Whoever a religious life wou'd live,
Submissive to the will of his dread Sire,
He first of all most earnestly must strive
From all bad conversation to retire.

He must no more with debauches consort,
But quit them all without regret or pain;
As Moses quitted the Egyptian court,
And Lot and Abraham the Chaldean plain.

As weeds are known to choke the rising grain -
As vinegar the sweetest milk will spoil -
As pitch, if touch'd, is apt thy clothes to stain -
So vicious converse will thy morals soil.

Beware the serpent's sting - or thou shalt smart -
And from the plague, lest it shou'd kill thee, run -
And if Salvation thou hast much at heart,
With equal care all wicked converse shun.

From Sodom, like another Patriarch, fly -
Haste from the idle and the vile away -
All saunt'rers quit - preserve thy soul, and try
To leave the faithless folk without delay.

Whilst Moses stay'd amongst th' Egyptians race,
Whilst Abraham sojourn'd with the Syrian crew,
The Lord ne'er deign'd to manifest his grace,
'Till they aloof from such vile men withdrew.

The sons of Satan, and their friendships, flee,
Soon as thou canst, if thou art truly wise:
For there can never any concord be,
Between the sons of hell, and of the skies.

The conversation therefore of the wise,
The good, and blameless, eagerly pursue:
For they will teach thee how to mount the skies,
To know thy God, and pay him rev'rence due.

Whilst Saul the steps of Samuel pursu'd,
A saint he grew, who was a fiend before;
But when his vile acquaitance he renew'd,
The saint became a very fiend once more.

Follow a Prophet - he'll enlighten thee -
Follow a Rabbi - thou shalt walk by rule -
Follow a Saint - and thou a Saint shall be -
Follow a Fool - and thou'lt be still a Fool.

Upon thy knees without cessation pray,
That God to thee his secret paths wou'd show
And turn thee from each cross and dang'rous way,
Into the road, wherein he'd have thee go.

Until the Sire of Light shall clear thine eye -
Until thy Saviour shall thy soul renew -
The path of Life thou never canst espy;
No more than blind-men can the sun-shine view.

Take thou th' Almighty's lantern in thy hand,
That it may always light thee on the road:
None shall attain unto the promis'd land,
Unless illumin'd by the Word of God.

*********************************