How sweet it is in ear­ly youth
To tread the sac­red paths of truth;
From sin’s de­ceit­ful snares to run,
And find a heav’n on earth begun.

How hap­py is the soul that knows
What per­fect peace and calm re­pose
A gra­cious Fa­ther deigns to give
To them who by His pre­cepts live!

Forbid it, Lord, that we should stray
Far dist­ant from Thy ho­ly way;
Or so de­ceived and thought­less be,
As to love plea­sure more than Thee.

Though fools may make a mock at sin,
O teach us wise­ly to begin
To seek the safe and nar­row road
That leads to hap­pi­ness and God.