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964. The Excellency of the Bible demonstrated. $ 66. Solemn Thoughts concerning God and Death. Watts.

WATTS, GREAT God, with wonder and with praise TH

HERE is a God that reigns above, On all thy works I look;

Lord of the heav'ns, and carth, and seas : But still thy wisdom, pow'r, and grace,

I fear his wrath, I ask his love, Shine brightest in thy book.

And with my lips I ling his praise. The stars, that in their courses roll,

There is a law which he has writ, Have much infiruction given;

To teach us all what we must do: But thy good word informs my soul

My foul, to his commands submit, How I may climb to heaven.

For they are holy, just, and true. The fields provide me food, and thew

There is a gospel of rich grace, The goodness of the Lord;

Whence sinners all their conforts draw: But fruits of life and glory grow

Lord, I repent, and seek thy face, In thy most holy word.

For I have often broke thy law. Here are my choicest treasures hid,

There is an hour when I must die, Here my best comfort lics :

Nor do I know how toon 'twill come; Here my defires are satisfied,

A thousand children, young as And hence my hopes arise.

Are call'd by death to hear their doom. Lord, make me understand thy law,

Let me improve the hours I have, Shew what my faults have been ;

Before the day of grace is fed : And from thy gospel let me draw

There's no repentance in the grave, Pardon for all my fin.

Nor pardons offer'd to the dead. Here would I learn how Christ has died Just as the tree, cut dowri, that fell To save my foul from hell:

To north or fouthward, there it lies; Not all the books on earth beside

So man departs to heav'n or hell,
Such heav'nly wonders tell,

Fix'd in the state wherein he dies.
Then let me love my Bible more,
And take a fresh delight

§ 67. Heaven and Hell. WATTS.
B; dav to read these wonders o'er,
And meditate by night.

THERE is beyond the sky

A heav'n of joy and love;
And holy children, when they die,

Go to that world above. 65. The All-Seçing God. WATTS. There is a dreadful hell,

And everlasting pains ; ALMIGHTY God, thy piercing eye There finners must with devils dwell, Strikes thro' the shades of night,

In darkness, fire, and chains. And our inost secret actions lie

Can such a wretch as I All open to thy sight.

Escape this cursed end ? There's not a sin that we commit,

And may I hope, whencer I die, Nor wicked word we say,

I shall to heav'n ascend ? But in thy dreadful book 'tis writ,

Then will I read and pray, Againit the judgment-day.

While I have life and breath; And must the crimes that I have done

Left I thould be cut off to-day,
Be read and publith'd there?

And font to eternal dcath.
Be all expos'd before the Sun,
While men and angels hear?

§ 68. The Advantages of early Religion. Watts.
Lord, at thy foot alham'd I lie;
Upuard Í dare not look:

HAPPY the child whose tender ycars

Receive instructions well; Pardon my sins before I die,

Who hates the finner's path, and fears And blot them fro:n thy book.

The road that Icads to hell. Remember all the dying pains

When we devote our youth to God, That my Redeemer felt;

'Tis pleasing in his eyes; And let his blood wash out my stains,

A flow'r, when offer'd in the bud, And antwer for my guilt.

Is no vain facrifice. O may I now for ever fear

'Tis easier work, if we begin T'indulge a sinful thought,

To fear the Lord betimes; Since the great God can see and hear,

While sinners that grow old in sin And writes down ev'ry fault.

Are harden'd in their crimes.

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Twill save us from a thousand snares,

Then why should I so long delay To mind religion young;

What others learnt fo foon ? Grace will preserve our following years, I would not pass another day And make our virtuc ftrong.

Without this work begun. To thce, almighty God, to thee,

Our childhood we resign ; 'Twill pleale us to look back and see

$ 71. Again Lying. WATTS. That our whole lives were thine.

O 'Tis a lovely thing for youth

To walk betimes in wisdom's way;
Let the sweet work of pray'r and praise

To fcar a lie, to speak the truth,
Employ my youngest breath ;
Thus I'm prepar'd for longer days,

That we may trutt to all they fay.
Or fit for early death.

But liars we can never trust,
Tho' they should speak the thing that's true !

And he that does one fault at first, § 69. The Danger of Delay. WATTS.

And lics to hide it, makes it two.
WHY

Thould I lay: “Tis yet too soon
'To seck for Heav’n, or think of death?" How God abhors deceit and wrong?

Have we not known, nor heard, nor read,
A flow'r may fade before 'tis noon,
And I this day may lose my

How Ananias was (truck dead,
breath.

Caught with a lie upon his tongue ?
If this rebellious heart of mine

So did his wife Sapphira die,
Despise the gracious calls of Heaven,
I may be harden'd in my sin,

When she came in, and grew so bold

As to confirm that wicked lie And never have repentance given.

That just before her husband told.
W'hat if the Lord grow wroth, and swear,

The Lord delights in them that speak
While I refuse to read and pray,
That he'll refuse to lend an ear

The words of truth; but ev'ry liar
To all my groans another day !

Must have his portion in the lake

That burns with brimstone and with fire.
What if his dreadful anger burn,
While I refuse his offer'd grace,

Then let me always watch my lips,
And all his love to fury turn,

Left I be struck to death and hell, And strike ine dead upon the place!

Since God a book of reck’ning keeps

For ev'ry lie that children tell.
'Tis dang’rous to provoke a God!
His pow'r and vengeance none can tell:
One stroke of his almighty rod

$72. Against Quarrelling and Figbring. WATTS. Shall send young sinners quick to hell. LF

ET dogs delight to bark and bite,

For God hath made thein so; Then 'twill for ever be in vain for pardon and for grace ;

Let bcars and lions growl and light,

For 'ris their nature too : To wish I had

my

time again, Or hope to see my Maker's face!

But, children, you should never let

Such angry patsions rise;

Your little hands were never made $ 70. Examples of Early Piety. WATTS.

To tear each other's eyes.
WHAT bless’d examples do I find
Writ in the word of truth,

Let love through all your actions run,
Of children that began to mind

And all your words be mild; Religion in their youth!

Live like the blessed Virgin's Son,

That sweet and lovely Child.
Jesus who reigns above the sky,
And keeps the world in awe,

His soul was gentle as a lamb:
Was once a child as young as I,

And, as his stature grew, And kept his Father's law.

He grew in favour both with man

And God his Father too. At twelve years old he talk'd with men, (The Jews all wond’ring stand)

Now, Lord of all, he reigns above; Yet he obey'd his mother then,

And from his heav'nly throne

He sees what children dwell in love, And came at her coinmand.

And marks them for his own. Children a sweet hosanna sung,

And bless'd their Saviour's name! They gave him honour with their tongue,

§ 73. Love between Brothers and Sisters. While scribes and priests blaspheme.

WATTS. Samuel the child was wean'd and brought WHATEVER brawls disturb the street, To wait upon the Lord ;

There thould be peace at home; Young Timothy berlines was taught

Where Gifters dwell, and brothers meet; To know his holy word.

Quarrels should never come.

Birds

To cry

Birds ia their little nests agree;

How will they stand before thy face, And 'tis a shameful light,

Who treated thee with such disdain, When children of one family

While thou shalt doom them to the place Fall out, and chide, and fight !

Of everlasting fire and pain!
Hard names at first, and threat'ning words, Then never shall one cooling drop
That are but noily breath,

To quench their burning tongues be given. May grow to clubs and naked swords,

But I will praise thee here, and hope To murder and to death.

Thus to einploy my tongue in heaven. The devil tempeş one mother's fon

My heart shall be in pain to hear To rage against another;

Wretches affront the Lord above; So wicked Cain was hurried on

'Tis that great God whose pow'r I fear,' Till he had kill'd his brother.

That heav'nly Father whom I love. The wise will make their anger cool,

If my companions grow profane, At least before 'tis night;

I'll leave their friendship when I hear But in the borom of a fool

Young finners take thy name in vain, It burns till morning-light.

And learn to curse, and learn to fivear. Pardon, O Lord, our childish rage,

Our little brawls remove; That, as we grow to riper age,

§ 76. Against Idleness and Mischief. WATTS. Our hearts may all be love.

HOW doth the little busy bee

Improve each shining hour,
74. Againfi Scoffing and calling Names.

And gather honey all the day
WATTS.

From ev'ry op'ning How'r!

How skilfully she builds her cell !
OUR tongues were made to bless the Lord,
And not speak ill of men ;

How ncat she spreads the wax!
When others give a railing word,

And labours hard to ftore it well We must not rail again.

With the sweet food she makes. Cross words and angry names require

In works of labour, or of skill,

I would he busy too; To be chastis'd at school;

For Satan finds some mischief still
And he's in danger of hell-fire

For idlc hands to do.
That calls his brother Fool.
Bar lips that dare be so profane,

In books, or work, or healthful play,

Let my first years be past,
To mock and jeer and scoff

That I may give for ev'ry day
At holy things or holy men,
The Lord Thall cut them off.

Some good account at last.
When children in their wanton play
Serv'd old Elisha fo;

§ 77. Agains Evil Company. Watts. And bid the prophet go his

way, “Go up, thou bald-head, go ;'

WHY should I join with those in play

In whom I've no delight; God quickly stopp'd their wicked breath,

Who curse and swear, but never pray ;
And sent two raging bears,

Who call ill names, and fight i
That tore them limb from limb to death,
With blcod, and groans, and tears.

I hate to hear a wanton song,
Great God, how terrible art thou

Their words offend mine ears

I should not dare defile my tongue
To finners e’er so young!
Grani me thy grace, and tcach me how

With language such as theirs.
To tame and rule my tongue !

Away from fools I'll turn minc

eyes, Nor with the scoffers go :

I would be walking with the wise, $75. Again Swearing and Curfing, and taking

That wiser I may grow.
God's Name in vain. WATTS.

From one rude boy that's us'd to mock,
ANGELS, that high in glory dwell,

God !

They lcarn the wicked jest: And devils tremble, down in hell,

One fickly sheep infects the flock, Beneath the terrors of thy rod.

And poisons all the rest. And yet how wicked children dare

My God, I hate to walk or dwell Abusc thy dreadful glorious name!

With finful children here: And, when they're angry, how they swear, Then let me not be sent to hell, And curfe their fellows, and blaspheme !

Where nonc but finncrs arc.

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§ 78. Against Pride in Clothes. Watts. What do I read my Bible for,

But, Lord, to learn thy will ?
WHY hould our garments, made to hide And thall I daily know thee inore,
Our parents fame, provoke our pride?

And less obey thee ftill ?
The art of dress did ne'er begin
Till Eve, our mother, learnt to sin.

How fenfeless is my heart, and wild!

How vain are all my thoughts ! When first she put the cov'ring cn,

Pity the weakness of a child, Her robe of innocence was gone;

And pardon all my faults. And yet

her children vainly boast Jo the fad marks of glory loft.

Make me thy heav'nly voice to hear,

And let me love to pray; How proud we are ! how fond to new

Since God will lend a gracious car
Our clothes, and call them rich and new!

To what a child can fay.
When the poor theep and filkworm wore
That very clothing long before.

§ 81. A Morning and Evening Song. Watts. The tulip and the butterfly

Morning Song
Appear in gayer coats than I :
Let me be drett fine as I will,

Y God, who makes the sun to know
Flies, worms, and fow'rs, exceed me still.

His proper hour to rise, Then wili I set my heart to find

And to give light to all below,

Doth lend him round the skies!
Inward adornings of the mind;
Knowledge and virtuc, truth and grace :

When from the chambers of the east
There are the robes of richest dreis.

His morning race begins, No more Mall worms with me compare ;

He never tires, nor stops to rest, This is the raiment angels wear' ;

But round the world hc shines; The Son of God, when here below,

So, like the sun, would I fulfil Put on this blest apparel too.

The bus'nefs of the day : It never fades, it ne'er grows old ;

Begin my work betimes, and still

March on my heav'nly way.
Nor fears the rain, nor moth, nor mould:
It takes no spot, but still refines;

Give me, O Lord, thy early grace,
The more 'uis worn, the inore it Mines.

Nor let my soul complain In this on carth should I appear,

That the young morning of my days Then go to heav'n and wear it there,

Has all been spent in vain ! God will approve it in his light;

Evening Song 'Tis his own work, and his delight.

AND now another day is gone,

I'll sing my Maker's praite : § 79. Obedience to Parents. W'ATTS, My comforts ev'ry hour makc krown ET children that would fcar the Lord

His providence and grace, Hear what their teachers say ;

But how my childhood runs to waste! With rev'rence meet their parents word,

My sins, how great their sum! And with delight obey.

Lord, give me pardon for the past,

And strength for days to come.
Have you not heard what dreadful plagues
Are threatenid by the Lord,

I lay my body down to flecp;
To him that break; his father's law,

Let angels guard my head, Or mocks his mother's word?

And through the hours of darkness keep

Their watch around my bed.
What heavy guilt upon him lies !
How curied is his name !

With cheerful heart I close my cyes,
The rave:ys olull pick out his cyes,

Since thou wilt not remove; And eagles cat the same.

And in the morning let me rise,
Lut those who worship God, and give

Rejoicing in thy love.
Their parents honour due,
Here on this earth they long shall live,

§ 82. For the Lord's Day Morning. W'ai Tu. And live hereafter too.

THIS is the day when Christ arose

So early from the dead; § 8o. The Chill's Complaint. Watts.

Why should I keep my eye-lids clos d,

And waste my hours in bed?
WHY should I love my sport f) will,
So conftulit at iny play,

This is the day when Jesus broke
And lote the thoughts of heav'n and hell,

The pow'r of death and hell; And then forge to pray?

And thall I will wear Satan's yoke,

And love my sins to well?

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Tc-day with pleasure Christians mect, Deal with another as you'd have
To pray and hear the word :

Another deal with you;
And I would go with cheerful feet

What you're unwilling to reccive,
To learn thy will, O Lord.

Be sure you never do.
I'll leare my sport to read and pray,
And fo prepare for heaven ;

§ 87. The Hosannab; or, Salvation ascribed 10 O may I love this blessed day

Chriji.--Long, Common, and Sbort Metre. The best of all the feren!

WATTS. $83. For the Lord's Day Evening. watts. HOSANNA to king David's Son,

Who reigns on a fuperior throne; LORD, how delightful 'tis to see

We bless the Prince of heav'nly birth, A whole assembly worship thee !

Who brings falvation down on carth. At once they fing, at once they pray ;

Let ev'ry nation, ev'ry age, They hear of heav'n, and learn the way.

In this delightful work engage; I have been there, and still would go ;

Old men and babes in Zion ling Tis like a little heav'n below:

The growing glories of her King! No all my pleasure and my play

HOSANNA to the Prince of Grace • Shall tempt me to forget this day.

Sion, behold thy King! O write upon my mem'ry, Lord,

Proclaim the Son of David's race, The texis and doctrines of thy word;

And teach thu babes to ling. That I may break thy laws no more,

Hosanna to th'eternal word, But love thee better than before.

Who from the Father caine; With thoughts of Christ and things divine Ascribe salvation to the Lord, Fill up this foolish heart of mine;

With bleflings on his name. That, hoping pardon thro' his blood,

HOSANNA to the Son I may lie down, and wake with God.

Of David and of God,

Who brought the news of pardon down,
84. Tbe Ten Commandments, out of the Old And bought it with his bivod.
Teftament; with the Sum of the Commandments To Christ, th' apointed King,
out of the New Testament. WATT3.

Be endless bleilings given ;
Let the whole carth his glory fing,

Who inade our peace with heaven.
THOU shalt have no more gods but me.

Before no idol bow thv knce. 3. Take not the name of God in vain,

§ 88. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, &c. 4. Nor dare the Sabbath-day profane.

Long, Common, and Short Metre. WATTS. 5. Give both thy parents honor due. 6. Take heed that thou no murder do.

God the Father, God the Son, 7. Abstain from words and deeds unclean;

And God the Spirit, three in one, 8. Xor fical, tho' thou art poor and mcan;

Be honor, praile, and glory given, 9. Nor make a wilful lic, nor love it.

By all on carth, and all in hcaren. 10. What is thy neighbour's dare not covet. NOW let the Father, and the Son, MATT. xxii. 37.

And Spirit be ador'd,

Where there are works to make him known, WITH all thy soul love God above;

Or faints to love the Lord. And as thyfeli thy ncighbour love.

GIVE to the Father praise,

Give glory to the Son;
$ 85. Our Saviour's Golden Rule. Watts. And to the Spirit of his grace
MATT. vii. 12.

Be equal honor done.
BE you to others kind and true,
As you'd have others be to you;

§ 89. The Sluggard. Watts.
And neither do nor lay to men
Whate'cr you would not take again.

'TIS the voice of a Nuggard--I heard lim complain,

(again.

“ You have wak'd me too soon, I must number $ 86. Duty to God and oz.r Neiglbour. Watts. As the door on its hinges, 10 he on his bed, [head. LOVE God with all your fou! and strength,

Turns his fides and his shoulders, and his heavy With all vour heart and mind;

“ A little more sleep and a little more Plumber;"' And love your ncighbour as yourtilf;

Thus he wastes half his days, and his hours Be faithful, just, and kind.

EXODUS XX.

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