"Admonition and Warning to Children," in Benjamin Lloyd’s The Primitive Hymns (1841)

Dear children, now, I write to you
I’ll state what I believe is true
, That you may read after this date,
And turn to God before too late.

You are the children of my care,
My bowels yearn for your welfare;
I pray that when you read these lines,
The love of God may fill your minds.

It is a source of grief to me
To see you grow in vanity;
O may the God that rules above,
Fill all your hearts with sacred love.

O think, my children, in your youth,
How gracious are the words of truth;
Pursue the way the Saviour went,
Until your latest breath is spent.

For recollect th’ approaching day,
When all things here will pass away,
This world will then be all on fire,
And sinners’ hearts will quake with fear.

O pray to God for pard’ning grace,
That you may see his lovely face,
And you by faith may tread the road,
The narrow way that leads to God.

And when the monster death appears,
The love of God may calm your fears,
Your souls mount up to God above,
And praise him for redeeming love.