"I Am, I Can, I Ought, I Will."

by J. Gregory Smith, P.U.S.
Volume 17, no. 6, June 1906, pg. 467

The God of Israel spake: "I AM,
Be thou as I would have thee be,
Break down all ill, rise up in strength."
Thus would I be.

"I can destroy the House of God,
And build it up within a span;
Thou canst build up thy soul to me."
This Lord, I can.

We ought to pray and not to faint,
To help all men in deed and thought
And love the Lord above all else.
All this I ought.

Yes, I will cleanse thee, be thou clean!
With clearer truth thy soul will fill,
If thou wilt try to follow me."
O Lord I will!

I am a child of Jesus Christ,
I can my heart with increase fill,
I ought to love Him more and more,
And so I will.

J. Gregory-Smith, P.U.S.

Proofread by LNL, Jul. 2008