For she has treasures greater far She guides the young with innocence According as her labours rise, THE BEGINNING OF EVIL. By envious Cain we're taught And how one angry, jealous thought, May lead to greater sin. Our evil actions spring From small and hidden seeds: At first, we think some wicked thing, Cain once, perhaps, might start With many a fair pretence And hides the dreadful consequence Oh! for a holy fear Of ev'ry evil way, That we may never venture near Wherever it begins, It ends in death and wo; THE PRECIOUS GIFT OF HEALTH. How gracious is my God! If he denies me wealth, He gives me still a greater gift— My health I would devote To spread his praise abroad, How many children are On beds of grief and pain! They hope and wait for health and ease, Oh! may I ne'er forget My God so good and kind; THE CHILD'S COMPLAINT. WHY should I love my sport so well, And lose the thoughts of heav'n and hell, What do I read my Bible for, How senseless is my heart, and wild! How vain are all my thoughts! Pity the weakness of a child, And pardon all my faults. Make me thy heav'nly voice to hear, BLESSINGS OF PIETY. How blest is he who ne'er consents By ill advice to walk, Nor stands in sinners' ways, nor sits Where men profanely talk ; But makes the perfect law of God Like some fair tree, which fed by streams, He still shall flourish, and success Ungodly men and their attempts For God approves the just man's waysTo happiness they tend ; But all the paths which sinners tread, In shame and ruin end. FILIAL GRATITUDE. RECEIVE my body, humble bed, Who comforts such as these provide : Their love I'll keep in mind, My hours mispent this day I rue, DUTIFUL JEM. THERE was a poor widow, she liv'd in a cot, Poor Susan was old, and too feeble to spin, Her forehead was wrinkled, her hands they were thin, But he lov'd her well—like a dutiful lad, For he was quite healthy, and active, and stout, So he went ev'ry morning, as gay as a lark, And work'd all day long in the fields till 'twas dark; |