let them our actions scrutinize,
Till conquering their neutrality
Our lives over their doubts prevail
And truth weighs down the hovering scale.

Verse 6
If fiercely some the truth deny,
Shall we, incens’d, our patience lose,
Or with invectives keen reply,
Angry contempt, and foul abuse?
The wrath of man let God repress;
It worketh not his righteousness.

Verse 7
Humble, dispassionate, and meek,
As sheep before the shearers dumb,
Learn we to turn the other cheek
Till evil we with Good ore’come
Their furious enmity remove,
And melt their hatred into love.

Verse 8
But those that labour in the word
Worthy we count of double praise,
As abler servants of their Lord,
Distinguish’d Ministers of grace
Their faithful, tho’ obscure, Allies
We trace their footsteps to the skies.

Verse 9
O might we gain that heavenly Rest
Meanest of all the Prophet’s Sons,
Behold our Guides supremely blest,
Exalted to superior thrones,
With joy our elder brethren meet,
And shout triumphant at their feet!