Hymn XVII. Praise Christopher Smart
1771
HYMN XVII.
PRAISE.
Tho' conscience void of all offence,[1]
Is man's divinest praise,
A godly heart-felt innocence,
Which does at first by grace commence,
5 By supplication stays:
Yet I do love my brother's laud,
In each attempt to please;
O may he frequently applaud,
"Good child, thou soon shalt go abroad,
10 "Or have such things as these. —
"This silver coin'd by sweet queen Anne,
"This nose-gay and these toys,
"Thou this gilt Testament shalt scan,
"This pictur'd Hymn-book on a plan,
15 "To make good girls and boys."
O may they give, before I ask,
Suggest before desire,
While in the summer-house I bask,
The little lab'rer at his task,
20 Is worthy of his hire.[2]
1771
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Notes
- ↑ 1. See "Acts 24:16: "And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
- ↑ 19—20. See Luke 10:7: "And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire."
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This work published before January 1, 1923 is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago. |
