Isaac Watts

Maintain a constant watch at all times against a dogmatical spirit: fix not your assent to any proposition in a firm and unalterable manner, till you have some firm and unalterable ground for it, and till you have arrived at some clear and …

Once a day, especially in the early years of life and study, call yourselves to an account what new ideas, what new proposition or truth you have gained, what further confirmation of known truths, and what advances you have made in any …

He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, And wonders, wonders, of His love.

No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found.

Joy to the world! the Saviour reigns; Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy.

Joy to the world! the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King. Let ev'ry heart prepare Him room, And heav'n and nature sing, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

From all who dwell below the skies Let the Creator's praise arise; Let the Redeemer's name be sung Through every land, by every tongue.

Time, like an ever-rolling stream, Bears all its sons away; They fly forgotten, as a dream Dies at the opening day.

A thousand ages in Thy sight Are like an evening gone; Short as the watch that ends the night Before the rising sun.

Our God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home.

Hush! my dear, lie still and slumber, Holy angels guard thy bed! Heavenly blessings without number Gently falling on thy head.

I have been there, and still would go; 'T is like a little heaven below.

Then will I set my heart to find Inward adornings of the mind; Knowledge and virtue, truth and grace, These are the robes of richest dress.

Let me be dressed fine as I will, Flies, worms, and flowers, exceed me still.

Why should our garments, made to hide Our parents' shame, provoke our pride? The art of dress did ne'er begin, Till Eve our mother learn'd to sin.When first she put the covering on, Her robe of innocence was gone; And yet her children …

In books, or work, or healthful play, Let my first years be past, That I may give for every day Some good account at last.

In works of labour or of skill I would be busy too: For Satan finds some mischief still For idle hands to do.

How doth the little busy bee Improve each shining hour, And gather honey all the day From every opening flower!

The wise will make their anger cool At least before 'tis night.

Birds in their little nests agree; And 'tis a shameful sight, When children of one family Fall out, and chide, and fight.

But, children, you should never let Such angry passions rise; Your little hands were never made To tear each other's eyes.

Let dogs delight to bark and bite, For God hath made them so; Let bears and lions growl and fight, For 't is their nature too.

...but every lyar Must have his portion in the lake That burns with brimstone and with fire.

And he that does one fault at first And lies to hide it, makes it two.