_A_. Nay, any other way but this would lead me down to hell. _Q_. Well, tell me how did you begin to purge away your dross? _A_. By honestly confessing sin, and taking up my cross. _Q_. Was it before the Son of man you brought your deeds to light? _A_. That was the mortifying plan, and surely it was right. _Q_. But did you not keep something back, or did you tell the whole? _A_. I told it all, however black--I fully freed my soul. _Q_. Do you expect to persevere, and ev'ry evil shun? _A_. My daily cross I mean to bear, until the work is done. _Q_. Well, is it now your full intent all damage to restore? _A_. If any man I've wrong'd a cent, I'll freely give him four. _Q_. And what is now the greatest foe with which you mean to war? _A_. The cursed flesh--'tis that, you know, all faithful souls abhor. _Q_. Have you none of its sly deceit now lurking in your breast? _A_. I say there's nothing on my mind but what I have confess'd. _Q_. Well, what you have proclaim'd abroad, if by your works you show, You are prepar'd to worship God, so, at, it, you, may, go." "The Steamboat" seems to me a characteristic rhyme, which no doubt came home to Believers on the western rivers, when they were plagued with doubters and cold-hearted adherents: "While our steamboat, Self-denial, Rushes up against the stream, Is it not a serious trial Of the pow'r of gospel steam? When Self-will, and Carnal Pleasure, And Freethinker, all afloat, Come down snorting with such pressure, Right against our little boat. "Were there not some carnal creatures Mixed with the pure and clean, When we meet those gospel-haters, We might pass and not be seen; But the smell of kindred senses Brings them on us fair broadside, Then the grappling work commences-- They must have a fair divide. "All who choose the tide of nature, Freely take the downward way; But the doubtful hesitater Dare not go, yet hates to stay. To the flesh still claiming kindred, And their faith still hanging to-- Thus we're held and basely hinder'd, By a double-minded few. "Wretched souls, while hesitating Where to fix your final claim, Don't you see our boiler heating, With a more effectual flame!--When the steam comes on like thunder, And the wheels begin to play, Must you not be torn asunder, And swept off the downward way? "Tho' Self-will and Carnal Reason, Independence, Lust, and Pride, May retard us for a season, Saint and sinner must divide; When releas'd from useless lumber-- When the fleshly crew is gone-- With our little faithful number, O how swiftly we'll move on!" The "Covenant Hymn" was publicly sung in some of the Western societies, "so that no room was left for any to say that the Covenant [by which they agree to give up all property and labor for the general use] was not well understood." I quote here several verses: