468.
Sixth Commandment.
“Thou shalt do no murder.”
1
Is it required to give the mandate
At which demoniacs might turn pale!
To charge a mortal, “Do no murder!”
Oh, fallen nature! worse than frail!
How might we sink
Should our internal foes prevail!
2
One murderer, on the verge of Eden,
With brother's blood the green sward stain'd!
The lifted hand! the tie fraternal!
The pleading voice, his heart disdain'd!
Dread penalty!
Jehovah's vengeance Cain sustained.
3
There oft exists the murderous spirit,
Where never purple tide doth flow!
Revengeful thought, the imprecation,
The wish that harm our foes might know,
These ever spring
From the distemper'd world below!
4
Father! with passions so disorder'd,
With wrath so prone to rise within,
Bestow thine influence, to restrain us,
Lest anger turn to deadly sin!
To curb our hearts,
Let us this hour, by prayer, begin.
5
May we display, to all around us,
The gentle spirit, good, and kind!
The soul that can return, spontaneous,
The soothing word, for words unkind:
Grant us thy strength
To discipline, for heaven, our mind!
