Watt's Songs Against Faults. Isaac Watts

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      Watt's Songs Against Faults

      AGAINST LYING

      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,

      Though they should speak the thing that's true;

      And he that does one fault at first,

      And lies to hide it, makes it two.

      Have we not known, nor heard nor read

      How God abhors deceit and wrong?

      How Ananias was struck dead,

      Caught with a lie upon his tongue?

      So did his wife Sapphira die,

      When she came in, and grew so bold

      As to confirm that wicked lie,

      Which 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 reckoning keeps

      For every lie that children tell.

      LOVE BETWEEN BROTHERS AND SISTERS

      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, and threat'ning words

      That are but noisy breath,

      May grow to clubs and naked swords,

      To murder and to death.