Drink deep; the deeper, then, the more divine; 675 Angels are angels from indulgence there; 'Tis unrepenting pleasure makes a god. Dost think thyself a god from other joys? A victim rather! shortly sure to bleed. The wrong must mourn: Can Heav'n's appointments fail? Can Man outwit Omnipotence? Strike out A self-wrought happiness unmeant by HIM With unprecarious flows of vital joy; And, without breathing, Man as well might hope "Is Virtue, then, and Piety the same?". 680 685 690 They smile at Piety; yet boast aloud 695 Good-will to men; nor know they strive to part What Nature joins; and thus confute themselves. 'Tis the first born of Rationality. Conscience, her first law broken, wounded lies; 700 A feign'd affection bounds her utmost pow'r. Some sinister intent taints all he does; 705 And, in his kindest actions, he's unkind. On Piety, humanity is built; And, on humanity, much happiness; And yet still more on Piety itself. A soul in commerce with her GOD, is heav'n; 710 The whirls of passions, and the strokes of heart. A Deity ador'd, is joy advanc'd; A Deity belov'd, is joy matur'd. Each branch of Piety delight inspires; Faith builds a bridge from this world to the next, 715 720 That joy exalts, and makes it sweeter still; Pray'r ardent opens heav'n, lets down a stream Of Man, in audience with the Deity. LORENZO! When wast thou at church before? 725 730 735 LStothard Erg RA delin Rayr ardent Engravel by J. Saunders opens heaven, lets down a stream. London:Published Nov 11797 by T.Heptinstall 304 Helborn. Page 230 Amid her fair ones, thou the fairest chuse, To chase thy gloom.-" Go, fix some weighty truth; "Chain down some passion; do some gen'rous good; "Teach Ignorance to see, or Grief to smile; "Correct thy friend; befriend thy greatest foe; 740 "Or with warm heart, and confidence divine, 66 Spring up, and lay strong hold on HIM who made "thee." -Thy gloom is scatter'd, sprightly spirits flow: Dost call the bowl, the viol, and the dance, Loud mirth, mad laughter? Wretched comforters! Physicians! more than half of thy disease. 745 Laughter, though never censur'd yet as sin 750 755 Of grief approaching, the portentous sign! The house of laughter makes a house of woe, A Man triumphant is a monstrous sight; A Man dejected is a sight as mean. What cause for triumph, where such ills abound? 760 So grieve, as conscious grief may rise to joy; 765 |