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Divine Songs
Attempted in the Easy Language of Children.
Transcriber's Note.
Throughout, modern numerals have been substituted for their Roman equivalents.
In Watts' dedication the original capitalisation, italics and spelling are retained; the aim thereby is to convey more accurately the flavour of the original.
Whom I am constrained to love and honour by many Obligations. It was the generous and condescending Friendship of your Parents under my weak Circumstances of Health, that brought me to their Country-Seat for the Benefit of the Air; but it was an Instance of most uncommon Kindness, to supply me there so chearfully for two Years of Sickness with the richest Conveniences of Life. Such a Favour requires my most affectionate Returns of Service to themselves, and to all that is dear to them; and meer Gratitude demands some solemn and publick Acknowledgment.
But great Minds have the true Relish and Pleasure of doing Good, and are content to be unknown.
It is to her unwearied Tenderness, and many kind Offices by Night and Day, in the more violent Seasons of my Indisposition, that I own my Life, and Power to write or think. And while I remember those Hours, I can't forget the cheerful and ready Attendance of her worthy Sister, her dear Companion and Assistant in every good Work.
Under the Influence of two such Examples I have also enjoy'd the Pleasure and Conveniency of your younger Services, according to the Capacity of your Years; and that with such a Degree of sincere and hearty Zeal for my Welfare, that you are ready to vie with each other in the kind Imployment, and assist all you can toward my Recovery and Usefulness. So that whoever shall reap benefit by any of my Labours, it is but a reasonable Request, that you share with me in their Thanks and their Prayers.
But this is a small Part of your Praise.
Theobalds,
June 18. 1715.
PREFACE To all that are concerned in the Education of Children.
My Friends,
It is an awful and important charge that is committed to you. The wisdom and welfare of the succeeding generation are intrusted with you beforehand, and depend much on your conduct. The seeds of misery or happiness in this world, and that to come, are oftentimes sown very early, and therefore whatever may conduce to give the minds of children a relish for vertue and religion, ought in the first place to be proposed to you.
Verse was at first design'd for the service of God, tho' 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. 31. 19,30. 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, Eph. 5. 19. and there are these four advantages in it:
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 above contempt; so I have designed to profit all and offend none. I hope the more general the sense is, these composures may be of the more universal use and service.
May the Almighty God make you faithful in this important work of education: may he succeed your cares with his abundant graces, that the rising generation of Great Britain may be a glory amongst the nations, a pattern to the Christian world, and a blessing to the earth.
Divine Songs
For
Children.
Song 9. The All-Seeing God.
The TEN COMMANDMENTS out of the Old Testament put into short Rhime for Children.
Exod. 20.
The Sum of the Commandments out of the New Testament.
Matt. 22. 37.
With all thy Soul love God above; And as thyself thy Neighbour love.
Our Saviour's Golden Rule.
Matt. 7. 12.
Be you to others Kind and True, As you'd have others be to you. And neither do nor say to Men Whate'er you would not take again.
Duty to God and our neighbour.
Love God with all your Soul and Strength. With all your Heart and Mind; And love your Neighbour as your self: Be faithful, just, and kind.
Deal with another as you'd have Another deal with you. What you're unwilling to receive, Be sure you never do.
Long Metre.
Common Metre.
Short Metre.
Glory to the Father and the Son, &c.
Long Metre.
Common Metre.
Now let the Father and the Son, And Spirit be ador'd, Where there are works to make him known, Or saints to love the Lord.
Short Metre.
Give to the Father Praise, Give Glory to the Son, And to the Spirit of his Grace Be equal Honour done.
A Slight SPECIMEN of MORAL SONGS,
This would be one effectual way to deliver them from the temptation of loving and learning those idle, wanton or profane songs, which give so early an ill taint to the fancy and memory, and become the seeds of future vices.
The End.
The TABLE.
A slight Specimen of Moral Songs, viz. The Sluggard. Innocent Play.
The End of the Table.
ADDENDUM to the Moral Songs.
Transcriber's Note.
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