“Religion Is The Chief Concern” from “Hymns Adapted to the Circumstances of Public Worship and Private Devotion”, by John Fawcett, British-born Baptist pastor, theologian, and hymn writer; 1739 – 1817.
The music for this reading is “Love & Generosity” and “Christmas Eve” both by Borrtex and were adapted for length under a Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC 4.0)
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!
