Hymnal: A Selection of Christian Hymns
Date: 1818
Compiler: Rice Haggard
Publisher/Printer: John Norvell
First Line: Happy the man whose cautious steps
Topic: The Golden Rule
Writer: <no first name given> <no last name given>
Composer:
Meter: CM
Tune:
Hymn Number: 129
Page Number: 130, click to see hymnal pages
LyicsHappy the man whose cautious steps
Still keep the golden mean;
Whose life, by wisdom's rules will formed
Declares a conscience clean.
Not of himself he highly thinks,
Nor acts the boaster's part,
His modes 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 neighbor's faults,
And thinks and hopes the best.
What blessings bounteous heaven bestows,
He takes with thankful heart;
With temp'rance he both eats & drinks,
And gives the poor a part.
To sect or party, his large soul
Disdains to be confined;
The good he loves, of every 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 heavenly dove.
His business 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 sovereign good
Can claim his highest love.