“Let dogs delight to bark and bite”

Let dogs delight to bark and bite, For God hath made them so; Let bears and lions growl and fight, For ’t is their nature to; But, children, you should never let Your angry passions rise; Your little hands were never made To tear each other’s eyes. Let love through all your actions run, And all your words be mild; Live like the blessèd Virgin’s Son,— That sweet and lovely child. His soul was gentle as a lamb; And as his stature grew, He grew in favor both with man And God his father, too. Now, Lord of all, he reigns above; And from his heavenly throne, He sees what children dwell in love, And marks them for his own.

Collection: 
English
1694
Isaac Watts
Sub Title: 
Poems of Home: II. For Children

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