Mr. Prichard's Advice To His Son Samuel Poem by Rees Prichard

For heaven's sake, my Sammy dear!
In mind, till death, those precepts bear :
Christ on thy bended knees adore,
When in my sight thou art no more.

Call on thy God, and Saviour dear,
With ardent faith, and heart sincere,
And, whilst abroad, incessant pray
For his assistance, night and day.

Bend both thy knees, both hands up-rise,
And fix on Christ thy longing eyes,
For his blest aid and blessing pray,
On all occasions - when away.

So shall he shield my Sammy still
From ev'ry harm, and ev'ry ill,
And ne'er to want will let him come,
Whilst he is far from me, and home,

To God, for his assistance, pray,
That thou may'st Christ know, and obey,
Whilst yet thou only art a boy ;
Be that, abroad, thy chief employ.

Use thou thyself the God of truth
To fear and worship, in thy youth;
So thou, by due degrees, wilt come
To serve him, when grown up, at home.

With pleasure to thy studies go,
And be not in thy learning slow,
Yet I forbid thee not to play
At times, whilst thou'rt from me away.

When idle, touch the harp's sweet string,
Or else those psalms, that follow, sing:
'Twill oft a good amusement be,
When thou art far from home, and me.

Still chirping, like the cricket, keep,
Nor for thy mother fondly weep:
For God, abroad, will unto thee
A father and a mother be.

God give thee grace, God bless my son -
God teach thee in his paths to run -
God be thy guardian, night and day,
Whilst thou from us art far away.

PART II.

Just at the dawn of day arise,
When first the lav'rock mounts the skies,
'Twill bring thee long and lasting health,
'Twill bring thee learning, virtue, wealth.

Put on thy clothes, without delay,
Be always neat in thy array,
Be ev'ry button plac'd aright
Ere thou presum'st to come in sight.

First wash thy face, and comb thy hair,
Thy cravat then adjust with care,
Let all thy dress be clean and tight,
For that is pleasing to the sight.

When thou art dress'd, then go to pray,
Without deception, or delay,
And fall upon thy knees in haste,
Ere thou a bit, or drop, dost taste.

When to God's presence thou dost bring
Thy prayers - think, that he's a King,
Whose courts the very angels tread,
With humble thoughts, and aweful dread.

Upon thy knees, my son! draw near,
When thou before Him dost appear -
Nor dare to make the least address,
Which does not a just fear express.

When once upon thy knees, ne'er rise,
'Till thou hast lift to God thine eyes,
Then doubt not any boon to crave,
Which thou dost really want to have.

Tho' God's a king of wond'rous might,
Of strength and honour infinite,
Yet still the scriptures plainly show,
That He's a tender Father too.

Whatever gift thou dost desire,
Or grace, or virtue, ask thy Sire -
And God, when ask'd, will freely grant,
Whatever thou dost truly want.

Thy suit with equal ardor make
To him, and no refusal take:
God grants with ease each just request,
That is with earnestness exprest.

He'll grant his aid, if it's implor'd -
He'll hear, if rightly he's ador'd -
Place then thy trust in Him, and He
Will keep thee from all danger free.

Keep Him, and He'll keep thee, in mind,
And nothing wanting shalt thou find:
Whoe'er respects Him, He'll respect -
Whoe'er rejects Him, He'll reject!

Prefer to Him each day thy pray'r,
And He will take of thee such care,
As if He had no other son
To mind, or guard, but thee alone.

Remember this good caution still,
My
Sammy
, whether well, or ill,
Serve thou thy God, both night and day,
And at fix'd times unto him pray.

If in thy youth it be thy use,
To serve thy God - thou canst not chuse
But serve him still, when age appears,
And silvers o'er thy dropping hairs.

God give both strength and grace to thee,
His servant, all thy life, to be,
'Till thou, triumphant, at its end,
Shalt, as Christ's heir, the skies ascend.