A BRIEF EXPLICATION OF THE Ten Commandments; Intended for a help to the Understandings and Memories of CHILDREN.  By JOHN CHISHULL. 

The Preface.  
THe Lord that once took Israel by the hand  
To bring him out from Egypt's bondage, and  
To set him free from the Oppressing crew,  
Who vexed their souls with burdens old & new,  
Spoke all these words which here explained are:  
Mark well, and hear them with a hearing ear.   

The First Command.  
THe First Command informs us rightly where  
Worship must fix, whom we should love and fear;  
Be sure you have a God, and have but one,  
He that hath more is like him that hath none.  
Love, Fear, Esteem, Honour, Desire, Adore,  
Praise, Trust, Believe, choose him, to choose no more.   

The Second.  
The Second sacred Law directs us now  
To Worship God, forbids to make or bow  
Before an Idol; this excludes as vain  
In Worship all the froth of humane brain,  
Enjoins us to observe with reverend Awe,  
The Sacred Ordinances of his Law.   

The Third.  
The Third Command forbids irreverend use  
Of Gods most Holy Name, which we abuse  
If slightly or profanely we shall dare  
To name it, but much more uncalled to swear:  
Because this sin is common, is it small?  
No; such Transgressors shall not scape at all.   

The Fourth.  
The Fourth Command requires a Seventh day's rest,  
Holy to God, comforts both man and beast;  
Lay by thine own works, words, and thoughts, to raise  
Heaven-ward thy heart, by Faith, Hope, Love and Praise.  
This Law requires thy care for thee and thine,  
That needful things with good you only join.   

The Fifth.  
The Fifth Command requires a reverend Awe  
Of those whom Providence or Nature's Law  
Hath placed above us, whether they be known  
To be our Country's Parents or our own:  
Kings, Rulers, Parents, Pastors, Masters are  
All to be honoured with a pious care.   

The Sixth Command.  
Thou shalt not Kill; thus speaks the sixth Command.  
murder's a crying Sin, pollutes a Land.  
To th' Neighbour's person, name, or goods, a willing  
Wrong done by deed, word, thought, 's a kind of killing.  
Miscall, revile him not; the Scriptures tell  
That causeless anger leads the way to hell.   

The Seventh.  
Take heed, fly from adultery, says Command  
The seventh in order, given by Moses hand:  
Beware of loose behaviour, wanton dress,  
Words, gestures which entice to wantonness:  
'Bove all, observe thine heart lest it should steal  
Out by thine eye, a secret way to Hell.   

The Eighth.  
Thou shalt not steal: This Law secures thy store  
From fraud, and rapine, and the idle Poor;  
Enjoins thee strictly to do all you can  
To further the Estate of every man.  
Just weights and balance keep, the goods restore  
Unjustly gotten, though it make thee poor.   

The Ninth.  
When thou art called 'twixt man and man by Oath  
Or Word to witness, speak the Truth for both.  
Raise not, nor spread a slander, to defame  
Thy Neighbour, and unjustly wound his name:  
The flying Tale suppress; see thou defend  
His Credit as thine own unto the end.   

The Tenth.  
The Tenth Commandment bids us be content  
With what Gods Providence to us hath lent:  
This is thy Neighbour's hedge, let him alone;  
Look not to lust, and say would 'twere mine own.  
The goodness of this God and Law admire,  
Who would that none should wrong thee in desire.   

The Conclusion.  
Treasure up all these in thy youthful heart,  
And let them not in age from thee depart;  
But pray that he that did at first indite 'em,  
Would once for thee in fleshly Tables write 'em:  
So shalt thou find them to thy joys increase,  
Ways of great pleasantness, and paths of peace.    

LONDON, Printed for the Author▪ 166●