“- 15 G3

 
 

DIVINE AND MORAL

SONGS FOR CHILDREN.

BY ISAAC WATTS, D.D,

VENA RRA RRA

LONDON?)
THE RELIGIOUS TRACY SOCIETY,
56 PATERNOSTER Row, 65 St. Pauts CHURCHYARD, AND
164 PICCADILLY.
 

INDEX.

DIVINE SONGS.

ALMIGHTY GoD, thy piercing eye 00
And now another day is gone.. Be ve
Angels, that high in glory dwell..

Be you to others kind and true Pe Re

Bless’d be the wisdom and the power .. 00
Give to the Father praise fs
Great God, to thee my voice I raise .. o
Great God, with wonder and with praise ..

Happy the child whose youngest years.. a
Hosanna to King David's Son ..

Hosanna to the Prince of grace .. a 00
TIosanna to the Son me Bt ee te

How doth the little busy bee ee oe 00

How glorious is our heavenly King .. ae
I sing the almighty power of God- Po a
Let children that would fear the Lord...

Let dogs delight to bark and bite a 00

Lord, how delightful ’tis to see

Lord, I ascribe it to thy grace .. a ate
iv INDEX.

Love God with all your soul and strength.. ie oe
My God, who makes the sun to know ..

Now let the Father, and the Son

Oh, ’tis a lovely thing for youth .. es

Our tongues were made to bless the Lord..

The praises of my tongue

There is a God that reigns above

There is beyond the sky .. ae 80

This is the day when Christ arose

Thou shalt have no other gods but me..

To God the Father, God the Son... a Pye PY
What bless’d examples do I find.. me res te
Whatever brawls disturb the street ..

Whene’er I take my walks abroad

Why should I join with those in play

Why should I love my sports so well ..

Why should I say, ‘‘"Tis yet too soon” .. 2a a
Why should our garments, made to hide ve ee
With all thy soul love God above

MORAL SONGS.

ABROAD in the meadows to see the young lambs
How fair is the rose! What a beautiful flower... ve

How fine has the day been! How bright was the sun! ..

Hush, my dear, lie still and slumber .
These emmets, how little they are in our ell
Though I’m now in younger days . z
’Tis the voice of the sluggard; I heard him eoroplain
Why should I deprive my neighbour

PAGE
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48
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31
37
18
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52
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42
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59
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68
69
63
65
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61
DIVINE SONGS

FOR CHILDREN.

 

A GENERAL SONG OF PRAISE TO GOD

1. HOW glorious is our heavenly King,
‘Who reigns above the sky!
How shall a child presume to sing
His dreadful majesty !
A2
DIVINE SONGS FOR CHILDREN.

2 How great his power is none can tell,
Nor think how large his grace ;
Not men below, nor saints that dwell
On high before his face.

3 Not angels that stand round the Lord
Can search his secret will ;

But they perform his heavenly word,
And sing his praises still.

4 Then let me join this holy train,
And my first offerings bring ;
The eternal God will not disdain
To hear an infant sing.

5 My heart resolves, my tongue obeys,
And angels shall rejoice,
To hear their mighty Maker's praise
Sound from a feeble voice.

 
 

PRAISE FOR CREATION.

1 I SING the almighty power of God,
That made the mountains rise ;
That spread the flowing seas abroad,
And built the lofty skies.

2 I sing the wisdom that ordain’d
The sun to rule the day ;
The moon shines full at his command.
And all the stars obey.

3 I sing the goodness of the Lord,
That fill’d the earth with food ;
He form’d the creatures with his word

And then pronounced them good- :
DIVINE SONGS FOR CHILDREN.

4 Lord, how thy wonders are display’d
Where’er I turn mine eye;
If I survey the ground I tread,
Or gaze upon the sky!

5 There’s not a plant or flower below,
But makes thy glories known ;.
And clouds arise, and tempests blow,
By order from thy throne.

6 Creatures (as numerous as they be)
Are subject to thy care ;
There’s not a place where we can flee,
But God is present there.

7 In heaven he shines with beams of love,
With wrath in hell beneath ;
’Tis on his earth I stand or move,
And ’tis his air I breathe.

8 His hand is my perpetual guard,
He keeps me with his eye:
Why should I then forget the Lord,
Who is for ever nigh ?

 
 

PRAISE TO GOD FOR OUR REDEMPTION.

1 BLESS’D be the wisdom and the power,
The justice and the grace,
That join’d in council to restore,
And save our ruin’d race.

2 Our father ate forbidden fruit,
And from his glory fell ;
And we his children thus were brought
To death, and near to hell.

3 Bless’d be the Lord, that sent his Son
To take our flesh and blood ;
He for our lives gave up his own,
To make eur peace with God.
10 DIVINE SONGS FOR CHILDREN.

4 He lionour’d all his Father’s laws,
Which we have disobey’d ;
He bore our sins upon the cross,
And the full ransom paid.

5 Behold him rising from the grave,
' __ Behold him raised on high;

He pleads his merits there to save
Transgressors doom’d to die.

6 There on a glorious throne he reigns,
And by his power Divine,
Redeems us from the slavish chains
Of Satan and of sin. “*

7 Thence shall the Lord to judgment come,
And, with a sovereign voice,
Shall call and break up every tomb,
While waking saints rejoice.

8 Oh may I then with joy appear
Before the Judge’s face ;
And with the bless’d assembly there,
Sing his redeeming grace.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRAISE FOR MERCIES SPIRITUAL AND
TEMPORAL.

1 WHEN®’ER I take my walks abroad,
How many poor I see !
What shall I render to my God
For all his gifts to me?

2 Not more than others I deserve,
Yet God hath given me more;
For I have food while others starve,
Or beg from door to door.

3 How many children in the street
Half naked I behold;
While I am clothed from head to feet,
And cover’d from the cold!
12 DIVINE SONGS FOR CHILDREN.

4 While some poor wretches scarce can tell
‘Where they may lay their head,
I have a home wherein to dwell,
And rest upon my bed.

5 While others early learn to swear,
And curse, and lie, and steal ;
Lord, I am taught thy name to fear,
And do thy holy will.

6 Are these thy favours day by day,
To me above the rest ?
Then let me love thee more than they,
And try to serve thee best.

 

 
 

PRAISE FOR BIRTH AND EDUCATION IN
A CHRISTIAN LAND.

1 GREAT God, to thee my voice I raise;
To thee my youngest hours belong ;
I would begin my life with praise,
Till growing years improve the song.

2 ’Tis to thy sovereign grace I owe,
That I was born on British ground ;
Where streams of heavenly mercy flow,
And words of sweet. salvation sound.

8 I would not change my native land
For rich Peru with all her gold;
A nobler prize lies in my hand
Than east or western Indies hold.
B
14

DIVINE SONGS FOR CHILDREN.

4 How do I pity those that dwell

Where ignorance and darkness reign ;
They know no heaven, they fear no hell,
Those endless joys! those endless pains !

Thy glorious promises, O Lord,
Kindle my hopes and my desire;
While all the preachers of thy word
‘Warn me to escape eternal fire.

Thy praise shall still employ my breath,
Since thou hast mark’d my way to heaven;
Nor will I run the road to death,

Nor waste the blessings thou hast given.

 
 

PRAISE FOR THE GOSPEL.

1 LORD, I ascribe it to thy grace,
And not to chance, as others do,
That I was born of Christian race,
And not a heathen or a Jew.
2 What would the ancient Jewish kings,
And Jewish prophets, once have given,
Could they have heard those ¢/orious things
Which Christ reveal’d and brought from heaven!
3 How glad the heathen would have been,
That worshipp’d idols, wood and stone,
If they the book of God had seen,
Or Jesus and his gospel known!
4 Then if this gospel I refuse,
How shall I e’er lift up mine eyes?
For all the Gentiles and the Jews
Against me will in judgment rise.
 

THE EXCELLENCY OF THE BIBLE.

1 GREAT God, with wonder and with praise
On all thy works I look ;
But still thy wisdom, power, and grace
Shine brightest in thy book.

2, The stars that in their courses roll
Have much instruction given ;
But thy good word informs my soul
How I may climb to heaven.

8 The fields provide me food, and show
+ The goodness of the Lord ;
But fruits of life and glory grow
In thy most holy word.
DIVINE SONGS FOR CHILDREN. 17

4 Here aramy choicest treasures hid,
Here my best comfort lies,
Here my desires are satisfied,
And hence my hopes arise.

5 Lord, make me understand thy law,
Show what my faults have been;

_ And from thy gospel let me draw
Pardon for all my sin.

6 Here would I learn how Christ has died,
To save my soul from hell;
Not all the books on earth beside
Such heavenly wonders tell.

7 Then let me love my Bible more,
And take a fresh delight,
By day to read these wonders o’er,
And meditate by night.

 

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PRAISE TO GOD FOR LEARNING TO
READ.

1 THE praises of my tongue
I offer to the Lord,
That I was taught, and learn’d so young,
To read his holy word:

2 That I am brought to know
The danger I was in ;
By nature and by practice too,
A wretched slave to sin:

3 That I am led to see
I can do nothing well;
And whither shall a sinner flee,
To save himself from hell ?
DIVINE SONGS FOR CHYLDREN. 19

4 Dear Lord, this book of thine,
Informs me where to go,
For grace to pardon all my sin,
And make me holy too.

5 Here I can read and learn -
How Christ, the Son of God,
Did undertake our great concern :
Our ransom cost his blood.

6 And now he reigns above,
He sends his Spirit down,
To show the wonders of his love,
And make his gospel known.

7 Ob may that Spirit teach,
And make my heart receive,
Those truths which all thy servants preach,
And all thy saints believe !

8 Then shall I praise the Lord
In a more cheerful strain,
That I was taught to read his word,
And have not learn’d in vain.

 
 

THE ALL~SEEING GOD.

1 ALMIGHTY God, thy piercing eye
Strikes through the shades of night ;
And our most secret actions lie
All open to thy sight.

2 There’s not a sin that we commit,
Nor wicked word we say,
But in thy dreadful book ’tis writ,
Against the judgment day.

8 And must the crimes that I have done
Be read and publish’d there ;
Be all exposed before the sun,
While men and angels hear?
DIVINE SONGS FOR CHILDREN.. 21

4 Lord, at thy foot ashamed I lie;
Upward I dare not look ;
Pardon my sins before I die,
And blot them from thy book.

5 Remember all the dying pains
That my Redeemer felt,
And let his blood wash out my stains,
And answer for my guilt.

G Oh may I now for ever fear
To indulge a sinful thought ;
Since the great God can see and hear,
And writes down every fault.

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SOLEMN THOUGHTS ON GOD AND
DEATH.

1 THERE is a God that reigns above,
Lord of the heavens, and earth, and seas;
I fear his wrath, I ask his love,
And with my lips I sing his praise.

2 There is a law which he has writ,
To teach us all what we must do;
My soul, to his commands submit,
For they are holy, just, and true.
DIVINE SONGS FCR CHILDREN. 23

There is a gospel of rich grace,

Whence sinners all their comforts draw ;
Lord, I repent, and seek thy face,

For I have often broke thy law.

There is an hour when I must die,
Nor can I tell how soon ’twill come ;
A thousand children, young as I,

Are call’d by death to hear their doom.

Let me improve the hours I have,
Before the day of grace is fled ;
There’s no repentance in the grave,
Nor pardon offer’d to the dead.

Just as a tree cut down, that fell

To north or southward, there it lies;
So man departs to heaven or hell,
Fix’d in the state wherein he dies.

 
 

 

HEAVEN AND HELL.

1 ‘THERE is beyond the sky
A heaven of joy and love;
And holy children, when they die,
Go to that world above.
2 There is a dreadful hell,
And everlasting pains ;
Where sinners must with devils dwell,
In darkness, fire, and chains.
3 Can such a wretch as I
liscape this cursed end ?
And may I hope, whene’er I dic,
I shall to heaven ascend ?
4 Then I for grace will pray,
While I have life and breath;
Lest I should be cut off to-day,
And sent to eternal death.
\

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THE ADVANTAGES OF EARLY RELIGION

1 HAPPY the child whose youngest years
Receive instruction well ;
Who hates the sinner’s path, and fears
The road that leads to hell.

2 When we devote our youth to God,
"Tis pleasing in his eyes:
A flower, when offer’d in the bud,
Ts no vain sacrifice.

3 Tis easier work if we begin
To fear the Lord betimes ;
While sinners, that grow old in sin,
Are harden’d in their crimes.
26 DIVINE SONGS FOR CHILDREN.

4 ’Twill save us from a thousand snares
To mind religion young ;
Grace will preserve our following years,
And make our virtue strong,

5 To thee, Almighty God, to thee
Our childhood we resign;
'?’Trwill please us to look back and see
That our whole lives were thine.

6 Let the sweet work of prayer and praise
Employ my youngest breath;
Thus I’m prepared for longer days,
Or fit for early death.

 
 

THE DANGER OF DELAY.

1 WHY should I say, ‘‘’Tis yet too soon .
To seek for heaven, or think of death ?”
A flower may fade before ’tis noon,

And I this day may lose my breath.

2 If this rebellious heart of mine
Despise the gracious call of Heaven,
I may be harden’d in my sin,
And never have repentance given.

3 What if the Lord grow wroth and swear,
While I refuse to read and pray,
That he’ll refuse to lend an ear
To all my groans another day !
28 DIVINE SONGS FOR CHILDREN.

4 What if his dreadful anger burn,
While I refuse his offer’d grace ;
And all his love to fury turn,

And strike me dead upon the place !

5 ’Tis dangerous to provoke a God;
His power and vengeance none can tell :
One stroke of his almighty rod
Can send young sinners quick to hell.

6 Then ’twill for ever be in vain
To ery for pardon and for grace;
To wish I had my time again,
Or hope to see my Maker’s face.

 
 

EXAMPLES OF EARLY PIETY.

1 WHAT bless’d examples do I find
Writ in the word of truth,
Of children that began to mind
Religion in their youth!

2 Jesus, who reigns above the sky,
And keeps the world in awe,
‘Was once a child as young as I,
And kept his Father’s law.

3 At twelve years old he talk’d with men,
(The Jews all wondering stand ;)
Yet he obey’d his mother then,
And came at her command.
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30 DIVINE SONGS FOR CHILDREN.

4 Children a sweet hosanna sung,
And bless’d their Saviour’s name ;
They gave him honour with their tongue,
While scribes and priests blaspheme.

5 Samuel, the child, was wean’d, and brought
To wait upon the Lord;
Young Timothy betimes was taught
To know his holy word.

6 Then why should I so long delay
‘What others learn’d so soon ?
I would not pass another day
Without this work begun.

 
 

AGAINST LYING.

1 OH, ’tis a lovely thing for youth
To walk betimes in wisdom’s way,
To fear a lie, to speak the truth,
That we may trust to all they say!

2 But liars we can never trust,
Tho’ they should speak the thing that’s true;
And he that does one fault at first,
And lies to hide it, makes it two.

3 Have we not known, nor heard, nor read,
How God abhors deceit and wrong ?
How Ananias was struck dead,

Caught with a lic upon his tongue?

wig”
82 DIVINE SONGS FOR CHILDREN.

4 §$o did his wife Sapphira die,
When she came in, and grew so bold
As to confirm the wicked lie
That just before her husband told.

5 The Lord delights in them that speak
The words of truth; but every lar
Must have his portion in the lake
That burns with brimstone and with fire.

6 Then let me always watch my lips,
Lest I be struck to death and hell;
Since God a book of reckoning keeps
For every lie that children tell.

 
 

AGAINST QUARRELLING AND FIGHTING.

1 LET dogs delight to bark and bite,
For God hath made them so;
Let bears and lions growl and fight,
For ’tis their nature too.

2 But, children, you should never let
Such angry passions rise ;

Your little hands were never made
To tear each other’s eyes.
34 DIVINE SONGS FOR CHILDREN,

3 Let love through all your actions run,
And all your words be mild;
Live like the blessed virgin’s Son,
That sweet and lovely Child.

4 His soul was gentle as a lamb ;
And, as his stature grew,
He grew in favour both with man,
And God his Father too.

5 Now, Lord of all, he reigns above,
And from his heavenly throne,
He sees what children dwell in love,
And marks them for his own.

 
 

LOVE BETWEEN BROTHERS AND
SISTERS.

1 WHATEVER brawls disturb the street,
There should be peace at home ;
Where sisters dwell, and brothers meet,
Quarrels should never come.

2 Birds in their little nests agree,
And ’tis a shameful sight,
When children of one family
Fall out, and chide, and fight.

3 Hard names at first, and threatening words,
That are but noisy breath,
May grow to clubs and naked swords,
To murder and to death.
36 DIVINE SONGS FOR CHILDREN.

4 The devil tempts one mother’s son
To rage against another ;
So wicked Cain was hurried on,
Till he had kill’d his brother.

5 The wise will let their anger cool,
At least before ’tis night!
But in the bosom of a fool
Tt burns till morning light.

6 Pardon, O Lord, our childish rage,
Our little brawls remove ;
That, as we grow to riper age,
Our hearts may all be love.

 
 

AGAINST SCOFFING AND CALLING
NAMES.

1 OUR tongues were made to bless the Lord,
And not speak ill of men ;
When others give a railing word,
We must not rail again.

2 Cross names and angry words require
To be chastised at school ;
And he’s in danger of hell fire,
That calls his brother fool.

3 But lips that dare be so profane,
To mock, and jeer, and scoff
At holy things, or holy men,
The Lord shall -ut them off.
38 DIVINE SONGS FOR CHILDREN.

4 When children, in thcir wanton play,
Served old Elisha so ;
And bade the prophet go his way :—
‘Go up, thou bald-head, go!”

5 God quickly stopp’d their wicked breath
And sent two raging bears,
That tore them limb from limb to death,
With blocd, and groans, and tears.

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6 Great God, how terrible art thou
To sinners e’er so young!
Grant me thy grace, and teach me how
To tame and rule my tongue.

 
 

AGAINST SWEARING, CURSING, AND
TAKING GOD'S NAME IN VAIN.

1 ANGELS, that high in glory dwell,
Adore thy name, Almighty God!
And devils tremble down in hell,
Beneath the terrors of thy rod.

2 And yet how wicked children dare
Abuse thy dreadful, glorious name!
And when they’re angry, how they swear,
And curse their fellows, and blaspheme !

38 How will they stand before thy face,
Who treated thee with such disdain,
While thou shalt doom them to the place
Of everlasting fire and pain !
40

DIVINE SONGS FOR CHILDREN.

4 Then never shall one cooling drop

To quench their burning tongues be given;
But I will praise thee here, and hope
Thus to employ my tongue in heaven.

My heart shall be in pain to hear
Wretches affront the Lord above :

Tis that great God whose power I fear,
That heavenly Father whom I love.

If my companions grow profane, . .

Tl leave their friendship, when I hear
Young sinners take thy name in vain,
And learn to curse, and learn to swear,

 
 

AGAINST IDLENESS AND MISCHIEF.

1 HOW doth the little busy bee
Improve each shining hour,
And gather honey all the day
From every opening flower !
2 How skilfully she builds her cell !
How neat she spreads the wax !
And labours hard to store it well
With the sweet food she makes.
8 In works of labour or of skill
I would be busy too ;
For Satan finds some mischief still
For idle hands to do.
4 In books, or work, or healthful play,
Let my first years be past;
That I may give for every day
Some good account at last,
D2
 

AGAINST EVIL COMPANY.

1 WHY should I join with those in play
In whom I’ve no delight ;
Who curse and swear, but never pray ;
Who call ill names and fight ?

2 I hate to hear a wanton song,
The words offend mine cars :
I should not dare defile my tongue
With language such as theirs.

8 Away from fools I’ll turn mine eyes,
Nor with the scoffers go ;
I would be walking with the wise,
That wiser I may grow.
DIVINE SONGS FOR CHILDREN. 43

4 From one rude boy that’s used to mock,
They learn the wicked jest :
Une sickly sheep infects the flock,
And poisons all the rest.

5 My God, I hate to walk or dwell
With sinful children here ;
Then let me not be sent to hell,

Where none but sinners are.

   

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AGAINST PRIDE IN CLOTHES.

1 WHY should our garments, made to hide
Our parents’ shame, provoke our pride?
The art of dress did ne’er begin,

Till Eve, our mother, Icarn’d to sin.

2 When first she put the covering on,
Her robe of innocence was gone;
And yet her children vainly boast
In the sad marks of glory lost.

3 How proud we are, how fond to show
Our clothes, and call them rich and new;
When the poor sheep and silkworm wore
That very clothing long before!
DIVINE SONGS FOR CHILDREN. 45

4 The tulip and the butterfly
' Appear in gayer coats than I.
Let me be dress’d fine as I will,
Flies, worms, and flowers exceed me still.

5 Then will I set my heart to find
Inward adornings of the mind ;
Knowledge and virtue, truth and grace,
These are the robes of richest dress.

6 No more shall worms with me compare,
This is the raiment angels wear ;
The Son of God, when here below,
Put on this bless’d apparel too.

7 It never fades, it ne’er grows old,
Nor fears the rain, nor moth, nor mould 3
It takes no spot, but still refines ;
The more ’tis worn, the more it shines.

8 In this on earth would I appear,
Then go to heaven and wear it there;
God will approve it in his sight,

Tis his own work and his delight.

 
 

OBEDIENCE TO PARENTS

1 LET children that would fear the Lord
Hear what their teachers say :
With reverence hear their parents’ word,
And with delight obey.
2 Have you not heard what dreadful plagues
Ayre threaten’d by the Lord,
To him that breaks his father’s laws,
Or mocks his mother’s word ?
3 What heavy guilt upon him lies!
How cursed is his name !
The ravens shall pick out his cyes,
And eagles eat the same.

4 But those that worship God, and give
Their parents honour due,
Here on this carth they long shall live,
And live hereafter too.
 

 

 

 

 

THE CHILD'S COMPLAINT.

1 WHY should I love my sport so well,
So constant at my play ;
And lose the thoughts of heaven and hell,
And then forget to pray ?

2 What do I read my Bible for,
But, Lord, to learn thy will ?
And shall I daily know thee more,
And less obey. thee still ?

3 How senseless is my heart, and wild!
How vain are all my thoughts !
Pity the weakness of a child,
And pardon all my faults.
4 Make me thy heavenly voice to hear,
And let me love to pray ;
Since God will lend a gracious ear
To what a child can say.

 
 

  

i
A MORNING SONG.

1 MY God, who makes the sun to know
His proper hour to rise,
And, to give light to all below,
Doth send him round the skies.

2 When from the chambers of the east
His morning race begins,
He never tires nor stops to rest,
But round the world he shines.

3 So, like the sun, would I fulfil
The business of the day ;
Begin my work betimes, and still
March on my heavenly way.
4 Give me, O Lord, thine early grace,
Nor let my soul complain,
That the young morning of my days
Has all been spent in vain.

 
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AN EVENING SONG.

1 AND now another day is gone,
Tl sing my Maker’s praise 5
My comforts every hour make known
His providence and grace.
2 But how my childhood runs to waste !
My sins, how great their sum!
Lord, give me pardon for the past,
And strength for days to come.
3 I lay my body down to sleep,
Let angels guard my head,
And through the hours of darkness keep
Their watch around my bed.
4 With cheerful heart I close mine eyes,
Since thou wilt not remove ;
And in the morning let me rise
Rejoicing in thy love.
wt

 

FOR THE LORD'S DAY MORNING.

1 THIS is the day when Christ arose
So early from the dead;
Why should I keep mine eyelids close,
And waste my hours in bed ?

2 This is the day when Jesus broke
The powers of death and hell;
And shall I still wear Satan’s yoke,
And love my sins so well?
3 To-day with pleasure Christians meet,
To pray and hear thy word;
And I would go, with cheerful fect,
To learn thy will, O Lord.
4 T’ll leave my sport to read and pray,
And so prepare for heaven :
Oh may I love this blessed day
The best of all the seven !
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOR THE LORD'S DAY EVENING

1 LORD, how delightful ’tis to see
A whole assembly worship thee !

_ At once they sing, at once they pray ;
They hear of heayen, and learn the way.

2 I have been there, and still would go,
’Tis like a little heaven below ;

Not all my pleasure and my play
Shall tempt me to forget this day.

3 Oh, write upon my memory, Lord,

The texts and doctrines of thy word ;
That I may break thy laws no more,
But love thee better than before.

4 With thoughts of Christ, and things divine,
Fill up this foolish heart of mine; ._
That, hoping pardon through his blood,
I may lie down and wake with God.
 

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.

THOU shalt have no other gods but me;
Before no idol bow thy knee;

Take not the name of God in vain;

Nor dare the sabbath day profane ;

Give both thy parents honour due ;

Take heed that thou no murder do;
Abstain from words and deeds unclean ;
Nor steal, though thou art poor and mean;
Nor make a wilful lie, nor love it ;

What is thy neighbour’s dare not: covet.

THE SUM OF THE COMMANDMENTS.

WITH all thy soul love God above,
And as thyself thy neighbour love.
a i (ee

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OUR SAVIOUR’S GOLDEN, RULE.
MATT, VII, 12,

BE you to others kind and true,
As you'd have others be to you;
And neither do nor say to men
“Whate’er you would not take « again.

 

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MNUTY TO GOD AND OUR NEIGHBOUR.

1 LOVE God with all your soul and strength
With all your heart and mind ;
And love your neighbour as yourself:
Be faithful, just, and kind.

2 Deal with another as you'd have
Another deal with you:

_ What you’re unwilling to receive,
Ge sure you never do.
  

THE HOSANNA; OR, SALVATION
ASCRIBED TO CHRIST.

1 ILOSANNA to king David’s Son,
Who reigns on a superior throne;
We bless the Prince of heavenly birth,
Who brings salvation down to carth.

wo

Let every nation, every age,

In this delightful work engage,
Old men and babes in Sion sing
The growing glorics of her King.

1 IIOSANNA to the Prince of grace:
Sion, behold thy King !
Proclaim the Son of David’s race,
And teach the babes to sing.

~

TTosanna to the eternal Word,
Who from the Father came :

Ascribe salvation to the Lord,
With blessings on his name.
56 DIVINE SONGS FOR CHILDREN.

“1 HOSANNA to the Son
Of David and of God,
Who brought the news of pardon down,
And bought it with his blood.

2 To Christ, the anointed King,
Be endless blessings given :
Let the whole earth his glories sing,
Who made our peace with heaven.

GLORY TO THE FATHER, AND TO THE SON, ETC.

TO God the Father, God the Son,

And God the Spirit, Three in One,
Be honour, praise, and glory given,
By all on earth, and all in heaven.

NOW let the Father, and the Son,
And Spirit be adored,

Where there are works to make him known,
Or saints to love the Lord.

GIVE to the Father praise,
Give glory to the Son;

And to the Spirit of his grace
Be equal honour done.

 

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THE SLUGGARD.

1 ’TIS the voice of the sluggard ; I heard him com-
plain,
“You have waked me too soon, I must slumber
again.”
As the door on its hinges, so he on his bed,
Turns ae sides, and his shoulders, and his heavy
ead.

2A little more sleep, and a little more slumber ;”
Thus he wastes half his days, and his hours with-
out number :
And when he gcts up he sits folding his hands,
Or walks about saunt’ring, or trifling he stands.
58 _ MORAL. SONGS FOR CHILDREN.

3 I pass’d by his garden, and saw the wild brier,
The thorn and the thistle grow broader and higher ;
The clothes that hang on him are turning to rags ;
And his money still wastes, till he starves or he

begs.
4 I made him a visit, still hoping to find

He had took better care for improving his mind:
He told me his dreams, talk’d of eating and drink-

ing;
But he scarce reads his Bible, and never loves
thinking.

5 Said I then to my heart, “ Here’s a lesson for me,
This man’s but a picture of what I might be: .
But thanks to my friends for their care in my

breeding,
Who taught me betimes to love working and read-
ing.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

INNOCENT PLAY.

1 ABROAD in the meadows to see the young lambs
Run sporting about by the side of their dams,
With fleeces so clean and so white 3
Or a nest of young doves, in a large open cage,
When they play all in love, without anger andrage:
How much we may learn from the sight !

2 If we had been ducks, we might dabble in mud,
Or dogs, we might play till it ended in blood :
So foul and so fierce are their natures: 7
But Thomas and William, and such pretty names,
Should be cleanly and harmlessasdovesoras lambs,
Those lovely sweet innocent creatures.

3 Not a thing that we do, nor a word that we say,
hould injure another in jesting or play ;
For he’s still in earnest that’s hurt :,
How rude are the boysthatthrow pebbles andmire
There’s none but a madman will fling about fire,
And tell you, “Tis all but in sport.”
 

THE ROSE.

1 HOW fair is the rose! What a beautiful flower!
The glory of April and May ;
But the leaves are beginning to fade in an hour,
And they wither and die in a day.

2 Yet the rose has one powerful virtue to boast,
Above all the flowers of the field ;
When its leaves are all dead, and fine colours are
lost,
Still how sweet a perfume it will yield!

3 So frail is the youth and the beauty of man,
Though they bloom and look gay like a rose ;
But all our fond care to preserve them is vain,
Time kills them as fast as he goes.

4 Then I'll not be proud of my youth or my beauty,
Since both of them wither and fade ;
But gain a good name by well doing my duty ;
This will scent like a rose when I’m dead,
 

THE THIEF,

1 WHY should I deprive my neighbour
Of his goods against his will P
Hands were made for honest labour,
Not to plunder or to steal.

2 ’Tis a foolish self-deceiving,
By such tricks to hope for gain ;
All that’s ever got by thieving
Turns to sorrow, shame, and pain.

3 Have not Eve and Adam taught us
Their sad profit to compute ;
To what dismal state they brought us,
When they stole forbidden fruit ?
FP
62 MORAL SONGS FOR CHILDREN.

4 Oft we see a young beginner
Practise little pilfering ways,
Till grown up a harden’d sinner,
Then the gallows ends his days.

5 Theft will not be always hidden,
Though we fancy none can spy ;
When we take a thing forbidden,
God beholds it with his eye.

6 Guard my heart, O God of heaven,
Lest I covet what’s not mine;
Lest I take what is not given,
Guard my heart and hands from sin,

 
 

THE ANT, OR EMMET.

1 THESE emmets, how little they are in our eyes!
We tread them to dust, and a troop of them dies,
Without our regard or concern ;
Yet, wise as we are, if we went to their school,
There’s many asluggard and many a fool
Some lessons of wisdom might learn.

2 They wear not their time out in sleeping or play,
But gather up corn on a sunshiny day,
And for winter they Jay up their stores ;
They manage their work in such regular forms,
One would think they foresaw all the frost and the
storms,
And so brought their food within doors.
3 But I have less sense than a poor creeping ant,
Tf I take not good care of the things I shall want,
Nor provide against dangers in time ;
When death or old age shall once stare in my face,
What awretch shall I be in the end of my days,
If I trifle away all their prime !

 
64 MORAL SONGS FOR CHILDREN,

4, Now, now, while my strength and my youth are
in bloom,
Let me think what shall serve me when sickness
shall come,
And pray that my sins be forgiven :
Let me read in good books, and believe, and obey,
That when death turns me out of this cottage of
clay,
I may dwell in a palace in heaven.

 
 

GOOD RESOLUTIONS.

1 THOUGH I’m now in younger days,
‘Nor can tell what shall befall me,
T'll prepare for every place,
Where my growing age shall call me.

2 Should I e’er be rich or great,
Others shall partake my goodness :
Tl supply the poor with meat,
Never showing scorn or rudeness.

3 Where I see the blind or lame,
Deaf or dumb, I'll kindly treat them ;
I deserve to feel the same,
If I mock, or hurt, or cheat them.

F2
66 MORAL SONGS FOR CHILDREN.

4 If I meet with railing tongues,
Why should I return their railing P
Since [ best revenge my wrongs,
By my patience never failing.

5 When I hear them telling lies,
Talking foolish, cursing, swearing ;
First I'll strive to make them wise,
Or I'll soon go out of hearing.

 

6 What though I be low and mean,
Tl engage the rich tv love me;
While I’m modest, neat, and clean,

And submit when they reprove me.

7 IfJI should be poor and sick,
I shall meet, I hope, with pity ;
Since I love to help the weak,
Though they’re neither fair nor witty.
MORAL SONGS FOR CHILDREN. 67

8 I'll not willingly offend,
Nor be easily offended ;
What’s amiss I’ll strive to mend,
And endure what can’t be mended.

9 May I be so watchful still,
O’er my humowrs and my passion,
As to speak and do no ill,
Though it should be all the fashion.

10 Wicked fashions lead to hell,
Ne’er may I be found complying ;
But in life behave so well,
Not to be afraid of dying.

 

 
 

SUMMER EVENING.

1 HOW fine has the day been! How bright wae
the sun!

How lovely and joyful the course that he run!

Though he rose in a mist when his race he begun,
And there follow’d some droppings of rain :

But now the fair traveller comes to the west,

His rays are all gold and his beauties are best ;

He paints the sky gay as he sinks to his rest,
And foretells a bright rising again.

2 Just such is the Christian: his course he begins
Like the sun ina mist, while he mourns for his sins,
And melts into tears; then he breaks out and

shincs,
And travels his heavenly way :
But when he comes nearer to finish his race,
Like a fine setting sun, he looks richer in grace,
And gives a sure hope at the end of his days -
Of rising in brighter array.
 

CRADLE HYMN.

1 HUSH, my dear, lie still and slumber ;
Holy angels guard thy bed:
Heavenly blessings, without number,
Gently falling on thy head.

2 Sleep, my babe ; thy food and raiment,
House’ and home thy friends prov ide ; Fi
And, without thy care or payment,
All thy wants are well supplied.

3 How much better thou’rt attended
Than the Son of God could be,
When from heaven he descended,
And became a child like thee!
70 CRADLE HYMN.

4, Soft and easy is thy cradle ;
Coarse and hard thy Saviour lay,
When his birth-place was a stable,
And his softest bed was hay.

5 Blessed Babe! what glorious features!
Spotless fair, Divinely bright!
Must be dwell with brutal creatures P
How could angels bear the sight ?

6 Was there nothing but a manger
Cursed sinners could afford,
To receive the heavenly Stranger?
Did they thus affront the Lord ?

  

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7 Soft, my child, I did not chide thee,
though my song might sound too hard ;
Tis thy mother* sits beside thee,
And her arms shall be thy guard.

* Here you may use the words, Brother, Sister, Neighbour, ete.
8

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CRADLE WYMN. val

Yet to read the shameful story,
How the Jews abused their King,

How they served the Lord of glory,
Makes me angry while I sing.

See the kinder shepherds round him,
Telling wonders from the sky ;

Where they sought him, there they found him
With his virgin mother by.

See the lovely babe a-dressing,
Lovely infant, how he smiled ;

When he wept, the mother’s blessing
Sooth’d and hush’d the holy Child.

Lo! he slumbers in the manger,
Where the horned oxen fed !—

Peace, my darling, here’s no danger,
There’s no ox a-near thy bed.

*Twas to save thee, child, from dying,
Save my dear from burning flame,

Bitter groans and endless crying,
That thy blest Redeemer came.

May’st thou live to know and fear him,
Trust and love him all thy days;
Then go dwell for ever near him,
See his face and sing his praise.

I could give thee thousand kisses,
Hoping what I most desire ;

Not a mother’s fondest wishes
Can to greater joys aspire.
 

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