PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH.
TELL me not of garbled sermons—
Elegance of thought and style;
Heard from out your modern pulpits,
Man from error to beguile.
Eloquence may charm the fancy,
Summon an admiring crowd,
Who surround the gifted preacher
With their praises long and loud;
But if God's appointed servants
Would their hearers' conscience reach,
Leading them to paths of wisdom,
They must practice what they preach. Parents, if your tender offspring
You would lead in ways of truth,
Shielding them from the temptations
Which surround the paths of youth;
Count as vain your time-worn maxims,
And, to make your teachings sure,
Guide them not alone by precept,
But example, just and pure;
For, to shelter from the tempests
Sin's dark clouds would cast round each,
Tender flowers of your protection,
You must practice what you preach. Teachers, if throughout your duties,
Ever faithful you would be,
Not by words, but by your actions,
Teach in all sincerity.
Youthful eyes are on you gazing,
Youthful hearts your thoughts receive;
Eagerly they catch your accents,
Eagerly your words believe.
Then beware, lest by your actions
Untrue principles you teach,
And forget not you must ever
Strive to practice what you preach.