A book for boys and girls, or, Country rhimes for children by J.B.

II The awakened Childs Lamentation.

1.

VVhen Adam was deceived, I was of Life bereaved; Of late (too) I perceived, I was in sin conceived.

2.

And as I was born naked, I was with filth bespaked, At which when I awaked, My Soul and Spirit shaked.

3.

My Filth grew strong, and boyled, And me throughout defiled, Its pleasures me beguiled, My Soul! how art thou spoyled!

4.

My Joys with sinwere painted, My mind with sin is tainted, My heart with Guilt is fainted, I wa'nt with God acquainted.

5.

I have in sin abounded, My heart therewith is wounded,

With fears I am surrounded, My Spirit is confounded.

6.

I have been often called, By sin as oft enthralled, Pleasures hath me fore-stalled. How is my Spirit gauled!

7.

As sin has me infected, I am thereof detected: Mercy I have neglected, I fear I am rejected.

8.

The Word I have mis-used Good Council too refused; Thus I my Self abused; How can I be excused?

9.

When other Children prayed, That work I then delayed, Ran up and down and played; And thus from God have strayed.

10.

Had I in God delighted, And my wrong doings righted; I had not thus been frighted, Nor as I am benighted.

11.

O! That God would be pleased, T'wards me to be appeased;

And heal me thus diseased, How should I then be eased!

12.

But Truth I have despised, My follies idolized, Saints with Reproach disguised, Salvation nothing prized.

13.

O Lord! I am ashamed, When I do hear thee named; 'Cause thee I have defamed, And liv'd like Beasts untamed!

14.

Would God I might be saved, Might have an heart like David; This I have sometimes craved, Yet am by sin enslaved!

15.

Vanity I have loved, My heart from God removed; And not, as me behoved, The means of Grace improved.

16.

O Lord! if I had cryed (When I told tales and lyed) For Mercy, and denyed My Lusts, I had not died!

17.

But Mercies-Gate is locked, Yea, up that way is blocked;

Yea some that there have knocked, God at their cryes hath mocked.

18.

'Cause him they had disdained, Their wicked ways maintained, From Godliness refrained, And on his word complained.

19.

I would I were converted Would sin and I were parted, For folly I have smarted; God make me honest-hearted!

20.

I have to Grace appealed, Would 'twere to me revealed, And Pardon to me sealed, Then should I soon be healed!

21

Whose Nature God hath mended, Whose sinful course is ended, who is to life ascended, Of God is much befriended.

22.

Oh! Were I reconciled To God, I, tho desiled, Should be as one that smiled, To think my death was spoiled.

23.

Lord! thou wast crucified For Sinners, bled and dyed,

I have for Mercy cryed, Let me not be denyed.

24

I have thy Spirit grieved; Yet is my life reprieved, Would I in thee believed, Then I should be relieved.

25.

Were but Repentance gained, And had I Faith unfeigned, Then Joy would be maintained In me, and sin restrained.

26.

But this is to be noted, I have on Folly doted, My Vanities promoted, My self to them devoted.

27.

Thus I have sin committed, And so my self out-witted; Yea, and my Soul unfitted, To be to Heaven admitted.

28.

But God has condescended, And pardon has extended, To such as have offended, Before their lives were ended.

29.

O Lord! do not disdain me, But kindly entertain me;

Yea in thy Faith maintain me, And let thy Love constrain me!