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4 'Twill save us from a thousand snares
To mind religion young;
Grace will preserve our followingyears,
And make our virtue strong.

5 To thee, almighty God, to thee,
Our childhood we resign;
"Twill please us to look back and see
That our whole lives were thine.

6 Let the sweet work of pray'r and praise Employ my youngest breath; Thus I'm prepar'd for longer days, Or fit for early death.

SONG XIII.

The Danger of Delay.

1 WHY should I say, "Tis yet too soon To seek for heav'n, or think of death?" A flow'r 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 heav'n,
I may be harden'd in my sin,
And never have repentance giv'n.
3 What if the Lord grow wroth, & 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 dang'rous to provoke a God;
His pow'r and vengeance none can tell;
One stroke of his almighty rod

Shall send young sinners quick to hell.
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.

SONG XIV.

Examples of Early Piety.

} WHAT bless'd examples do I find
Writ in the word of truth,

Of children tha began to mind
Religion in their youth.

2 Jesus, who reigns above the sky,
And keeps the world in awe,
Was once a child as young as I,
And kept his Father's law.

3 Attwelve years old he talk'd with men,
(The Jews all wond'ring 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 aud Priests blaspheme. 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 XV.

Against Lying.

10 '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, [true;
Tho' they should speak the thing that's
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,
Caught with a lye upon his tongue?

4 So did his wife Saphira 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 ev'ry lyar Must have his portion in the lake, That burns with brimstone, and with fire.

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Against Quarrelling and Fighting.

I LET dogs delight to bark and bite,
For God hath made them so ;
Let bears and lions 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,

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SONG XVII.

Love between Brothers and Sisters.

1 WHATEVER brawls disturb the street, There should be peace at home; Where sisters dwell and brothers meet, Quarrels should 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 hurry'd 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.

6 Pardon, O Lord, our childish rage,
Our little brawls remove;
That as we grow to riper age,.
Our hearts may all be love.

SONG XVIII.

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 chastis'd at school;
And he's in danger of hell-tire,
That calls his brother fool.

3 But lips that dare be so profane,
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, Serv'd old Elisha so;

And bid the prophet go his way, "Go up, thou bald-head, go."'

3 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 so young! Grant me thy grace, and teach me how To tame and rule my tongue. SONG XIX.

Against Swearing, and Cursing, and taking God's Name in vain.

1 ANGELS, that high in glory dwell, Adore thy name, almighty God! And devils tremble down in hell, Beneath the terrors of thy rod.

2 And yet how wicked children dare. Abuse thy dreadful glorious name! And when they're angry, how they [pheme!

swear

And curse their fellows and blas

3 How will they stand before thy face, Who treated thee with such disdain, While thou shalt doom them to the place

Of everlasting fire and pain?
Then never shall one cooling drop
To quench their burning tongues be
giv'n;

But I will praise thee here, and hope
Thus to employ my tongue in heav'n.

5 My heart shall be in pain to hear Wretches affront the Lord above: 'Tis that great God, whose pow'r I fear, That heav'nly Father, whom I love. 6 If my companions grow profane,

I'll leave their friendship when I hear Young sinners take thy name in vain, And learn to curse, and learn to swear.

SONG XX.

Against Idleness and Mischief.

1 HOW doth the little busy bee
Improve each shining hour,
And gather honey all the day
From ev'ry op'ning flower!

2 How skilfully she builds her cell!
How neat she spreads the wax!
And labours hard to store it well
With the sweet food she makes.

3 In works of labour, or of skill,
I would be busy too;

For Satan finds some mischief still
For idle hands to do.

4 In books, or work, or healthful play, Let my first years be past,

That I may give for ev'ry day
Some good account at last.

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4 From one rude boy that's us'd to mock, They learn the wicked jest;

One sickly sheep infects the flock,
And poisons all the rest.

5 My God, I hate to walk, or dwell

With sinful children here; Then let me not be sent to hell, Where none but sinners are.

SONG XXII.

Against Pride in Clothes.

1 WHYshould our garments, made to hide
Our parents' shame,provoke our pride?
The art of dress did ne'er begin,
Till Eve, our mother, learnt to sin.
2 When first she put the cov'ring on,
Her robe of innocence was gone:
And yet her children vainly boast
In the sad marks of glory lost.

3 How proud we are! how fond to shew
Our clothes, and call them rich & new!
When the poor sheep & silk-wormwore
That very clothing long before.

4 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.

s Then will I set my heart to find Inward adornings of the mind; Knowledge and virtue, truth & grace, These are the robes of richest dress.

SONG XXIV.

The Child's Complaint.

1 WHY should I love my sport so well? So constant at my play?

[hell?

And lose the thoughts of heav'n and
And then forget to pray?

2 What do I read my bible for,
But Lord, to learn thy will?
And sha!! I daily know thee more,
And less obey thee still?

3 How senseless is my heart, and wild!
How vain are all my thoughts!
Pity the weakness of a child,

And pardon all my faults:

4 Make me thy heav'nly voice to hear,
And let me love to pray,

Since God will lead a gracious ear
To what a child can say.

SONG XXV.

A Morning Song.

1 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.

No more shall worms with me compare; 2 When from the chambers of the east

This is the raiment angels wear;
The Son of God, when here below,
Put on this blest apparel too.

7 It never fades, it ne'er grows old,
Nor fears the rain, nor moth, nor mold;
It takes no spot, but still refines;
The more 'tis worn, the more it shines.

In this on earth would 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.

SONG XXIII.

Obedience to Parents.

I LET children that would fear the Lord Hear what their teachers say; With rev'rencemeet their parents word, And with delight obey.

Have not you 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 saine.

4 But those that worship God, and give Their parents honour due,

Here on this earth they long shall live,
And live hereafter too.

His morning race begins,
He never tires, nor stops to rest,

But round the world he shines.

3 So, like the sun, would I fulfil
The business of the day;
Begin my work betimes, and still
March on my heav'nly way.

4 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.

SONG XXVI.

An Evening Song.

I AND now another day is gone,
I'll sing my Maker's praise;
My comforts ev'ry hour make known
His providence and grace.

2 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.

3 I lay my body down to sleep,

Let angels guard my head:
And thro' the hours of darkness keep
Their watch around my bed.

4 With cheerful heart I close my eyes,
Since thou wilt not remove;
And in the morning let me rise
Rejoicing in thy love.

SONG XXVII.

For the Lord's-Day Morning.

1 THIS is the day when Christ arose
So early from the dead;
Why should I keep my eye-lids clos'd,
And waste my hours in bed?

2 This is the day when Jesus broke
The pow'rs of death and hel! :
And shall I still wear Satan's yoke,
And love my sins so well?

3 To-day with pleasure christians meet,
To pray and hear the word:
And I would go with chearful feet,
To learn thy will, O Lord.

4 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 seven!

SONG XXVIII.

For the Lord's-Day Evening. 1 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. 3 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.

4 With thoughts of Christ and things divine

Fill up this foolish heart of mine;
That hoping pardon thro' his blood,
I may lie down, and wake with God,

The Ten Commandments, out of the Old
Testament, put into short Rhyme for
Children.-Ex. xx.

1 THOU shalt have no more Gods but me. 2 Before no idol bow thy knee. 3 Take not the name of God in vain. 4 Nor dare the sabbath-day profane. Give both thy parents honour due. 6 Take heed that thou no murder do. 7 Abstain from words and deeds unclean. Nor steal, tho' thou art poor and mean. 9 Nor make a wilful lie, nor love it. 10 What is thy neighbour's dare not covet

The Sum of the Commandments out of

the New Testament.—Mat. xxii. 37,

WITH all thy soul love God above,
And as thyself thy neighbour love.

Our Saviour's Golden Rule-Mat vii. 12.

BE you to others kind and true,
As you'd have others be to you ;
And neither do nor say to men,
Whate'er you would not take again.

Duty to God and our Neighbour.

LOVEGod with all your soul and strength,
With all your heart and mind;
And love your neighbour as yourself:
Deal with another as you'd have
Be faithful, just, and kind.

Another deal with you;

What you're unwilling to receive,
Besure you never do.

The Hosanna: or, Salvation ascribed to Christ.

(L. M.)

1 HOSANNA to King David's Son
Who reigns on a superior throne;
We bless the Prince of heav'nly birth,
Who brings salvation down on earth.

2 Let ev'ry nation, ev'ry age,
In this delightful work engage;
Old men and babes in Sion sing
The growing glories of her king.

(C. M.)

1 HOSANNA to the Prince of grace;
Sion, behold thy King!
Proclaim the Son of David's race,
And teach the babes to sing.

2 Hosanna to the eternal Word,
Who from the Father came;
Ascribe salvation to the Lord,
With blessings on his name.
(S. M.)

1 HOSANNA to the Son

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GIVE to the Father praise,

Give glory to the Son, And to the Spirit of his grace Be equal honour done.

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A SLIGHT

SPECIMEN OF MORAL SONGS:

Such as I wish some happy and condescending Genius would undertake for the
Use of Children, and perform much better.

TH

HE sense and subjects might be borrowed plentifully from the Proverbs of Solomon, from all the common appearances of nature, from all the occurrences in the civil life, both in city and country: (which would also afford matter for other divine songs) Here the language and measures should be easy, and flowing with cheerfulness, with or without the solemnities of religion, or the sacred names of God and holy things; that children might find delight and profit togther.

This would be one effectual way to deliver them from the temptation of loving or learning those idle, wanton, or profane songs, which give so early an ill taint to the fancy and memory, and become the seeds of future vices.

1. The Sluggard.

1 'TIS the voice of the Sluggard; 1
heard him complain,

"You have wak'd me too soon, I must
slumber again."

As the door on its hinges, so he on his bed
Turns his sides, and his shoulders, and
his heavy head.

2 "A little more sleep, and a little more
slumber;"

Thus he wastes half his days and his
hours without number;
And when he gets up, he sits folding
his hands,

Or walks about sauntring, or trifling
he stands.

3 I pass'd by his garden, and saw the
wild brier,

The thorn and the thistle grow broader

and higher;

The clothes that hang on him are turn

ing to rags;

And his money still wastes, till he
starves, or he begs.

4 I made him a visit, still hoping to find,
He had took better care for improving

his mind;

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