Divine Songs | Page 5

see?That our whole lives were thine.
6 Let the sweet work of prayer and praise,?Employ my youngest breath;?Thus I'm prepar'd for longer days,?Or fit for early death.
Song 13.?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 calls of Heaven;?I may be hard'ned 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?
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?Shall send young sinners quick to hell.
6 Then `twill for ever be in vain?To cry for pardon or for grace,?To wish I had my time again,?Or hope to see my Maker's face.
Song 14.?Examples of early piety.
1 What blest 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 skie,?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.
4 Children a sweet hosanna sung,?And blest 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 so soon??I would not pass another day?Without this work begun.
Song 15.?Against Lying.
1 O `tis a lovely thing for youth?To walk betimes in wisdom's way;?To fear a lye, to speak the truth,?That we may trust to all they say.
2 But lyars we can never trust,?Though they should speak the thing that's true,?And he that does one fault at first,?And lyes 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?Catch'd with a lye upon his tongue?
4 So did his wife Sapphira die?When she came in, and grew so bold?As to confirm that wicked lye?That just before her husband told.
5 The Lord delights in them that speak?The words of truth; but every lyar?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 lye that children tell.
Song 16.?Against Quarrelling and Fighting.
1 Let dogs delight to bark and bite,?For God has made them so;?Let bears and lyons 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.
3 Let love thro' 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.
Song 17.?Love between Brothers and Sisters.
1 What ever brawls are in the street?There should be peace at home;?Where sisters dwell and brothers meet?Quarrels shou'd 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.
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 make their anger cool?At least before `tis night;?But in the bosom of a fool?It burns till morning light.
5 Pardon, O Lord, our childish rage;?Our little brawls remove;?That as we grow to riper age,?Our hearts may all be love.
Song 18.?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 words and angry names require?To be chastiz'd at school;?And he's in danger of hell-fire,?That calls his brother, fool.
3 But lips that dare be so prophane?To mock and jeer and scoff?At holy things, or holy men,?The Lord shall cut them off.
4 When children, in their wanton play?Served old Elisha so,?And bade the prophet go his way,?"Go up, thou bald head, go."
5 God quickly stopt their wicked breath,?And sent two raging bears,?That tore them limb from limb to death,?With blood and groans and tears.
6 Great God, how terrible art thou?To sinners ne'er