True Pleasures

Vanity of the World God gives his mercies to be spent;“Your hoard will do your soul no good; God gives his mercies to be spent;“Your hoard will do your soul no good;Gold is a blessing only lent,Repaid by giving others food. The world’s esteem is but a bribe,To buy their

The Valley of the Shadow of Death My soul is sad, and much dismayed;See, Lord, what legions of my foes My soul is sad, and much dismayed;See, Lord, what legions of my foesWith fierce Apollyon at their head,My heavenly pilgrimage oppose! See, from the ever-burning lake,How like a smoky cloud

The Sower Ye sons of earth, prepare the plough,Break up your fallow-ground; Ye sons of earth, prepare the plough,Break up your fallow-ground;The sower is gone forth to sow,And scatter blessings round. The seed that finds a stony soilShoots forth a hasty blade;But ill repays the sower’s toil,Soon withered, scorched, and

The New Convert The new born child of Gospel grace,Like some fair tree when summer’s nigh, The new-born child of Gospel grace,Like some fair tree when summer’s nigh,Beneath Emmanuel’s shining faceLifts up his blooming branch on high. No fears he feels, he sees no foes,No conflict yet his faith employs,Nor

The Narrow Way What thousands never knew the road!What thousands hate it when ’tis known! What thousands never knew the road!What thousands hate it when ’tis known!None but the chosen tribes of GodWill seek or choose it for their own. A thousand ways in ruin end,One only leads to joys

The Love of the World Reproved “Renounce the world!” the preacher cries.“We do!” a multitude replies. Thus says the prophet of the Turk,Good Mussulman, abstain from pork;There is a part in every swineNo friend or follower of mine May taste, whate’er his inclination,On pain of excommunication.Such Mahomet’s mysterious charge,And thus