To The Young.
O PRECIOUS youth,
who from the ways of sin,
Have turned, the gift,
eternal life to win;
Fear not: the promise
which to you is given;
Will stand unmoved,
when earthly hopes are riven.
Yes, God is true.
His will revealed to man,
Shows forth the beauty
of the glorious plan
Of rich salvation,
which by faith we see;
And through the Saviour,
all may have it free.
Then study well
the sacred word of truth;
Count it the best,
the dearest, friend of youth.
And let not foolish reading,
find a place
Among the flock
who run the heavenly race;
Think that the awful day
is near at hand!
When we without
a great High Priest must stand.
No evil thought within the mind must be,
The mouth from guile
must then be pure and free;
They must be faultless,
who would see his throne,
The song of Moses,
they must sing alone.
The song of triumph,
on mount Zion, they
Shall loudly sound
in that approaching day,
Who have no mark
on forehead, or in hand,
Of beast or image reigning
in the land.
Here must the saints
their patience long display,
And here are those
who God's commands obey.
The thought is solemn;
but the Word is sure;
The saints must trials
here and grief endure,
If they would be prepared
in joy to reign
With Christ their leader,
when he comes again.
Be ye not weary here in doing well.
And fear not e'er the Saviour's love to tell,
Be not dismayed,
though worldlings may deride,
Ye must be tested,
purified and tried;
The Lord chastiseth,
as a parent, mild,
Reproves the wanderings
of an erring child.
Cease not to pray,
nor think yourselves secure;
For Satan e'er is watching to allure
All honest souls who're walking in the truth,
And striving to obey their God in youth.
Cease not to pray
that God would be your friend;
And he will guide you safely to the end,
Hold fast the faith which once ye have professed,
That ye in doing-well may e'er be blest-
May hope, and love, within your souls abound:
And greater still,
may charity be found
To reign triumphantly,
in every soul,
And o'er each evil passion gain control.
Love not the world nor aught that is therein;
For those who do,
cannot be free from sin.
This world shall fade
with all its empty pride,
But he that does God's will
shall e'er abide.
Whate'er we ask of him
we shall receive,
If in his only Son we but believe.
O then, have faith,
believe the promise given:
We yet may see the Lord
revealed from heaven.
For soon that happy,
glorious day shall come,
That brings the saints
to their eternal home.
H. 0. Ceresco,
Wis., Mar, 1855