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The Tongue

From: Use What You Have
Creator: n/a
Date: 1862
Publisher: American Tract Society
Source: American Antiquarian Society
Figures From This Artifact: Figure 1  Figure 2  Figure 3  Figure 4  Figure 5


Page 1:

1  


My little tongue, what work is yours?
What have you here to do?
Speak only kind and gentle words;
You must be pure and true.

2  


You must obey me, little tongue,
I want to rule you well;
You must not proud or scornful be,
Nor wicked stories tell.

3  


Of others' faults you need not speak,
Though you confess your own;
And guard against the whisper sly,
And check the angry tone.

4  


And when you speak of holy things,
Be careful what you say;
With reverence your hymns recite,
Be thoughtful when you pray.

5  


You must do more than this, my tongue:
To you some work is given
For those who shed their bitter tears,
Or wander far from heaven.

6  


True, loving comfort you can speak,
To those who weep and mourn;
And you can tell how bright they shine
Who unto Christ have gone.

7  


And you can teach the little ones,
The poor, the wicked, too,
How good and kind the Saviour is,
And what he loves to do.

8  


Oh, train my tongue, Lord Jesus, now,
In holy, blameless ways;
And may it in thy happy home
For ever sing thy praise.

[END]