Poem July 12, 1900 Issue

A Golden Rule for Avoiding Sin

Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.

C. Overton

When you think, when you speak, when you read, when you write,
When you sing, when you walk, when you seek for delight;
To be kept from all evil, at home and abroad,
Live always as under "the eye of the Lord."
Whatever you THINK, both in joy and in woe,
Think nothing you would not like God to know.
Whatever you SAY, in a whisper or clear,
Say nothing you would not like God to hear.
Whatever you READ, though the page may allure,
Read nothing of which you are perfectly sure
Consternation at once would be seen in your look
If God should say solemnly, "Show Me that book!"
Whatever you WRITE, in haste or in heed,
Write nothing you would not like God to read.
Whatever you SING, in the midst of your glees,
Sing nothing that God's listening ear can displease.
Wherever you GO, never go where you fear
God's question being ask'd you, "What doest thou here?"
Whatever the PASTIME in which you engage,
For the cheering of youth or the solace of age,
Turn away from each pleasure you'd shrink from pursuing
Were God to look down and say, "What are you doing?"
C. Overton.