Watt's Songs Against Faults
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AGAINST LYING
O 'tis a lovely thing for youthTo walk betimes in wisdom's way;To fear a lie, to speak the truth,That we may trust to all they say!But liars we can never trust,Though they should speak the thing that's true;And he that does one fault at first,And lies to hide it, makes it two.Have we not known, nor heard nor readHow God abhors deceit and wrong?How Ananias was struck dead,Caught with a lie upon his tongue?So did his wife Sapphira die,When she came in, and grew so boldAs to confirm that wicked lie,Which just before her husband told.The Lord delights in them that speakThe words of truth; but every liarMust have his portion in the lakeThat burns with brimstone and with fire.Then let me always watch my lips,Lest I be struck to death and hell,Since God a book of reckoning keepsFor every lie that children tell.LOVE BETWEEN BROTHERS AND SISTERS
Whatever brawls disturb the street,There should be peace at home;Where sisters dwell and brothers meetQuarrels should never come.Birds in their little nests agree;And 'tis a shameful sight,When children of one familyFall out, and chide, and fight.Hard names at first, and threat'ning wordsThat are but noisy breath,May grow to clubs and naked swords,To murder and to death.The devil tempts one mother's sonTo rage against another:So wicked Cain was hurried on,Till he had kill'd his brother.The wise will let their anger cool,At least before 'tis night;But in the bosom of a foolIt burns till morning light.Pardon, O Lord, our childish rage,Our little brawls remove,That, as we grow to riper age,Our hearts may all be love!AGAINST IDLENESS AND MISCHIEF
How doth the little busy beeImprove each shining hour,And gather honey all the dayFrom every opening flower!How skilfully she builds her cell!How neat she spreads the wax!And labors hard to store it wellWith the sweet food she makes.In works of labor or of skillI would be busy too:For Satan finds some mischief stillFor idle hands to do.In books, or work, or healthful playLet my first years be past,That I may give for every daySome good account at last.SOLEMN THOUGHTS ON GOD AND DEATH
There is a God that reigns above,Lord of the heavens, and earth, and seas:I fear his wrath, I ask his love,And with my lips I sing his praise.There is a law which he has writ,To teach us all what we must do:My soul, to his commands submit,For they are holy, just, and true.There is a Gospel of rich grace,Whence sinners all their comforts draw:Lord, I repent, and seek thy face,For I have often broke thy law.There is an hour when I must die,Nor do I know how soon 'twill come:A thousand children, young as I,Are call'd by death to hear their doom.Let me improve the hours I have,Before the day of grace is fled:There's no repentance in the grave,No pardon offer'd to the dead.Just as a tree cut down, that fellTo north or southward, there it lies,So man departs to heaven or hell,Fix'd in the state wherein he dies.SUMMER'S EVENING
How fine has the day been! how bright was the sun!How lovely and joyful the course that he run;Though he rose in a mist when his race he begun,And there follow'd some droppings of rain:But now the fair traveler's come to the west,His rays are all gold, and his beauties are best;He paints the skies gay as he sinks to his rest,And foretells a bright rising again.Just such is the Christian. His course he beginsLike the sun in a mist, while he mourns for his sins,And melts into tears; then he breaks out and shines,And travels his heavenly way:But when he comes nearer to finish his raceLike a fine setting sun, he looks richer in grace;And gives a sure hope, at the end of his daysOf rising in brighter array.AGAINST QUARRELLING AND FIGHTING
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.But, children, you should never letSuch angry passions rise:Your little hands were never madeTo tear each other's eyes.Let love through all your actions runAnd all your words be mild;Live like the blessed Virgin's Son,That sweet and lovely child.His soul was gentle as a lamb;And as his stature grew,He grew in favor both with man,And God his Father, too.Now, Lord of all, he reigns above;And from his heavenly throneHe sees what children dwell in love,And makes them for his own.OUR SAVIOUR'S GOLDEN RULE
Be you to others kind and true,As you'd have others be to you;And neither do nor say to menWhate'er you would not take again.DUTY TO GOD AND OUR NEIGHBOUR
Love God with all your soul and strengthWith all your heart and mind;And love your neighbour as yourself:Be faithful, just, and kind.Deal with another as you'd haveAnother deal with you:What you're unwilling to receiveBe sure you never do.