LITTLE VERSES FOR GOOD CHILDREN.



I must pray

Both night and day.

Before I eat,

I must entreat

That God would bless

To me my meat.

I must not play

On God's own day;

But I must hear

His word in fear.



'Tis God's command,

"Thou shalt not steal;"

The pilfering hand

His wrath shall feel.

I'll beg my bread

From door to door,

Rather than steal

My neighbor's store.



Work with your might,

'Tis God's command:

Let work and prayer

Go hand in hand.

All honest labor

God will bless;

Let me not live

In idleness.



I would not kill

The meanest thing

That creeps on earth,

Or flies on wing.

I must not lie,

I must not feign,

I must not take

God's name in vain.



A wicked child

I must not be;

For God on high

Can hear and see.

I must not speak

Of other ill,

But ever bear

To all good-will.



I'd better die

Than tell a lie,

Lest I be lost

Eternally;

Nor may my tongue

Say what is wrong:

I must die not sin,

A world to win.



This blessed book,

My Bible true,

Shows me my sin

And Saviour too.

For Christ alone

My soul can save,

And raise my body

From the grave.



Oh, blessed Saviour,

Take my heart,

And let not me

From thee depart.

Lord, grant that I

In faith may die,

And live with thee

Above the sky.



CREATION.

God made the sky that looks so blue,

God made the grass so green;

God made the flowers that smell so sweet,

In pretty colors seen.

God made the sun that shines so bright,

And gladdens all I see;

It comes to give us heat and light,

How thankful should we be!



God made the pretty bird to fly;

How sweetly has she sung!

And though she soars so very high,

She ne'er forgets her young.

God made the cow to give me milk,

The horse for me to use:

I'll treat him kindly for his sake,

Nor dare his gifts abuse.



God made the water for my drink;

God made the fish to swim;

God made the trees to bear me fruit;

O how should I love him!

O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all. Psalm 104:24.



THE BIBLE.

What book ought I to love the best,

And on its truth securely rest?

THE BIBLE.

What tells me of my fallen state,

And how God can me new create?

THE BIBLE.

What points me to the Lamb of God,

To trust in his atoning blood?

THE BIBLE.



What warns me to abstain from sin,

And tends to make me pure within?

THE BIBLE.

What teaches to relieve the poor,

And med'cine for the sick procure?

THE BIBLE.



What teaches me to love my foe,

And acts of kindness to him show?

THE BIBLE.

What tells me of that state of bliss

Where I shall never do amiss?

THE BIBLE.

What can support my dropping head

When I am laid on my death-bed?

THE BIBLE.



Why should I love my sport so well,

So constant at my play;

And lose the thoughts of heaven and hell,

And then forget to pray?

What do I read my Bible for,

But, Lord, to learn thy will?

And shall I daily know thee more,

And less obey thee still?