Prayer of the Slave
By Bernard Barton
O Father of the human race!
The white, the black, the bond, the free,
Thanks for thy gift of heavenly grace,
Vouchsafed through Jesus Christ to me.
This, ’mid oppression’s every wrong,
Has borne my sinking spirits up;
Made sorrow joyful, weakness strong,
And sweetened Slavery’s bitter cup.
Hath not a Saviour’s dying hour
Made e’en the yoke of thraldom light?
Hath not thy Holy Spirit’s power
Made bondage freedom? darkness bright?
Thanks then, O Father! for the gift
Which through thy Gospel thou hast given,
Which thus from bonds and earth can lift
The soul to liberty and heaven.
But not the less I mourn their shame,
Who, mindless of thy gracious will,
Call on the holy Father’s name,
Yet keep their brethren bondmen still.
Forgive them, Lord! for Jesus’ sake;
And when the slave thou hast unbound,
The chains which bind the oppressor break!
Thus be thy love’s last triumph crowned.