From A spelling book for the use of Ackworth school, p73, 1790.
Verses on Obedience to Parents, Teachers, &c.
LESSON XXI.
LET Children that would fear the Lord,
Hear what their Teachers say;
With Reverence meet their Parent's Word,
And with Delight obey.
Have we not heard what dreadful Plagues
Are threat'ned by the Lord,
To him who breaks his Father's Law,
Or mocks his mother's Word.
What heavy guilt upon him lies!
How cursed is his Name!
The Ravens shall peck out his Eyes,
And Eagles eat the same.
But those that worship God, and give
Their Parents Honour due,
Here on this earth, they long shall live;
And live hereafter too.
From A spelling book for the use of Ackworth school, p77, 1790.
Verses on Love between Brothers and Sisters.
LESSON XXII.
WHATEVER Brawls disturb the Street,
There should be Peace at Home;
Where Sisters dwell, and Brothers meet,
Quarrels should never come.
Birds in their little Nests agree,
And 'tis a shameful Sight,
When Children of one Family
Fall out, and chide, and fight.
Hard Names, at first, ad threat'ning Words,
That are but noisy Breath,
May grow to Clubs and naked Swords,
To Murder and to Death.
LESSON XXIII.
The Devil tempts one Mother's Son,
To rage against another:
So wicked Cain was hurried on,
'Till he had kill'd his Brother.
The wife will make their Anger cool,
At least before 'tis ight'
But in the Bosom of a Fool,
It burns till Morning Light.
Pardon, O Lord, our childish Rage,
Our little Brawls remove;
That as we grow to riper Age,
Our Hearts may all be Love.
From A spelling book for the use of Ackworth school, pp77-78, 1790.
Against LYING.
LESSON XXIV.
O 'Tis a lovely Thing for Youth,
To walk betimes in Wisdom's Way;
To fear a Lie, to speak the Truth,
That we may trust to all they say,
But Liars we can never trust,
Tho' they should speak the Thing that's true;
And he that does on Fault at first,
And lies to hide it, makes it two.
Have we not known, or heard, or read,
How God abhors Deceit and Wrong?
How Ananias was struck Dead,
Catch'd with a Lie upon his Tongue?
LESSON XXV.
So did hiw Wife Sapphira die,
When she came in, and grew so bold,
As to confirm that wicked Lie,
That just before, her Husband told.
The Lord delights in them that speak
The Words of Truth; but every Liar
Must have his Portion in the Lake,
That burns with Brimstone and with Fire.
Then let me always watch my Lips,
Lest I be struck to Death and Hell,
Since God a Book of Reck'ning keeps
For every Lie that Children tell.
From A spelling book for the use of Ackworth school, pp93-94, 1790.
Verses on the Danger of delaying Repentance.
LESSON XXXII.
WHY should I say 'tis yet too soon,
To seek for Heav'n, or think of Death;
A Flower may fade before 'tis Noon,
And I, this Day, may lose my Breath.
If this rebellious Heart of mine
Despite the gracious Calls of Heaven,
I may be hardened in my Sin,
And never have Repentance given.
What if the Lord should once declare,
While I refuse to read and pray,
That he'll refuse to lend an Ear
To all my Groans another Day?
From A spelling book for the use of Ackworth school, pp94-95, 1790.
LESSON XXXIII.
Praise for Mercies.
WHEN e'er I take my Walks abroad,
How many Poor I see!
What shall I render to my Lord
For all his Gifts to me?
Not more than others I deserve,
Yet God hath given me more;
For I have Food, while others starve,
Or beg from Door to Door.
How many Children in the Street
Half naked I behold!
While I am cloth'd from Head to Feet,
And cover'd from the Cold.
LESSON XXXIV.
While some poor Wretches scarce can tell
Where they may lay their Head,
I have a Home wherein to dwell,
And rest upon my Bed.
While others early learn to swear,
And curse, and lie, and steal,
Lord, I am taught thy Name to fear,
And do thy holy Will.
Are these thy Favours Day by Day
To me above the rest?
Then let me love thee more than they,
And try to serve thee best.
From A spelling book for the use of Ackworth school, pp134-136, 1790.
RULES for Decent Behaviour in YOUTH.
I. AS soon as thou art awake in the Morning, and before thou risest, turn thy Mind inward, and strive to still and silence all thy own Thoughts: And thus quietly wait upon him that made thee, to fee Thankfulness arise in thy Heart to him, for his divine Care and Preservation of thee the preceeding Night; and sincere Desires that he may preserve thee from all Things that are not right in his Sight the ensuing Day.
II. Then rise, and when thou art dressed, first wash thy Hands and Face clean, and comb thy Head, and then go cheerfully about the Business thy Parents or Master shall appoint thee; and dispute not, nor grumble at their Commands: And if thou do amiss, bear their Reproofs or Correction with Meekness and Patience.
III. Be not quarrelsome with thy Brothers, Sisters, or the Servants; but give decent and obliging Language to al.
IV. At Meal Times sit not down at Table till thou art bidden; and then be not hasty to be served, nor ask for Meat; but stay till it is offered thee, and find no Fault therewith: Eat the same with Fear and Thankfulness in thy Heart to the Lord, for his thus feeding and providing for thee, that thou mayest not be an ungrateful Receiver of the many Mercies bestowed upon thee. Eat not greedily, nor slovenly; neither speak nor drink with Meat in thy Mouth, remembering always to wipe it, before thou puttest the Cup to thy Lips.
V. When thou art at School, remember that it is out of Kindness and Love to thee that thy Parents or Guardians have sent thee there, or procured thee the Liberty of going; and be sure that thou dost not balk their Views, and grieve them, as well as thy careful Teachers, by being negligent and careless of thy Book; but apply thyself, with the utmost Diligence, to whatever Studies of Business thy Master appoints thee.
VI. In coming to or going from School be careful to behave with Decency and Sobriety, not quarrelling with, nor even offending any Person, either by Words or Actions; neither torture nor abuse any dumb Beast. And be sure to remember that thou dost not deride or make a Mock at the Aged or Deformed, or such as have any natural Defect or Infirmity, either of Body or Mind.
VII. When thou art in thy Place of Worship, remeber that it is a solemn and awful Thing to present our Bodies before the Lord, in order to perform living and acceptable Worship unto him; and that he is a Spirit, and must be worshipped in Spirit, and in Truth: And therefore at all such Times, (in a particular Manner) strive earnestly to refrain from all thought relating to outward things, and to retire into a solemn and awful Fear of Him thy great Creator: and be sure that thou dost not disturb the solemn Quiet of others, by being restless and uneasy, or running out and in; but be content to wait with Stillness and Patience till the assembly breaks up. And forget not to go there, and come from thence, in a quiet and orderly Manner.
VIII. Lastly, at Evening, when thou goest to Bed, and thy Head is laid upon thy Pillow, consider coolly, before thou closest thy Eyes for Sleep, how thou hast spent the foregoing Day: And if thou findest any Thing said or done amiss by thee, take Sorrow and Shame to thyself, and by true Humility and sincere Repentance seek Forgiveness of thy heavenly Father, firmly resolving, with his Assistance, to do so no more; but if thou find nothing said or done amiss by thee and every Thing speaks Peace and Innocence within, then let an humble Acknowledgment and grateful Thankfulness to thy great Master, fill thy Heart, for his Care and Preservation of thee: Then mayest thou safely take thy Rest in Sleep.