Young Christian's first lesson-book/Lesson Eight

by Philip Doddridge

LESSON VIII.

Sins to be avoided in Thought, Words and Action.

GUARD me, O God, from ev'ry ſin;
Let heart and tongue and life be clean;
Tho' with ten thouſand ſnares beſet,
I never would my Lord forget.

Fain would I learn to lay aſide
Malice, and ſtubborneſs and pride,
Envy and ev'ry evil thought;
Nor be my breaſt with anger hot:
Each other paſſion, wild and rude,
I long to feel by grace ſubdu'd.

When thus my heart is well prepar'd,
My tongue I eaſily ſhall guard
From ev'ry oath, and curſe profane,
Nor take God's rev'rend name in vain:
No ſacred thing ſhall I deride,
Nor scoff, nor mail nor brawl, nor chide:
My ſoul will ev'ry lie deteſt,
And ev'ry baſe indecent jeſt.

This humble watchful ſoul of mine
Shall with abhorrence then decline
The drunkard's cup, the glutton's feaſt,
That ſink the man down to the beaſt:
Th' injurious blow, the wanton eye,
The loss of hours that quickly fly,
And that which lead to ev'ry crime,
The vain miſpence of ſacred time;
What brings diſhonour on God's law,
Or what on man would miſchief draw.