Praise for the Gospel.
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.
What would the ancient Jewish kings,
And Jewish prophets, once have given, Could they have heard those glorious things, Which Christ reveal'd, and brought from heaven!
How glad the Heathens would have been,
That worshipp'd idols, wood and stone,
If they the Book of God had seen,
Or Jesus and his Gospel known!
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.
Almighty God! thy piercing eye
Strikes through the shades of night,
And our most secret actions lie
All open to thy sight.
There's not a sin that we commit,
Nor wicked word we say,
But in thy dreadful book 'tis writ,
Against the judgment-day.
And must the crimes that I have done
Be read and publish'd there?
Be all expos'd before the sun,
While men and angels hear?
Lord, at thy foot asham'd I lie;
Upward I dare not look:
Pardon my sins before I die,
And blot them from thy book.
Remember all the dying pains
That my Redeemer felt,
The Danger of Delay.
Why should I say, ""Tis yet too soon
To seek for heaven, or think of death?"
A flow'r may fade before 'tis noon,
And I this day may lose my breath.
If this rebellious heart of mine
Despise the gracious calls of heav'n,
I may be harden'd in my sin,
And never have repentance given.
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!
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
'Tis dangerous to provoke a God!
His power and vengeance none can tell;
One stroke of his almighty rod
Shall send young sinners quick to liell.
Then 'twill for ever be in vain
To cry for pardon and for grace;
To wish I had my time again,
Or hope to see my Maker's face.
Obedience to Parents.
Let children that would fear the Lord
Hear what their Teachers say;
With rev'rence meet their Parents' word,
And with delight obey.
Have you not heard what dreadful plagues
Are threaten'd by the Lord,
To him that breaks his Father's law,
Or mocks his Mother's word?
What heavy guilt upon him lies!
How cursed is his name!
The ravens shall pick out his eyes,
And eagles eat the same.
But those who worship God, and give
Their Parents honour due,
Here on this earth they long shall live,
And live hereafter too.
Against Pride in Clothes.
Why should our garments, made to hide
Our parents' shame, provoke our pride?
The arts of dress did ne'er begin,
Till Eve our mother learn'd to sin.
When first she put her cov'ring on,
Her robe of innocence was gone;
And yet her children vainly boast,
In the sad marks of glory lost.
How proud we are! how fond to shew
Our clothes, and call them rich and new!
When the poor sheep and silkworm wore
That very clothing long before.
The tulip and the butterfly
Appear in gayer coats than I;
Let me be drest fine as I will,
Flies, worms, and flow'rs, exceed me still.
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.
No more shall worms with me compare;
This is the raiment angels wear:
The Son of God, when here below,
Put on this blest apparel too.
It never fades, it ne'er grows old,
Nor fears the rain, nor moth, nor mould:
It takes no spot, but still refines;
The more 'tis worn, the more it shines.
In this on earth should I appear;
Then go to heav'n, and wear it there:
God will approve it in his sight;
'Tis his own work, and his delight.
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.
When from the chambers of the east
His morning race begins,
He never tires, nor stops to rest;
But round the world he shines.
So, like the sun would I fulfil,
The bus'ness of the day;
Begin my work betimes, and still
March on my heav'nly way.
Give me, O Lord, thy early grace,
Nor let my soul complain,
That the young morning of my days
Has all been spent in vain.
And now another day is gone
I'll sing my Maker's praise;
My comforts ev'ry hour make known
His providence and grace.
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.
I'll lay my body down to sleep;
Let angels guard my head,
And through the hours of darkness keep
Their watch around my bed.
With cheerful heart I close my eyes,
Since thou wilt not remove;
And in the morning let me rise
Rejoicing in thy love.
For the Lord's-Day Morning.
This is the day when Christ arose
So early from the dead:
Why should I keep my eye lids clos'd,
Or waste my hours in bed?
This is the day when Jesus broke
The pow'r of death and hell:
And shall I still wear Satan's yoke,
And love my sins so well?
To-day with pleasure Christians meet,
To pray and hear the word;
And I would go with cheerful feet
To learn thy will, O Lord.
I'll leave my sport, to read and pray,
And so prepare for heav'n:
O may I love this blessed day
The best of all the sev'n!
For the Lord's-Day Evening.
Lord, how delightful 'tis to see
A whole assembly worship thee!
At once they sing, at once they pray;
They hear of heav'n, and learn the way.
I have been there, and still would go:
"Tis like a little heav'n below:
Not all my pleasure, and my play,
Shall tempt me to forget this day.
O write upon my mem'ry, Lord,
The texts and doctrines of thy word;
That I may break thy laws no more,
But love thee better than before.
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, in Verse.
Exodus, chap. xx.
1. Thou shalt have no more gods but me. 2 Before no idols bow thy knee. 3. Take not the name of God in vain, 4. Nor dare the Sabbath-day profane. 5. Give both thy parents honour due. 6. Take heed that thou no murder do. 7. Abstain from words and deeds unclean. 8. Nor steal; though thou art poor and mean. 9. Nor make a wilful lie, nor love it.
10. What is thy neighbour's dare not covet.
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