University of Virginia Library


7

IV. Why don't you go to Meeting?

THE CHILD'S ANSWER.

1

Oh no! I dare not turn away,
As you would have me do;
I dare not leave God's House to-day,
To go to meeting too.

2

In church God always waits, I know,
To hear His people's prayer;
But in the place to which you go,
His presence is not there.

3

God's Priest in church for God doth stand;
And when the prayers begin,
The Lord will give me, at his hand,
Forgiveness of my sin.

4

But who taught others how to pray?
Who gave them power to preach?
Oh, this indeed is not the way
That God's own word doth teach!

5

Do not the holy Scriptures shew—
(We know the story well)
Why Korah once, and Dathan too,
Went down alive to hell?

6

And did not God strike Uzzah dead,
Because, through over-care,
Upon the ark his hand he laid,
Which only Priests might bear?

7

And Saul's sad end might make us wise,
Whom God in anger slew,
Because he offered sacrifice,
Which only Priests might do.

8

In church I was baptised; I'll praise
In church the Lord most high;
In church I'll serve Him all my days,
And in the Church I'll die.

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9

'Tis there I love His name to bless,
And there to hear His word;
How can I do this wickedness,
And sin against the Lord?