Hymnal: The Christian Hymn-Book
Date: 1815
Compiler: John Thompson et al
Publisher/Printer: Looker and Wallace
First Line: Happy the man whose cautions steps
Topic: The Golden Rule
Writer: <no first name given> <no last name given>
Composer:
Meter: CM
Tune:
Hymn Number: 175
Page Number: 157, click to see hymnal pages
LyicsHappy the man whose cautious steps
Still keep the golden mean;
Whose life by wisdom's rules well form'd
Declares a conscience clean.
Not of himself he highly thinks,
Nor acts the boaster's part,
His modest tongue the language speaks
Of his still humbler heart.
Not in base scandal's arts he deals
For truth dwells in his breast;
With grief, he sees his neighbour's faults,
And thinks and hopes the best.
What blessings bounteous heav'n bestows,
He takes with thankful heart;
With temp'rance he both eats and drinks,
And gives the poor a part.
To sect or party, his large soul
Disdains to be confin'd;
The good he loves, of ev'ry name,
And prays for all mankind.
Pure as his zeal, the offspring fair,
Of truth and heavenly love;
The bigot's rage can never dwell
Where rests the heav'nly dove.
His buisiness is to keep his heart,
Each passion to control;
Nobly ambitious well to rule
The empire of his soul.
Not on the world his heart is set,
His treasure is above;
Nothing beneath the sov'reign good
Can claim his highest love.