After a night's rest in the home of a Minister and his family, Robert Burns left this poem. It reflects the poet's great weakness in readily relating to fellow humans but feeling God to be some far-off distant and largely incommunicable Force. In this poem we see how much Burns loved the family, but God seems like a High Court Judge.
How happier a life he would have had if he had embraced what the Gospel offers - that the Great Power might be more our friend, closer to us, than any human family. God is indeed the Highest of All but he is also our nearest and dearest too.
O Thou dread Pow'r, who reign'st above!
I know Thou wilt me hear;
When for this scene of peace and love,
I make this pray'r sincere.
The hoary Sire - the mortal stroke,
Long, long be pleas'd to spare;
To bless his little filial flock,
And show what good men are.
She, who her lovely Offspring eyes
With tender hopes and fears,
O bless her with a Mother's joys,
But spare a Mother's tears!
Their hope, their stay, their darling youth,
In manhood's dawning blush,
Bless him, Thou God of love and truth,
Up to a Parent's wish.
The beauteous, seraph Sister-band
With earnest tears I pray,
Thou know'st the snares on ev'ry hand,
Guide Thou their steps alway.
When, soon or late, they reach that coast,
O'er life's rough ocean driven,
May they rejoice, no wand'rer lost,
A family in Heaven!
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