Reproves alike both age and youth;
Neither is valiant for the truth.
Wisdom, or wealth, or pow'r, or might,
Alone, as rightly us'd, is right.
All glorying is by heav'n abhorr❜d,
Save that which glories in the Lord.
Sublimely sad his woes impart Their LAMENTATIONS to the heart. Pity and woe his bosom share, Anger and fondness, grief and prayer. Fountains of tears could scarce express His sorrows' and his love's excess.
EZEKIEL Comes in awful state, His vision mystically great!
The Prophet, see, his watch-tow'r keep, The shepherd blame, console the sheep.
When Babylon's imperial lord Crush'd Judah by his conqu'ring sword; DANIEL, erect, of noble mind, With three believing brothers join'd, Captives among the Jews were brought, And in the royal palace taught; Chaldea's learning they acquir'd, The king, the ingenuous youths admir'd; At dainty tables gave them meat, Himself ordain'd the plenteous treat. The tempting cates he bade provide,
The daily bounties he supplied,
The wines, the royal vintage find,
Seduce not Daniel's guarded mind,
Tempt not the self-denying three;
All shun the snares of luxury.
"No food, but pulse, before us bring,
“No drink, but the translucent spring."
The king an image vast display'd,
Enormous was the statue made:
With impious zeal his laws ordain,
All should repair to Dura's plain :
Princes and counsellors appear,
Rulers of provinces be there!
At sound of sackbut psalt'ry, flute,
All must attend: who dares dispute
The high behest, who will not own
The idol's godhead, shall be thrown
Deep in the fiery caldron's blaze,
And burn in that capacious vase.
See Dura's plain how crowded now!
All make the prostituted vow;
All praise, all honour, all adore;
The zealous king can ask no more.
What, all? Is no exception found,
In idol worship all abound?
The holy brotherhood behold,
In God's almighty strength how bold!
Nor flute nor sackbut's sound controls
The firm, fix'd purpose of their souls.
Their eyes, their hearts are rais'd on high,
The burning caldron they defy.
Now hear the valiant brothers speak,
See them magnanimously meek;
No arts to soothe the haughty king,
No charge against his idol bring,
No doubts, no fears, no hesitation;
They wait no slow deliberation.
Prepar'd they stand. They scorn to swerve:
Thy gods, O king, we will not serve; "We serve Jehovah; his command
"Can save his servants from thy hand,
"E'en from the flames his children save,
"Snatch from the fearful fiery grave.
"If not, obedience is his due,
"In life, in death, resolv'd and true,
"No image shall our worship see,
"No idol, though set up by thee."!
The king with madd'ning fury turns;
With seven-fold heat the caldron burns;
To such intensity it grew,
The men who cast them in it slew.
The ardent blaze unaw'd they dare,
They burn not! God's own Son is there!
Sav'd by an all-controlling hand,
Unhurt amidst the flames they stand.
Triumphant Lord! sav'd by thy power,
Nor floods shall drown, nor flames devour.
The awe-struck king the scene surveys;
Hear him the cry of rapture raise:
"They live! come forth! let my command
"Be strait proclaim'd throughout the land;
"Let Babylon's wide empire know
"God reigns above, and rules below.
"If any dare my law deny,
"Or Azariah's God defy,
“On dunghill heaps they shall be trod; "No God delivers like this God."
Let youthful readers not despise The hints which from this tale arise; If base intemperance had possess'd Its empire o'er the yielding breast ; Or did excess in wine obtain A conquest o'er the youthful brain, By these joint enemies subdu'd, Where might have been their fortitude? Who rules the appetite shall find An easier task to rule the mind.
DANIEL, the statesman, saint, and sage,
Brav'd, yet unhurt, the lion's rage.
How fervently the Prophet spoke!
Warm from his lips the rapture broke:
Our righteousness we dare not plead,
For we have none in thought or deed:
Thy oracles neglected lie;
Abus'd thy dreadful majesty!
Our sins are great, yet greater still
Thy power to pardon, and thy will;
Oh, Lord, forgive! Oh, hear us, Lord!
For thy own sake thy help afford.
So prompt to prayer to grant thine aid,
'Tis heard almost before 'tis made.
Soon may it come, the day all hail!
When God's free Spirit shall prevail :
In full effusion, large and wide,
In ev'ry heart be multiplied.
What must arrive, if God be true,
Why wait for in a distant view?
Why not besiege at once the throne,
Till Heaven the supplication own?
Behold the rapid course of things!
Time hastes on ever-active wings:
The day is restless in its flight,
And swift, though silent, flies the night;
The fountains flow, the rivers run,
The sinner hastes to be undone.
Each follows fast the bent design'd,
Whether in matter or in mind;
The Christian only, duties known,
Dares not reject, but dares postpone.
HOSEA, in each indignant line, Denounc'd on sin the wrath divine.
JOEL directs to fast and pray,
And God's displeasure turn away;
The threat'nings of the Lord he brings,
And then his goodness sweetly sings:
Why will ye perish? turn, Ọ turn,
Before his indignation burn!
Bow down your hearts, his kindness prove;
Not merely loving, God is love;
Quick to forgive, slow to resent:
Approach his footstool, and repent.
He will your contrite prayers receive,
Perhaps he may a blessing leave:
Corn, wine, and oil, again bestow,
Remove the plague, and heal the woe.
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