The CHILDRENs EXAMPLE.
Shewing, how one Mrs Johnsons Child of Barnet, was tempted by the Devil to forsake GOD, and follow the
Ways of other wicked Children, who used to Swear, tell Lies, and disobey their Parents: How this pretty innocent Child resisting
Satan, was comforted by an Angel from Heaven, who warned her of her approaching Death: Together with her dying Words,
desiring young Children not to forsake God, least Satan would gain Power over them. To the Tune of Bleeding Heart.
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YE Parents, that love Children dear,
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To what I shall relate give Ear;
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And if youd have them Heaven partake,
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Youll buy this Sheet for their sweet Sake.
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In Barnet livd a loving Pair,
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A tender Wife and Husband dear,
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Whom cruel Death of Life beguild,
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And left his tender Wife with Child.
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It provd a Daughter, therefore she,
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Was brought up very tenderly;
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And as she did grow up in Time,
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Her temper seemd like one divine.
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So sweet, so modest and so fair,
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That few could with this Child compare,
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For when her words had Silence broke,
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You would have thought an angel spoke.
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She was her Mothers Darling bright,
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In Learning she took great Delight,
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But above all her Mind was given,
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To find the speedy Way to Heaven.
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Whatever Time that she could spare,
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She spent to Heaven in fervent Prayer,
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If she one Farthing had in Store,
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She freely gave it to the Poor.
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Now observe good People, this heavenly Child
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reproved some wicked Children who were
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cursing and swearing.
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AS she did come from School one Day,
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She saw some Children were at Play,
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And wickedly they did blaspheme,
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And take Gods holy Name in vain.
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Says she, dear Children do forbear,
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What makes you thus to curse and swear?
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At School you never learnd the same,
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Therefore I think you are to blame.
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Besides, what will your Parents say,
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When they hear how you go astray?
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Im sure their Hearts would troubled be,
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To know you livd so wickedly.
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Dont you fear that God who gave
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His Sons dear Blood our Lives to save;
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Remembers every sinful Word,
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Youll answer for before the Lord.
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Then started up a little Elf,
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Saying, Mistress, pray go mind yourself,
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Well lead our Lives this merry Way,
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In Spite of what you do or say.
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We value not our Parents dear,
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The Church we never will come near:
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For theres no Heaven to enter in,
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No Hell to punish us for Sin.
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A Gentleman has told us so,
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Who gave us money so to do;
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So hold your tongue, and dont us teaze;
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For Madam, well do what we please.
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The tender Infant weeping, said,
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It is the Devil Im afraid,
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That bids you Gods Commandments break,
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That he your precious Souls may take;
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But, dear Companions, have a Care,
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You fall not in this woful Snare;
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Take this advice, I do implore,
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Or else Ill not come near you more.
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One taking this in great Disgrace,
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Did strike her oer the pretty Face,
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Saying, Young Mistress, hence depart,
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We scorn you from our very Heart.
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Oh! God foregive you, she did say,
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Though thus you strike me I will pray,
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That your Souls may in Heaven dwell,
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But now I bid you all farewell.
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Tears from her Cheeks then did glide,
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Her Mother asd her why she cryd;
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What! did your Mistress you chastise,
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That you come Home with weeping Eyes.
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My dearest Mother, she did say,
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Some Children I have seen to Day,
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Who will not Gods Commandments keep
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And tis for their poor Souls I weep
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For when I blamd them for their Oaths,
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They gave me many cruel Blows:
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But let them do whateer they will,
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Their precious Souls Ill pray for still.
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Her Mother took her in her Arms,
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My dear God keep thee from all Harms,
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Dont weep, my Child, be not distressd,
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Theyll answer for their Wickedness.
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Now observe how the Devil appeared to the
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Child, and would have enticed her to be
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as wicked as other Children were.
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AS this Child went to Church one Day,
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Thro the Church-yard she took her way,
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Where lo! the Devil came and said,
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Where are you going, pretty Maid?
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To School, Im going, Sir, said she,
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Pish, Child dont mind the same, saith he;
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But hast to your Companions dear,
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And learn to lie, and curse, and swear.
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They bravely spend their Time in Play,
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God they dont value, no, not they:
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It is a Fable, Child, he cryd;
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At which his Cloven Foot she spyd.
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Im sure there is a God, said she,
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Who from your Power will keep me free:
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And if you should this thing deny,
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Your cloven Foot gives me the Lie.
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Satan, avoid, hence out of hand,
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In Name of Jesus I command,
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At which the Devil instantly,
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In Flames of fire away did fly.
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Soon after came an Angel fair,
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Who says to her, why weeps my Dear,
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What does your Time too swiftly run,
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On Dial which you look upon?
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If it be so, be not beguild,
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You only die to live my Child;
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At which the pretty harmless Maid,
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Thus to the shining Angel said,
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Dear Sir, Im not afraid of Death,
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For if God took me from the Earth,
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Satan would then cease to torment,
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A harmless Child and innocent.
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O Sir, he was but here just now,
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Without Gods Help what shall I do?
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But Heaven, I hope, will hear my Prayers,
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And dry my Cheeks from weeping Tears.
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The Angel took her by the Hand,
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Sweet Child I come by Heavens Command,
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To comfort you in this sad Hour,
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The Devil shall not have a Power
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To tempt you more while you have breath
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Too good you are to live on Earth:
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But dearest Child, Continue on,
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In Heaven for you there is a Throne,
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Where Christ doth sit in Glory bright;
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In such as you he takes delight,
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May Blessings eer on you remain,
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So farewel till we meet again.
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This pretty Infant straightway went home,
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And told her Mother what was done,
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Who wept, because she did foresee,
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Her Child not long with her to be.
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In a Months Time she did complain,
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That she did feel tormenting Pain:
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The Doctors were sent for with Speed,
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To help the Child in time of Need.
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Her Sickness it was most severe,
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And yet this pretty harmless Dear,
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Would never utter one Complaint,
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But seemed like a dying Saint.
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And when the Doctors gave her oer,
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Nothing could grieve this dear Child more;
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Than when her Mothers Tears shed spy,
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Dear Mammy for me do not cry.
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Come kiss your Child and dont complain,
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We only part to meet again:
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My Soul doth seem in Cage to be,
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But Death, I hope, will set it free.
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To my Companions tell this truth,
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To serve the Lord in time of Youth,
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That so their Sins may be forgiven,
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And when they die may go to Heaven.
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So spoke the dying Infant dear,
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When lo! the Angel did appear,
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Have Mercy, Lord! she then did cry,
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And comfort me before I die.
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Now mark the sweet Behaviour of the Child
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to her Mother, and the Heavenly Angel,
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who came to visit her before she died.
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LOOK Mother dear, I pray behold,
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My Angel shining bright as Gold,
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Where is he Child, I cannot him see,
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O there he is, tis he, tis he!
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Speak, lovely Angel, take me hence,
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Thy words exceed all Eloquence,
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Sweet Child, said he, thy Days are done,
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Thy Minutes fly, thy glass in run;
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Im coming Lord, the Child did say,
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One last Embrace, dear Mother pray
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Oh! think I am not snatchd too soon,
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But love my Memory when Im gone.
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Methinks I hear my passing Bell,
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My Friends all taking their Farewel,
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Sweet Lord, receive my Soul, she said:
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Thus died this harmless pretty Maid.
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When lo! was heard a charming Sound,
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As though a Saint in Heaven was crownd,
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And at her Funeral likewise there
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Was heard sweet Music in the Air.
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The People wept for this dear Child.
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It was so heavenly meek and mild,
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But God has made her now his own,
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Where Satans Power cannot be shown,
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Now, Children dear, strive piously,
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Like her to live, like her to die;
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Then God will bless you while on Earth,
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And make you happy after Death.
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