HYMN XLII. (L. M.) 1 HOSANNA to King David's Son, HYMN XLIII. (C. M.) 1 HOSANNA to the Prince of Grace: 2 Hosanna to th' Incarnate Word, PREFACE TO ALL THAT ARE CONCERNED IN THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN. IT is an awful and important charge that is committed to you. The wisdom and welfare of the succeeding generation are entrusted with you before-hand, and depend much on your conduct. The seeds of misery or happiness in this world, aud that to come, are oftentimes sown very early; and therefore whatever may conduce to give the minds of children a relish of virtue and religion, ought in the first place to be proposed to you. Verse. was at first designed for the service of God, though it hath been wretchedly abused since. The ancients among the Jews and the Heathens, taught their children and disciples the precepts of morality and worship in verse. The children of Israel were commanded to learn the words of the song of Moses, Deut. xxxi. 19, And we are directed in the New Testament, not only to sing with grace in the heart, but to "teach, and admonish one another by hymns and songs," Ephes. v. 19. And there are those four advantages in it. 30. 1. There is a great delight in the very learning of truths and duties this way. There is something so amusing and entertaining in rhymes and metre, that will incline children to make this part of their business a diversion. And you may turn their very duty into a reward by giving them the privilege of learning one of these Songs every week, if they fulfil the business of the week well, and promising them the book itself, when they have learnt ten or twenty songs out of it. 2. What is learnt in verse, is longer retained in memory, and sooner recollected. The like sounds, and the like number of syllables, exceedingly assist the remembrance. And it may often happen, that the end of a song running in the mind, may be an effectual means to keep off some temptations, or to incline to some duty, when a word of scripture is not upon their thoughts. 3. This will be a constant furniture for the minds of children that they may have something to think upon when alone, and sing over to themselves. This may sometimes give their thoughts a divine turn, and raise a young meditation. Thus they will not be forced to seek relief for an emptiness of mind, out of the loose and dangerous sonnets of the age. 4. These Divine Songs may be a pleasant and proper matter for their daily or weekly worship, to sing one in the family, at such time as the parents or governors shall appoint; and therefore I have confined the verse to the most usual psalm tunes. The greatest part of this little book was composed several years ago, at the request of a friend, who has been long engaged in the work of catechising a very great number of children of all kinds, and with abundant skill and success. So that you will find here nothing that savours of a party: The children of high and low degree, of the church of England, or dissenters, baptized in infancy, or not, may all join together in these songs. And as I have endeavoured to sink the language to the level of a child's understanding, and yet to keep it, if possible, above contempt; so I have designed to profit all, if possible, and offend none. I hope the more general the sense is, these composures may be of the more universal use and service. I have added at the end some attempts of Sonnets on moral Subjects, for children, with an air of pleasantry, to provoke some fitter pen to write a little book of them. May the almighty God make you faithful in this important work of education; may he succeed your cares with his abundant grace, that the rising generation of Great Britain may be a glory among the nations, a pettern to the christian world, and a blessing to the earth. DIVINE SONGS, ATTEMPTED IN EASY LANGUAGE, FOR The use of CHILDREN. WITH SOME ADDITIONAL COMPOSURES. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise; Mat. xxi. 16. SONG I. A general song of praise to God. 1 HOW glorious is our heav'nly King, 2 How great his pow'r is none can tell, Not men below, nor saints that dwell 3 Not angels that stand round the Lord But they perform his heav'nly word, 4 Then let me join this holy train, 5 My heart resolves, my tongue obeys, To hear their mighty Maker's praise SONG II. Praise for creation and providence. 1 Sing th' almighty pow'r of God, That made the mountains rise, 2 I sing the wisdom that ordain'd 3 I sing the goodness of the Lord, That fill'd the earth with food; 4 Lord, how thy wonders are display'd, If I survey the ground I tread, Praise to God for our redemption. 1 BLEST be the wisdom and the pow'r, 2 Our father eat forbidden fruit, And we his children thus were brought 3 Blest be the Lord that sent his Son 4 He honour'd all his Father's laws, 5 Behold him rising from the grave, He pleads his merits there, to save 6 There on a glorious throne he reigns, 1 Redeems us from the slavish chains Of Satan, and of sin. Thence shall the Lord to judgment come, And with a sov❜reign voice 8 O may I then with joy appear SONG IV. Praise for Mercies, Spiritual and Temporal. 1 WHENE'ER I take my walks abroad, 2 Not more than others I deserve, 3 How many children in the street While I am cloth'd from head to feet, 4 While some poor wretches scarce can tell Where they may lay their head: 5 While others early learn to swear, 6 Are these thy favours day by day Then let me love thee more than they, SONG V. Praise for Birth and Education in a Christian Land. 1 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 the song. 2 "Tis to thy sov'reign grace I owe, That I was born on British ground, Kindle my hopes and my desire; 6 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, SONG VI. Praise for the Gospel. 1 LORD, I ascribe it to thy grace, 2 What would the ancient Jewish kings, 3 How glad the Heathens would have been, That worship idols, wood, and stone, 4 Then if this gospel I refuse, SONG VII. The Excellency of the Bible. 1 GREAT God, with wonder, and with praise On all thy works I look ; But still thy wisdom, pow'r, and grace, 2 The stars that in their courses roll, 3 The fields provide me food, and shew 4 Here are my choicest treasures hid, 5 Lord, make me understand thy law, 6 Here would I learn how Christ has dy'd 7 Then let me love my bible more, SONG VIII.. Praise to God for learning to read. 1 THE praises of my tongue I offer to the Lord, That I was taught, and learnt so young 2 That I am brought to know By nature, and by practice too, 3 That I am led to see I can do nothing well: Dear Lord, this book of thine Informs me where to go • Here I can read, and learn How Christ, the Son of God, And now he reigns above, To shew the wonders of his love, 7 O may that Spirit teach, And make my heart receive Those truths which all thy servants preach, And all thy saints believe. Then shall I praise the Lord In a more cheerful strain, That I was taught to read his word, SONG IX. The All-Seeing God. 1 ALMIGHTY God, thy piercing eye 2 There's not a sin that we commit, 3 And must the crimes that I have done, Be read and publish'd there? And let his blood wash out my stains, T'indulge a sinful thought, SONG X. Solemn thoughts of God and Death. 1 THERE is a God that reigns above, Lord of the heavens, and earth and, seas; I fear his wrath, I ask his love, 2 There is a law which he has writ, 4 There is an hour when I must die, 6 Just as a tree cut down, that fell SONG XI. 1 THERE is beyond the sky And holy children when they die 2 There is a dreadful hell, And everlasting pains, There sinners must with devils dwell In darkness, fire, and chains. 3 Can such a wretch as I' Escape this cursed end? 4 Then will I read and pray, While I have life and breath; |