And pray that my sins be forgiv'n

Let me read in good books, and believe, & obey, That when death turns me out of this cottage of clay,

I may dwell in a palace in heav'n.

18. Good Resolutions.

THO' I am now in younger days,
Nor can I tell what shall befal me,
I'll prepare for every place

Where my growing age shall call me.

Should I e'er be rich or great,

Others shall partake my goodness: I'll supply the poor with meat,

Never showing scorn or rudeness.

Where I see the blind or lame,

Deaf or dumb, I'll kindly treat them I deserve to feel the same,

If I mock, or hurt, or cheat them.

If I meet with railing tongues,

Why should I return them railing,
Since I best revenge my wrongs,
By my patience never failing.

When I hear them telling lies,
Talking foolish, cursing, swearing,
First I'll try to make them wise,
Or I'll soon go out of hearing.

What tho' I be low and mean,
I'll engage the rich to love me,
While I'm modest, neat, and clean,
And submit when they reprove me

If I should be poor and sick,

I shall meet, I hope, with pity, Since I love to help the weak,

Tho' they're neither fair, nor witty~

I'll not willingly offend,

Nor be easily offended,

What's amiss I'll strive to mend,
And endure what can't be mended

May I be so watchful still

O'er my humours and my passion, As to speak and do no ill,

Tho' it should be all the fashion.

Wicked, fashions lead to hell,
Ne'er may I be found complying
But in life behave so well,
As not to be afraid of dying.

19. Praise to God for our Redemption. BLESS'D be the wisdom and the pow'r, The justice and the grace,

That join'd in counsel to restore,
And save our ruin'd race.

Our father ate forbidden fruit,
And from his glory fell;

And we, his children, thus were brought
To death and near to hell.

Bless'd be the Lord that sent his Son
To take our flesh and blood;
He for our lives gave up his own,
To make our peace with God.

He honour'd all his Father's law's,
Which we have disobey'd;
He bore our sins upon the cross,
And our full ransom paid.

Behold him rising from the grave;
Behold him raised on high:
He pleads his merit there to save
Transgressors doom'd to die.

There on a glorious throne he reigns,
And by his pow'r divine,
Redeems us from the slavish chains
Of satan and of sin.

Thence shall the Lord to judgment come,

And, with a sov'reign voice,

Shall call, and break up ev'ry tomb,
While waking saints rejoice.

O may I then with joy appear
Before the judge's face,

And with the bless'd assembly there
Sing his redeeming grace.

20. Praise for Birth & Education in a Christian Land,

GREAT God, to thee, my voice I raise,
To thee my youngest hours belong,
I would begin my life with praise,
'Till growing years improve my song.

'Tis to thy sov'reign grace

I owe

That I was born on British ground; Where streams of heav'nly mercy flow, And words of sweet salvation sound.

I would not change my native land
For rich Peru, with all her gold;
A nobler prize lies in my hand,

Than East or Western Indies hold.

How do I pity those that dwell

Where ignorance with darkness reigns i
They know no heav'n, they fear no hell,
Those endless joys, those endless pains!

Thy glorious promises, O Lord,
Kindle my hopes and my desire;
While all the preachers of thy word
Warn me to 'scape eternal fire.

Thy praise shall still employ my breath,

Since thou hast mark'd my way to heav'n;

Nor will I run the road to death,
And waste the blessings thou hast gin'.

21. Praise for the Gospel.

LORD, I ascribe it to thy grace,
And not to chance, as others do,
That I was born of Christian race,
And not a Heathen or a Jew.

What would the ancient jewish kings,
And jewish prophets once have giv'n,
Could they have heard those glorious things,
Which Christ reveal'd & brought from heav'n?

How glad the heathens would have been,
That worship idols, wood, and stone,
If they the book of God had seen,
Or Jesus and his gospel known!

Then if this gospel I refuse,

How shall I e'er lift up mine eyes? For all the Gentiles and the Jews, Against me will in judgment rise.

22. The Excellency of the Bible.

GREAT God, with wonder and with praise
On all thy works I look ;

But still thy wisdom, pow'r, and grace,
Shine brightest in thy book..

The stars that in their courses roll

Have much instruction giv'n;