Religion is the chief con­cern
Of mor­tals here be­low:
May I its great im­port­ance learn
Its so­ver­eign vir­tue know!

More need­ful this than glit­ter­ing wealth
Or aught the world be­stows;
Nor re­pu­tation, food nor health,
Can give us such re­pose.

Religion should our thoughts en­gage,
Amidst our youth­ful bloom;
’Twill fit us for de­clin­ing age,
And for the aw­ful tomb.

O may my heart, by grace re­newed,
Be my Re­deem­er’s throne;
And be my stub­born will sub­dued,
His gov­ern­ment to own!

Let deep re­pent­ance, faith, and love
Be joined with god­ly fear;
And all my con­ver­sa­tion prove
My heart to be sin­cere.

Let livel­y hope my soul in­spire;
Let warm af­fect­ions rise;
And may I wait with strong de­sire
To mount above the skies!