Lovely Youth, with Ardent Zeal

Words: Benjamin Beddome (1717–1795). Published posthumously in Hymns Adapted to Public Worship (London: Burton & Briggs, 1818), number 720. Early Piety Recommended.

Music: Regent Square Henry T. Smart, in Psalms and Hymns for Divine Worship (London: 1867) (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

Rosefield H. A. César Malan, 1834 (🔊 pdf nwc)
Segur Joseph P. Holbrook, 1862 (🔊 pdf nwc)
Sicilian Mariners The European Magazine and London Review, 1792 (🔊 pdf nwc)
Spanish Hymn arranged by Benjamin Carr, 1824 (🔊 pdf nwc)

If you know where to get a good picture of Beddome (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),

Lovely youth, with ardent zeal,
Wisdom’s flowery path pursue;
There shall you sweet pleasures feel,
Ever springing, ever new:
Sacred peace and joy combined,
Hopes and comforts all refined.

Earth with all its boasted store,
Cannot such delights impart,
All its joys are mean and poor,
Giving anguish to the heart:
From its vanities retire,
Seek the Lord with strong desire.

Give to Him your early bloom,
Make His counsels your delight,
Let His temple be your home,
Love and serve Him day and night:
Then shall you His blessings prove,
Feel the transports of His love.

Scripture Verse

Introduction

Lyrics