Hymns, for the Amusement of Children Embellished with Cuts [by Christopher Smart] |
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 | Hymns, for the Amusement of Children |  |
1
HYMN I. FAITH.
I
The Father of the Faithful said,At God's first calling, “Here am I;”
Let us by his example sway'd,
Like him submit, like him reply.
2
II
“Go take thy son, thine only son,“And offer him to God thy King.”
The word was giv'n—the work begun,
“The altar pile, the victim bring.”
III
But lo! th'angelic voice aboveBade the great Patriarch stop his hands;
“Know God is everlasting love,
“And must revoke such harsh commands.”
IV
Then let us imitate the Seer,And tender, with compliant grace,
Ourselves, our souls, and children here,
Hereafter in a better place.
3
HYMN II. HOPE.
I
Ah! Hannah, why should'st thou despair,Quick to the Tabernacle speed;
There on thy knees prefer thy pray'r,
And there thy cause to mercy plead.
II
Her pious breathings now ascend,As from her heart the sighs she heaves;
And angels to her suit attend,
Till strong in hope she now conceives.
4
III
Then Samuel soon was brought to lightTo serve the Lord, as yet a child—
O what a heart-reviving sight!
Sure Cherubims and Seraphs smil'd.
IV
Thus yet a child may I begin,To serve the Lord with all my heart;
To shun the wily lures of sin,
And claim the prize, or ere I start.
5
HYMN III. CHARITY.
I
O queen of virtues, whose sweet pow'rDoes o'er the first perfections tow'r,
Sustaining in the arms of love
All want below, all weal above.
II
With thee O let my thoughts conceive,For all the very best believe;
Predict, pronounce for all the best,
And be by bearing all things blest.
6
III
To suffer long and still be kindIn holy temperance of mind,
Rejoice that truth is on my side,
As free from envy as from pride.
IV
Both tongues and prophecies shall cease,And painful knowledge cede to peace;
And time and death o'er all prevail,
But Charity shall never fail.
V
Then guide, O Christ, this little hand,To deal thy bounties round the land;
To clothe and feed the hungry poor,
And to the stranger ope my door.
VI
My cup of water, Christ, is free,For all that love and thirst for thee;
With wisdom many a soul to win,
And loose the irksome bonds of sin.
7
VII
Make me, O Christ, tho' yet a child,To virtue zealous, errors mild,
Profess the feelings of a man,
And be the Lord's Samaritan.
8
HYMN IV. PRUDENCE.
I
O best oeconomist of life,Tho' all the passions were at strife;
Yet thou, fair Prudence, could'st assuage
The storm, and moderate its rage.
II
With Dove and Serpent at thy call,As caution'd by the Lord of all,
Thou art in Christ full well aware,
Of open force or secret snare.
9
III
To check thy thoughts divinely meek,To weigh thy words before you speak,
To make the day's demand secure,
To be the treas'rer of the poor:
IV
All these, Prudentia, these are thine,And God thro' Christ shall make them mine;
To do my best till life shall end,
Then on futurity depend.
10
HYMN V. JUSTICE.
I
O let not fraud 'gainst me prevail,My God, my Christ avow'd;
Which weigh'st the mountains in thy scale,
And ballancest the cloud.
II
And still peculiar on my side,Keep me from rigour free;
Make me forgive in manly pride,
All that exact on me.
11
III
Pay my demander more than due,With measure heap'd and press'd;
And rather welcome than pursue,
My brother when distress'd.
IV
O give me sense and grace to knowThy will, and check my own;
In heav'n above, in earth below,
The Lord is judge alone.
12
HYMN VI. MERCY.
I
O sweet—attentive to the pray'r,Ye forward hope and stave despair;
Thro' Christ his blood divinely spill'd,
Tremendous ruin to rebuild.
II
Tho' high above the great and just,Yet thou descendest to the dust;
Both to the sovereign and the slave,
Nor quitt'st the monument and grave.
13
III
O let me like the righteous die,And so I shall if thou art by!
The viol in thy hand uprears
My Saviour's blood, my Saviour's tears.
IV
Come, Cherub, come, possess my soul,All wrath and bitterness controul;
If thou thy charming pow'rs bestow,
I'll shew thee to my veriest foe.
14
HYMN VII. TEMPERANCE.
I
For forty days the Lord abstain'd,(The subtle tempter near)
And greatly every bait disdain'd,
Self-aw'd and self-severe.
II
This is the pattern that I set,To keep the flesh in awe;
I will not gross desires abet,
Withdraw, soul fiend, withdraw.
15
III
The fiend withdrew, the Angels came,And worship'd at his feet;
“O great Jehovah, word and name
“Inestimably sweet!
IV
“How cou'd that cursed serpent dare,“Thine honour to offend?”
Says Christ, a little while forbear,
'Tis for a glorious end.
V
O may I keep the body cool,By fasting on my knees;
And follow strict religion's rule,
Those days the church decrees.
VI
Keep, keep intemp'rance far away,'Tis duty and 'tis love;
Or how shall I my breast display,
To nest my Saviour's dove.
16
HYMN VIII. FORTITUDE.
I
Stand fast, my child, and after all,Yet still stand fast, says holy Paul,
Thy resolution be renew'd,
For this is Christian Fortitude.
II
Repeat the Lord's own pray'r for grace,At ev'ry hour in ev'ry place;
Spring up from human to divine,
For strength invincible is thine.
17
III
Then, as the great Apostle saith,'Bove all things take the shield of Faith,
Salvation's helm, and for thy sword,
E'en God's good Spirit and his Word.
IV
And now in dang'rous giddy youth,Your loins be girt about with Truth;
Your feet with Gospel-peace be shod,
Your breast-plate Righteousness from God.
V
When to the ghostly fight alarm'd,Know, soldier, thou'rt completely arm'd,
And free from terror or dismay,
March on, engage, and win the day.
18
HYMN IX. MODERATION.
I
Tho' I my party long have chose,And claim Christ Jesus on my side,
Yet will I not my peace oppose,
By pique, by prejudice, or pride.
II
Blessed be God, that, at the font,My sponsors bound me to the call
Of Christ in England to confront
The world, the flesh, the fiend and all.
19
III
And yet I will my thoughts suppress,And keep my tongue from censure clear;
The Jew, the Turk, the Heathen bless,
And hold the plough and persevere.
IV
There's God in ev'ry man most sure,And ev'ry soul's to Christ allied;
If fears deject, if hopes allure,
If Jesus wept, and pray'd, and died.
20
HYMN X. TRUTH.
I
'Tis thus the holy Scriptures ends,“Whoever loves or makes a lie,
“On heav'ns felicity depends
“In vain, for he shall surely die.”
II
The stars, the firmament, the sun,God's glorious work, God's great design,
All, all was finish'd as begun,
By rule, by compass, and by line.
21
III
Hence David unto heav'n appeals,“Ye heav'ns his righteousness declare;”
His signet their duration seals,
And bids them be as firm, as fair.
IV
Then give me grace, celestial Sire,The truth to love, the truth to tell;
Let everlasting sweets aspire,
And filth and falshood sink to hell.
22
HYMN XI. BEAUTY.
For a Damsel.
I
Christ, keep me from the self-surveyOf beauties all thine own;
If there is beauty, let me pray
And praise the Lord alone.
II
Pray—that I may the fiend withstand,Where'er his serpents be;
Praise—that the Lord's almighty hand
Is manifest in me.
23
III
Is is not so—my features areMuch meaner than the rest;
A glow-worm cannot be a star,
And I am plain at best.
IV
Then come, my love, thy grace impart,Great Saviour of mankind;
O come, and purify my heart,
And beautify my mind.
V
Then will I thy carnations nurse,And cherish every rose;
And empty to the poor my purse,
Till grace to glory grows.
24
HYMN XII. HONESTY.
I
I have a house, the house of prayer,(No spy beneath my eaves)
And purring gratitude is there,
And he that frights the thieves.
II
If I of honesty suspendMy judgment, making doubt,
I have a good domestic friend,
That soon shall point it out.
25
III
'Tis to be faithful to my charge,And thankful for my place,
And pray that God my pow'rs enlarge,
To act with greater grace.
IV
To give my brother more than due,In talent or in name;
Nor e'en mine enemy pursue,
To hurt, or to defame.
V
Nay, more to bless him and to pray,Mine anger to controul;
And give the wages of the day
To him, that hunts my soul.
26
HYMN XIII. ELEGANCE.
I
'Tis in the spirit that attire,Th'investiture of saints in heav'n,
Those robes of intellectual fire,
Which to the great elect are giv'n.
II
“Bring out to my returning son,“The robes for elegance the best;”
Thus in the height it shall be done,
And thus the penitent be blest.
27
III
'Tis in the body, that sweet mien,Ingenuous Christians all possess,
Grace, easy motions, smiles serene,
Clean hands and seemliness of dress.
IV
Whoever has thy charming pow'rs,Is amiable as Kidron's swan,
Like holy Esdras feeds on flow'rs,
And lives on honey like St. John.
28
HYMN XIV. LOVELINESS.
I
Good-nature is thy sterling name,Yet loveliness is English too;
Sweet disposition, whose bright aim,
Is to the mark of Jesus true.
II
I've seen thee in an homely face,Excel by pulchritude of mind;
To ill-form'd features give a grace,
Serene, benevolent and kind.
29
III
'Tis when the spirit is so great,That it the body still controuls,
As godly inclinations meet,
In sweet society of souls.
IV
It is that condescending air,Where perfect willingness is plain,
To smile assent, to join in pray'r,
And urg'd a mile to go it twain.
V
To grant at once the boon preferr'd,By contrite foe, or needy friend;
To be obliging is the word,
And God's good blessing is the end.
30
HYMN XV. TASTE.
I
O guide my judgment and my taste,Sweet SPIRIT, author of the book
Of wonders, told in language chaste,
And plainness not to be mistook.
II
O let me muse, and yet at sightThe page admire, the page believe;
“Let there be light, and there was light,
“Let there be Paradise and Eve!”
31
III
Who his soul's rapture can refrain?At Joseph's ever-pleasing tale,
Of marvels, the prodigious train,
To Sinai's hill from Goshen's vale.
IV
The Psalmist and proverbial Seer,And all the prophets' sons of song,
Make all things precious, all things clear,
And bear the brilliant word along.
V
O take the book from off the shelf,And con it meekly on thy knees;
Best panegyric on itself,
And self-avouch'd to teach and please.
VI
Respect, adore it heart and mind,How greatly sweet, how sweetly grand!
Who reads the most, is most refin'd,
And polish'd by the Master's hand.
32
HYMN XVI. LEARNING.
I
Come, come with emulative strife,To learn the way, the truth, and life,
Which Jesus is in one;
In all sound doctrine he proceeds,
From Alpha to Omega leads,
E'en Spirit, Sire, and Son.
33
II
Sure of th'exceeding great reward,Midst all your learning learn the Lord—
This was thy doctrine, Paul;
And this thy lecture shou'd persuade,
Tho' thou hadst more of human aid,
Than thy blest brethren all.
III
Humanity's a charming thing,And every science of the ring,
Good is the classic lore;
For these are helps along the road,
That leads to Zion's blest abode,
And heav'nly muse's store.
IV
But greater still in each respect,He that communicates direct
The tutor of the soul;
Who without pain, degrees or parts,
While he illuminates our hearts,
Can teach at once the whole.
34
HYMN XVII. PRAISE.
I
Tho' conscience void of all offence,Is man's divinest praise,
A godly heart-felt innocence,
Which does at first by grace commence,
By supplication stays:
II
Yet I do love my brother's laud,In each attempt to please;
O may he frequently applaud,
“Good child, thou soon shalt go abroad,
“Or have such things as these.—
35
III
“This silver coin'd by sweet queen Anne,“This nose-gay and these toys,
“Thou this gilt Testament shalt scan,
“This pictur'd Hymn-book on a plan,
“To make good girls and boys.”
IV
O may they give, before I ask,Suggest before desire,
While in the summer-house I bask,
The little lab'rer at his task,
Is worthy of his hire.
36
HYMN XVIII. PRAYER.
I
Pray without ceasing (says the Saint)Nor ever in the spirit faint;
With grace the bloom and faith the root,
The pray'r shall bring eternal fruit.
II
When the great Seer sad news did bringTo Ahab, e'en that wicked king!
Hear what the word of mercy says,
Spare thou the man, “behold he prays.”
37
III
Our hopes Christ Jesus to elate,Has bid us be importunate,
And with the bustling widow vie,
That triumph'd over tyranny.
IV
'Tis peace, 'tis dignity, 'tis ease,To bless the Lord upon our knees;
The voice and attitude of fear,
For God's own eye, for God's own ear.
V
Christ Jesus when the Twelve besoughtHis aid, the PATER NOSTER taught;
By giving glory we begin,
And end in deprecating sin.
VI
Then give the glory yet again,For who wou'd be in grief or pain,
Or brook anxiety and care,
When the quick remedy is pray'r.
38
HYMN XIX. PATIENCE.
I
By sin and Satan un-intic't,JOB, type of our Emmanuel Christ,
With all the gems he had in store,
None half so bright as Patience wore.
II
JOB, son of Issachar, at lengthProves Patience is the child of Strength;
Yet Jesus cou'd new pow'rs create,
And e'en in weakness made her great.
39
III
Long-suff'ring God, whose goodness canBear with, and bless provoking man;
Let us like thee attempt our parts,
And 'gainst false brethren arm our hearts.
IV
Teach us in sickness to adoreThine hand, and all our ills restore;
Or let us meditate in death,
On Thee—poor man of NAZARETH.
V
Teach me in poverty to thinkOf him who drank on Cedron's brink;
But had not mansion-house, nor bread,
Or to repose him, or be fed.
VI
Teach me 'midst all the griefs below,This transient State, this world of woe,
Submissive on my bended knee,
To take my cross and follow Thee.
40
HYMN XX. WATCHING.
I
At every tempter's first essay,Be sure to watch, be sure to pray;
For this great requisite the Lord
Has strongly urg'd upon record.
II
Yea this he strongly urg'd to all,A warning common as his call;
Then who can his behest revere,
And not obey in heed and fear.
41
III
Had the good man been on his guard,His doors and windows duly barr'd,
He wou'd not, by the Lord advis'd,
Have lost his all, and been surpriz'd.
IV
Had this command been fully weigh'd,Peter his Lord had not betray'd;
But spite of all his mighty boast,
He fail'd, and slept upon his post.
V
Sleep not—but watch the chamber well,By sleeping Holofernes fell;
And Jael's memorable nail,
Did o'er a sleeping king prevail.
VI
“Behold, I come”—come quickly then,Thou Saviour of the souls of men;
For pray'r and hymns are mine employ,
Who long for ever-wakeful joy.
42
HYMN XXI. GENEROSITY.
I
That vast communicative mind,That form'd the world and human kind,
And saw that all was right;
Or was thyself, or came from Thee,
Stupendous generosity,
Above all lustre bright.
43
II
“Not for themselves the bees prepare“Their honey, and the fleecy care
“Not for themselves are shorn:
“Not for themselves the warblers build,
“Not for themselves the lands are till'd,
“By them that tread the corn.”
III
The Lord shed on the Holy Rood,His infinitely gen'rous blood,
Not for himself, but all;
Yea e'en for them that pierc'd his side,
In patient agony he dy'd,
To remedy the fall.
IV
O highly rais'd above the ranksOf Angels—he cou'd e'en give thanks
Self-rais'd, and self-renew'd—
Then who can praise, and love, and fear
Enough?—since he himself, 'tis clear,
Is also gratitude.
44
HYMN XXII. GRATITUDE.
I
I upon the first creationClap'd my wings with loud applause,
Cherub of the highest station,
Praising, blessing, without pause.
II
I in Eden's bloomy bowersWas the heav'nly gard'ner's pride,
Sweet of sweets, and flow'r of flowers
With the scented tinctures dy'd.
45
III
Hear, ye little children, hear me,I am God's delightful voice;
They who sweetly still revere me,
Still shall make the wisest choice.
IV
Hear me not like Adam trembling,When I walk'd in Eden's grove;
And the host of heav'n assembling,
From the spot the traitor drove.
V
Hear me rather as the loverOf mankind, restor'd and free;
By the word ye shall recover
More than that ye lost by Me.
VI
I'm the Phœnix of the singersThat in upper Eden dwell;
Hearing me Euphrates lingers,
As my wond'rous tale I tell.
46
VII
'Tis the story of the Graces,Mercies without end or sum;
And the sketches and the traces
Of ten thousand more to come.
VIII
List, my children, list within you,Dread not ye the tempter's rod;
Christ our gratitude shall win you,
Wean'd from earth, and led to God.
47
HYMN XXIII. PEACE.
I
The Mount of Olives was thy seat,O Angel, heav'nly fair;
And thou, sweet Peace, didst often meet
Thy Prince and Saviour there.
II
But now abroad condemn'd to roam,From Salem lov'd and bless'd;
A quiet conscience is thine home,
In every faithful breast.
48
III
Thou didst Augustus first inspire,That bloody war should cease;
And to Melchisedec retire,
The Sov'reign of our peace.
IV
O come unto the Church repair,And her defects review;
Of old thou plantedst olives there,
Which to redundance grew.
V
Sustain the pillars of the state,Be health and wealth conjoin'd;
And in each house thy turtles mate,
To multiply mankind.
49
HYMN XXIV. MELANCHOLY.
I
O pluck me quick the raven's quill,And I will set me down,
My destin'd purpose to fulfil,
But with this interrupted skill,
Of thought and grief profound.
II
How to begin, and how depart,From this sad fav'rite theme,
The man of sorrow in my heart,
I at my own ideas start,
As dread as Daniel's dream,
50
III
As soon as born the infant cries,For well his spirit knows,
A little while, and then he dies,
A little while, and down he lies,
To take a stern repose.
IV
But man's own death is not th'event,For which most tears are due;
Wife, children, to the grave are sent,
Or friends, to make the heart repent
That it such blessings knew.
V
O thou, which on the mountain's brow,By night didst pray alone;
In the cold night didst pay thy vow,
And in humiliation bow,
To thrones and pow'rs thine own.
VI
Tell us, for thou the best can tell,What Melancholy means?
A guise in them that wear it well,
That goes to music to dispel
Dark thoughts and gloomier scenes.
51
VII
Say, didst thou solitude desire,Or wert thou driv'n away,
By rank desertion to retire,
Without or bed, or food, or fire,
For all thy foes to pray.
VIII
Yet thou didst preach of future bliss,Peace permanent above,
Of truth and mercy's holy kiss,
Those joys, which none that love thee miss,
O give us grace to love.
52
HYMN XXV. MIRTH.
I
If you are merry sing away,And touch the organs sweet;
This is the Lord's triumphant day,
Ye children in the gall'ries gay,
Shout from each goodly seat.
II
It shall be May to-morrow's morn,A field then let us run,
And deck us in the blooming thorn,
Soon as the cock begins to warn,
And long before the sun.
53
III
—I give the praise to Christ alone,My pinks already show;
And my streak'd roses fully blown,
The sweetness of the Lord make known,
And to his glory grow.
IV
Ye little prattlers that repairFor cowslips in the mead,
Of those exulting colts beware,
But blythe security is there,
Where skipping lambkins feed.
V
With white and crimson laughs the sky,With birds the hedge-rows ring;
To give the praise to God most High,
And all the sulky fiends defy,
Is a most joyful thing.
54
HYMN XXVI. MUTUAL SUBJECTION.
I
Some think that in the Christian schemePoliteness has no part;
That manners we shou'd disesteem,
And look upon the heart.
II
The heart the Lord alone can read,Which left us this decree,
That men alternate take the lead
In sweet complacency.
55
III
When his Disciples great disputeChrist Jesus reconcil'd,
He made their sharp contention mute,
By shewing them a child.
IV
If I have got the greater shareOf talents—I shou'd bow
To Christ, and take the greater care
To serve and to allow.
V
This union with thy grace empow'rMore influence to supply;
Hereafter, he that lacks this hour,
May be as great as I.
56
HYMN XXVII. GOOD-NATURE to Animals.
I
The man of Mercy (says the Seer)Shews mercy to his beast;
Learn not of churls to be severe,
But house and feed at least.
II
Shall I melodious pris'ners takeFrom out the linnet's nest,
And not keep busy care awake,
To cherish ev'ry guest.
57
III
What shall I whip in cruel wrathThe steed that bears me safe;
Or 'gainst the dog, who plights his troth,
For faithful service chafe.
IV
In the deep waters throw thy bread,Which thou shalt find again,
With God's good interest on thy head,
And pleasure for thy pain.
V
Let thine industrious silk-worms reapTheir wages to the full,
Nor let neglected Dormice sleep
To death within thy wool.
VI
Know when the frosty weather comes,'Tis charity to deal
To Wren and Redbreast all thy crumbs,
The remnant of thy meal.
58
VII
Tho' these some spirits think but light,And deem indifferent things;
Yet they are serious in the sight
Of CHRIST, the King of Kings,
59
HYMN XXVIII. SILENCE.
I
Before thy betters with suspense,Into thyself withdraw
Silence denotes superior sense,
And shews superior awe.
II
Keep blessing still within thy heart,In meditation meek;
Thus thou'rt prepar'd to act thy part.
When urg'd at length to speak.
60
III
When words break forth not duly weigh'dFrom out the babbler's tongue,
Full many a mournful mischief's made,
Full many a conscience stung.
IV
Then pray with David, that the LordWou'd keep himself the door;
And all things from thy lips award,
That make thy brother sore.
V
But if there be a point to praiseSome godly deed of price,
With all thy might thy plaudits raise,
Here silence were a vice.
61
HYMN XXIX. LONG-SUFFERING Of GOD.
I
One hundred feet from off the groundThat noble Aloe blows;
But mark ye by what skill profound
His charming grandeur rose.
II
One hundred years of patient careThe gard'ners did bestow,
Toil and hereditary pray'r
Made all this glorious shew.
62
III
Thus man goes on from year to year,And bears no fruit at all;
But gracious God, still unsevere,
Bids show'rs of blessings fall.
IV
The beams of mercy, dews of grace,Our Saviour still supplies—
Ha! ha! the soul regains her place,
And sweetens all the skies.
63
HYMN XXX. HONOUR.
I
In Man it is the truth affirm'd,Mean craft and guile withstood,
And variously by various term'd,
Is both by grace and blood.
II
Courage and patriot zeal thou art,An ardour for the whole,
At once munificence of heart,
And magnitude of soul.
64
III
In women 'tis that jealous fear,Which tends to parry shame;
It is their Chastity's barrier,
And bulwark of their fame.
IV
It is sweet dignity and ease,Reserve without disdain;
Pleasing, tho' negligent to please,
Bearing, not giving pain,
V
Then kneel, ye little prattlers down,I'll bless, if you will pray,
And one shall wear the laurel crown,
And one be Queen of May.
65
HYMN XXXI. IMMORTALITY.
I
“Be of good cheer, for I, ev'n I,“Have overcome the world;”—
The wind and tide are yours—apply
Your oars with sails unfurl'd.
II
Sure Immortality was knownTo few, but very few,
Before I came, the corner-stone,
To build my work anew.
66
III
But now ye know it in your hearts,Ye hear it with your ears;
Not by dark vision, or by starts,
Its evidence appears.
IV
Sheep, blessed sheep, ye shall be broughtTo pleasures how divine!
To joys surpassing human thought,
And such as equal mine.
V
How brilliant past conceit each starShall shine before the Lamb:
'Tis bliss to know not what you are,
By knowing what I AM.
67
HYMN XXXII. Against DESPAIR.
OLD RALPH in the WOOD.
I
A raven once an Acorn tookFrom Bashan's tallest stoutest tree;
He hid it by a limpid brook,
And liv'd another oak to see.
II
Thus Melancholy buries Hope,Which Providence keeps still alive,
And bids us with afflictions cope,
And all anxiety survive.
68
HYMN XXXIII. For SATURDAY.
I
Now's the time for mirth and play,Saturday's an holyday;
Praise to heav'n unceasing yield,
I've found a lark's nest in the field.
II
A lark's nest, then your play-mate begsYou'd spare herself and speckled eggs;
Soon she shall ascend and sing
Your praises to th'eternal King.
69
HYMN XXXIV. For SUNDAY.
I
Arise—arise—the Lord aroseOn this triumphant day:
Your souls to piety dispose,
Arise to bless and pray.
II
Ev'n rustics do adorn them now,Themselves in roses dress;
And to the clergyman they bow,
When he begins to bless.
70
III
Their best apparel now arraysThe little girls and boys;
And better than the preacher prays
For heav'n's eternal joys.
71
HYMN XXXV. At DRESSING in the MORNING.
I
Now I arise, impow'r'd by Thee,The glorious sun to face;
O cloath me with humility,
Adorn me with thy grace.
II
All evil of the day forefend,Prevent the Tempter's snare;
Thine Angel on my steps attend,
And give me fruit to pray'r.
III
O make me useful as I goMy pilgrimage along;
And sweetly sooth this vale of woe
By charity and song.
IV
Let me from Christ obedience learn,To Christ obedience pay;
Each parent duteous love return,
And consecrate the day.
72
HYMN XXXVI. At UNDRESSING in the EVENING.
I
These cloaths, of which I now divestMyself, ALL-SEEING EYE,
Must be one day (that day be blest)
Relinquish'd and laid by.
II
Thou cordial sleep, to death akin,I court thee on my knee;
O let my exit, free from sin,
Be little more than Thee.
III
But if much agonizing painMy dying hour await,
The Lord be with me to sustain,
To help and to abate.
IV
O let me meet Thee undeterr'd,By no foul stains defil'd!
According to thy Holy Word,
Receive me as a Child.
73
Pray Remember the POOR.
I
I just came by the prison door,I gave a penny to the poor:
Papa did this good act approve,
And poor Mamma cry'd out for Love.
II
Whene'er the poor comes to my gate,Relief I will communicate;
And tell my Sire his sons shall be
As charitably great as he.
74
Plenteous Redemption.
I
David has said and sung it sweet,That God with mercy is replete;
And thus I'll say, and thus I'll sing,
In rapture unto Christ my King.
II
King of my heart and my desires,Which all my gratitude inspires,
Bids me be great and glorious still,
And so I must, and so I will.
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The Conclusion of the Matter.
I
Fear God—obey his just decrees,And do it hand, and heart, and knees;
For after all our utmost care
There's nought like penitence and prayer.
II
Then weigh the balance in your mind,Look forward, not one glance behind;
Let no foul fiend retard your pace,
Hosanna! Thou hast won the race.
| Hymns, for the Amusement of Children | |