God of our fathers! Thee we praise; <br />To-day, our grateful thanks ascend: <br />Accept these thanks-our cheerful lays <br />With organ's solemn chantings blend. <br /> <br /> <br />Thy grace the wretched drunkard found <br />Cast out, and weltering in his blood; <br />Now from his tongue doth praise resound- <br />He owes that praise to thee, O God! <br /> <br /> <br />Restored to virtue by thy hand, <br />The father, brother, son, arise; <br />From sin and wo reclaimed, they stand, <br />And swell thy praise with tearful eyes. <br /> <br /> <br />The mother, sister, daughter, too, <br />With tears of gratitude and praise, <br />Behold the change, and now, anew, <br />Receive their friends to their embrace. <br /> <br /> <br />No longer poverty and shame- <br />A sad inheritance-are theirs; <br />Their altered looks aloud proclaim <br />A happy change in their affairs. <br /> <br /> <br />Thanks, thanks, to thee, O God, we give! <br />What better tribute can we pay? <br />'T is on thy bounties that we live;- <br />We praise thee for this festal day!<br /><br />John Pierpont<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/temperance-hymn/
