What though false reports are started, and believed by those we love?
We can love though they turn from us; we can plead for them above;
Lord, impart the Holy Spirit; for the want of this they erred;
Had they waited for thy teachings, they the Shepherd’s voice had heard;
Would have known thy stately steppings, when thy glory was displayed;
Would have felt the holy influence, and thine urgent call obeyed.
Oh! withhold no blessing from them, for the wrong dealt out to me,
But for Jesus’ sake have mercy; mercy, Lord, is all our plea.
Jesus has pronounced a blessing on those falsely here accused,
Who for his sake are derided, persecuted and abused;