216 A SPECIMEN OF MORAL SONGS, 10 Wicked fashionslead to hell ; Ne'er may I be found complying, But in life behave so well, Not to be afraid of dying. VII. A Summer Evening. 1 HOW fine has the day been ! How bright was the Sun ! How lovely and joyful the course that he run! Tho' he rose i n a mist when his race he begun, And -there follow'd some droppings of rain: But now the fair traveller's come to the west, His rays are all gold, and his beauties are best; Hé paints the skies gay as he sinks to his rest; And foretels a bright rising again. s Just such is the Christian: His course he begins, Like the Sun in a mist, *while he mourns for his sins, And melts into tears: Then he breaks oat and shines, And travels his heav'nly way: But when he comes nearer fo finish his race, Like a fine setting Sun he looks richer in grace, And &iees a sure hope at the end of his days, Of rising in brighter array. Some copies of the following Hymn having got abroad already into several hands, the author leas been persuaded to permit it to appear in public, at the end of these Songs for children. A Cradle Hymn. 1 HUSH! my dear, lie still and slumber; Holy angels guard thy bed! Heav'nly blessings without number Gently falling on thy head. 2 Sleep, my babe; thy food andraiment, House and home thyfriends provide, All without thy care or payment, All thy wants are well supply'd. 3 How much better thou'rt attended Than the Son of Godcould be, When from heaven he descended And became a child like thee. 4 Soft and easy is thy cradle: Coarse and hard thy Saviour lay ; When his birth-place was a stable, And his softest bed was hay, s Blessed babe ! what glorious features, Spotless fair, divinely bright! Must he dwell with brutal creatures ? How could angels bear the sight? 6 Was there nothing but a manger Cursed sinners could afford, To receive the heav'nly stranger? Did they thus affront their Lord? 7 Soft, my child ; I did not chide thee, Tho' in song might sound too hard : * mother ))) 'Tis thy sitsbesidethee, nurse that And her arm shall be thy guard. 8 Yet to read the shameful story, How the Jews abus'd their King, Hose they serv'd the Lord of glory, Makes me algry while I sing. 9 See the kinder shepherds round him, Telling wonders from the sky : There they sought him, there they found him, With his virgin Mother by. 10 See the lovely Babe a dressing ' Lovely Infant, how he smil'd! When he wept, the Mother's blessing Sooth'd and hush'd the holyChild. 11 Lo, he slumbers in his manger, Where the horned oxen feed ; Peace, my Darling, here's no danger, Here's no ox anear thy bed. X12 'Twas to save thee,child, from dying, Save my dear from burning flame, Bitter groans, and endless crying, That thy blest Redeemer came. 13 May'st thou live to know and fear him, Trustand love him all thy days! Then go dwell for ever near him, See his face, and sing his praise! 14 I could give thee thousand kisses, Hoping what I most desire ; Not a mother's fondest wishes, Can to greaterjoys..aspire. * Here you may use the words, bro- ther, sister, neighbour, friend, Re.
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