VIII.—Praise to God for learning to read.
1The praises of my tongue
I offer to the Lord,
That I was taught and learn'd so young
to read his holy word.
2That I am brought to know
the danger I was in,
By nature, and by practice too,
a wedded slave to sin:
3That I am led to see
I can do nothing well;
And whither shall a sinner flee
to save himself from hell?
4Dear Lord! this book of thine
informs me where to go
For grace to pardon all my sin,
and make me holy too.
5Here I can read and learn
how Christ, the Son of God,
Did undertake our great concern,
our ransom cost his blood.
6And now he reigns above,
he sends his Spirit down
To show the wonders of his love,
and make his gospel known.
7O may that Spirit teach,
and make my heart receive
Those truths which all thy servants preach,
and all thy saints believe!
8Then shall I praise the Lord
in a most cheerful strain,
That I was taught to read his Word,
and have not learned in vain.