Calvary Baptist Church, Grenada, MS, USA
Holding to the truths embraced by Baptist for centuries.
OFFICES OF HUMANITY.
THOU shalt not see thy brother's ox or his sheep go astray, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt in any case bring them again unto thy brother.
And if thy brother be not nigh unto thee, or thou know him not, then thou shalt bring it unto thine own house, and it shall be with thee until thy brother seek after it, and thou shalt restore it to him again.
In like manner shalt thou do with his ass, and so shalt thou do with his raiment, and with all lost things of thy brother's, which he hath lost and and thou hast found, shalt thou do likewise thou mayest not hide thyself.
Thou shalt not see thy brother's ass or his ox fall down by the way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again.
THE BURNING OF MR. JOHN ROGERS
M
R. JOHN ROGERS, minister of the gospel in London, was the first martyr in Queen Mary's reign; and was burnt at Smithfield, February the fourteenth, 1554. His wife, with nine small children, and one at her breast, followed him to the stake, with which sorrowful sight he was not in the least daunted, but with wonderful patience died courageously for the gospel of JESUS CHRIST.A few days before his death, he wrote the following advice to his children:--
GIVE ear, my
children, to my word,
Whom God hath dearly bought;
Lay up his laws within your heart,
And print them in your thought.
I leave you
here a little book,
For you to look upon,
That you may see your father's face,
When he is dead and gone,--
Who, for the
hope of heavenly things,
While he did here remain,
Gave over all his golden years
To prison and to pain;--
Where I,
among my iron bands,
Enclosed in the dark,
Not many days before my death,
Composed for you this work.
And for
example to your youth,
To whom I wish all good,
I send you here God's perfect truth,
And seal it with my blood;--
To on, my
heirs of earthly things,
Whom I do leave behind,
That you may read and understand,
And keep it in your mind;--
That as you
have been heirs of that
Which once will wear away,
You also may possess that part
Which never will decay.
Keep always
God before your eyes,
With all your whole intent,
Commit no sin
in any wise,
But keep his commandments.
Abhor that
arrant whore of Rome,
And all her blasphemies,
And drink not of her cursed cup;
Obey not her decrees.
Give honor to
your mother dear;
Remember well her pain;
And recompense her, in her age,
With the like love again.
Be always
ready for her help,
And let her not decay;
Remember well your father all,
Who should have been your stay.
Give of your
portion to the poor,
As riches do arise;
Arid from the needy, naked soul,
Turn not away your eyes.
For he who
doth not hear the cry
Of those who stand in need,
Will cry himself; and not be heard,
When he does hope to speed.
If God hath
given you increase,
And blessed well your store,
Remember you are put in trust,
And should relieve the poor.
Beware of
foul and filthy lusts;
Let such things have no place,
Keep clean your vessels in the Lord,
That he may you embrace.
You are the
temples of the Lord,
For you are dearly bought,
And they who
do defile the same
Will surely come to nought.
Be never
proud, by any means,
Build not your house too high;
But always have before your eyes
That you were born to die.
Defraud not
him who hired is,
Your labor to sustain;
But pay him still, without delay,
His wages for his pain.
And as you
would that other men
Towards you should proceed,
Do you the same to them again,
When they do stand in need.
Impart your
portion to the poor
In money and in meat;
And send the feeble, fainting son,
Of that which you do eat.
Ask counsel
always of the wise
Give ear unto the end,
And ne'er refuse the sweet rebuke
Of him who is your friend.
Be always
thankful to the Lord,
With prayer and with praise,
Begging of him to bless your work,
And to direct your ways.
Seek first, I
say, the living God,
And always him adore,
And then be sure that he will bless
Your basket and your store.
And I beseech
Almighty God,
To replenish you with grace,
That I may
meet you in the heavens,
And see you face to face.
And though
the fire my body burn,
Contrary to my kind,
That I cannot enjoy your love,
According to my mind,--
Yet I do hope
that when the heavens
Shall vanish like a scroll,
I shall see you in perfect shape
In body and in soul.
And that I
may enjoy your love,
And you enjoy the land,
I do beseech the living Lord
To hold you in his hand.
Though here
my body be adjudged
In flaming fire to fry,
My soul, I trust, will straight ascend
To dwell with God on high.
What though
this carcass smart awhile?
What though this life decay?
My soul, I hope, will be with God,
And live with him for aye.
I know I am a
sinner born,
From the original,
And that I do deserve to die,
By my forefather's fall.
But by our
Savior's precious blood,
Which on the cross was spilt,
Who freely offered up his life,
To save our souls from guilt,--
I hope
redemption I shall have,
And all who in him trust,
When I shall
see him face to face,
And live among the just.
Why, then,
should I fear death's grim look,
Since Christ for me did die?
For king and Cesar, rich and poor,
The force of death must try.
When I am
chained to the stake,
And fagots gird me round,
Then pray the Lord my soul in heaven
May be with glory crowned.
Come,
welcome, death, the end of fears,
I am prepared to die;
These earthly flames will send my soul
Up to the Lord on high.
Farewell, my
children, to the world,
Where you must yet remain;
The Lord of hosts is your defense
Till we do meet again.
Farewell, my
true, my loving wife,
My children, and my friends;
I hope in heaven to see you all,
When all things have their ends.
If you go on
to serve the Lord,
As you have now begun,
You shall walk safely all your days,
Until your life, be done.
God grant you
so to end your days,
As he shall think it best,
That I may meet you in the heavens,
Where I do hope to rest.
VERSES FOR LITTLE CHILDREN
THOUGH I am young, a little one,
If I can speak, and go alone,
Then I must learn to know the Lord,
And learn to read his holy word.
'Tis time to seek to God, and pray
For what I want for every day
I have a precious soul to save,
And I a mortal body have.
Though I am young, yet I may die,
And hasten to eternity.
There is a dreadful fiery hell,
Where wicked ones must always dwell.
There is a heaven, full of joy,
Where godly ones will always stay.
To one of these in my soul must fly,
As in a moment, when I die.
When God, who made me, calls me home,
I must not stay; I must be gone.
He gives me life, he gives me breath,
And he can save my soul from death,
By Jesus Christ, my only Lord,
According to his holy word.
He clothes my back, and keeps me warm,
He saves my bones and flesh from harm;
He gives me bread, and milk, and meat,
And all I have that's good to eat.
When I am sick, he, if he please,
Can make me well, and give me ease.
He gives me sleep and quiet rest,
Whereby my body is refreshed.The Lord is good and kind to me,
And very thankful I must be.
I must not sin, as others do,
Lest I lie down in sorrow too;
For God is angry every day
With wicked ones who go astray.
From sinful words I must refrain;
I must not take God's name in vain
I must not work, I must not play,
Upon God's holy Sabbath day.
And if my parents speak the word,
I must obey them in the Lord,
Nor steal, nor lie, nor waste my days
In idle tales and foolish plays.
I must obey my Lord's commands,
Do something with my little hands.
Remember my Creator now,
In youth, when time will it allow.
Young Samuel, that little child,
He served the Lord, lived undefiled:
Him in his service God employed,
While Eli's wicked children died.
When wicked children, mocking, said
To a good man, Go up, bald head,
God was displeased with them, and sent
Two bears, which them in pieces rent
I must not, like these children vile,
Displease my God, myself defile
Like young Abijah, I must see
That good things may be found in me.
Young King Josiah, that blessed youth,
He sought the Lord and loved the truth,
He like a king did act his part,
And followed God with all his heartThe little children, they did sing
Hosannas to their heavenly King.
That blessed child, young Timothy,
Did learn God's word most heedfully.
It seemed to be his recreation,
Which made him wise unto salvation,
By faith in Christ which he had gained,
By prayers and tears with faith unfeigned,
These good examples were for me;
Like these good children I must be.
Give me true faith in Christ my Lord,
Obedience to his holy word.
No word is in this world like thine;
There's none so pure, sweet, and divine.
From thence let me thy will behold,
And love, thy word above fine gold.
Make my heart in thy statutes sound,
And make my faith and love abound:
Lord, circumcise my heart to love thee,
And nothing in this world above thee.
Let me behold thy pleased face,
And make my soul to grow in grace,
And in the knowledge of my Lord
And Savior Christ, and of his word.
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FEAR thou the Lord, and prize him more
Than shining gold and richest ore
For when thy worldly treasure's past,
The love of God will ever last.