Relative Duties

Representative Text

1 Christians, in your several stations,
Dutiful to all relations,
Give to each his proper due.
Let not their unkind behaviour
Make you disobey your Saviour;
His command’s the rule for you.

2 Parents, be to children tender:
Children, full obedience render
To your parents in the Lord.
Never slight nor disrespect them;
Nor, through pride, when old, reject them;
‘Tis the precept of the word.

3 Wives, to husbands yield subjection:
Husbands, with a kind affection,
Cherish as yourselves your wives.
Masters, rule with moderation,
Sway'd by justice, not by passion:
To the scriptures square your lives.

4 Servants, serve your masters truly,
Not unfaithful, nor unruly,
To the good or to the bad;
Not refusing what you’re bidden,
Or replying when you’re chidden;
‘Tis the ordinance of God.

5 This shall solve the important question,
Whether thou'rt a real Christian,
Better than each golden dream;
Better far than lip-expression,
Towering notions, great profession;
This shall shew your love to him.

Source: A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship. In four parts (10th ed.) (Gadsby's Hymns) #877

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Author: J. Hart

Hart, Joseph, was born in London in 1712. His early life is involved in obscurity. His education was fairly good; and from the testimony of his brother-in-law, and successor in the ministry in Jewin Street, the Rev. John Hughes, "his civil calling was" for some time "that of a teacher of the learned languages." His early life, according to his own Experience which he prefaced to his Hymns, was a curious mixture of loose conduct, serious conviction of sin, and endeavours after amendment of life, and not until Whitsuntide, 1757, did he realize a permanent change, which was brought about mainly through his attending divine service at the Moravian Chapel, in Fetter Lane, London, and hearing a sermon on Rev. iii. 10. During the next two years ma… Go to person page >

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