BEFORE thou dost attempt to pray,
Of all thy vices past repent,
And wash the hateful filth away,
That God may to thy pray'r assent.

God will no vile offenders hear,
Nor those who sinners are profess'd -
But they must quit their vices, e'er
The Lord will list to their request.

If stain'd with malice, rage, or pride,
Or murder, thou shou'dst there repair,
Where God in glory does reside,
He will reject thy sinful pray'r.

The curse of Moab they shall gain,
Who pray with a polluted soul:
They ask, but they shall not obtain,
Because their hands are stain'd and foul.

Whoever calls upon his God
Must lay all filthiness aside,
And wash his hands quite clean from blood,
Or else his suit will be deny'd.

God's gracious to each penitent,
Whose reformation is sincere:
Then of thy wicked ways repent,
And God will thy petition hear.

If thou wilt leave thy vices quite,
Although they were in crimson drest,
Yet christ shall make them lily-white,
And lend an ear to thy request.

Whene'er to pray'r thou art inclin'd,
Be to each idle thought averse,
And leave all worldly views behind,
Whilst with thy God thou dost converse.

'Tis bad, to see some fardel foul
Brought on one's back to God's own dome,
But worse to see a world-stain'd soul
Into God's aweful presence come.

And when thou prayest, pray for all
True Christians, not excepting one;
Nor, like a selfish heathen, call
On God, to bless thyself alone.

First, pray for kings, that they may grace
Obtain, to rule their people well,
In the true faith, in wealth and peace,
And may in righteousness excel.

Then for the clergy beg his grace,
Clearly those mysteries to teach,
Which in the gospel they may trace,
And fluently its truths to preach.

For ev'ry magistrate implore
His aid, the vicious to restrain -
And that the Lord may grant him pow'r,
Justice and virtue to maintain.

Then beg a blessing from thy God
On all that in the arts delight,
That they may scatter all abroad
True faith, morality, and light.

For all the Commons of the land
Then pray unto the Lord above,
That each may in his calling stand,
Replete with loyalty and love.

Pray, lastly, for the poor and low,
And all, who in oppression live,
That God to them may pity show,
And to each suff'rer comfort give.