School thy feelings, O my brother

Verse 1

School thy feelings, O my brother, Train thy warm, impulsive soul, Do not its emotions smother, But let wisdom's voice control. School thy feelings, there is power In the cool, collected mind; Passion shatters reason's tower, Makes the clearest vision blind.

Verse 2

School thy feelings; condemnation_ Never pass on friend or foe, Tho' the tide of accusation Like a flood of truth may flow Hear defense before deciding, And a ray of light may gleam, Showing thee what filth is hiding Underneath the shallow stream.

Verse 3

Should affliction's acrid vial Burst o'er thy unsheltered head, School thy feelings to the trial, Half its bitterness hath fled Art thou falsely, basely slandered? Does the world begin to frown? Gauge thy wrath by wisdom's standard; Keep thy rising anger down.

Verse 4

Rest thyself on this assurance: Time's a friend to innocense, And the patient, calm endurance Wins respect and aids defense. Noblest minds have finest feelings, Quiv'ring strings a breath can move, And the Gospel's sweet revealings, Tune them with the key of love.

Verse 5

Hearts so sensitively molded, Strongly fortified should be, Train'd to firmness and enfolded In a calm tranquility. Wound not willfully another; Conquer haste with reason's might; School thy feelings, sister, brother, Train them in the path of right.