Religion Is the Chief Concern

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!