Poems (Edwards)/"Love God and be Happy"

by Matilda Caroline Smiley Edwards

"LOVE GOD, LOVE TRUTH, LOVE VIRTUE, AND BE HAPPY." 

[Pollok.

"Love God," while youth is on thy brow,
 And joy is in thy heart,
Love God with all thy powers now,
 Ere youth's bright dreams depart;
He claims from thee thy heart, thy all,
 Oh! let the boon be given,
Give God thy heart, and thine shall be
 Eternal life in Heaven.

"Love truth," her hand will guide thee safe
 Thro' life's tempestuous wave,
Her light will be a lamp to lead
 Thy footsteps to the grave;
Her arm will bear thee up thro' all
 Earth's ever dark'ning cares,
While blackened error "falls and dies
 Amid her worshippers."

"Love virtue," hold within thy breast,
 Her pure and sinless name,
Oh! leave her not, to tread the paths
 Of folly and of shame;
Her steps will lead thee to that land
 Where joys no more depart,
Where sin and grief no more can come
 To touch the pure in heart.

"Be happy," mercy every day
 Upon your path descends,
God gives to you all needful things,
 He gives you health and friends;
He bids you come to him and dwell
 Among the sainted blest,
"Love God, love truth, love virtue, and
 Be happy" in that rest.