"In God's great work still more abound, "Nor shall your labours vain be found."

The bold GALATIANS Paul reproves,

And much he blames, though much he loves;
Condemns the teachers whom he saw
Exchange the Gospel for the law.
To clear his doctrine from suspicion,
He vindicates his heavenly mission.

Th' EPHESIANS stand in glory bright,
On whom Paul shed the Gospel-light:
Where great Diana was ador'd,
They follow'd on to know the Lord!
This matchless letter you will find
A perfect model of its kind.

Where Anthony with Brutus fought,
There Christian Paul a refuge sought.
Yet e'en PHILIPPIANS could be found
The Saviour in his saint to wound:
A prison the reward bestowed

On him to whom their souls they owed.
Did Paul the cruelty resent,

Or in reproach his anger vent?

No; if the saint exceeds in love,

Invokes more favours from above;
If e'er his full o'erflowing heart
Sought warmer blessings to impart;
If more for any friends he pray'd,
For showers of mercies on their head;
It was for this distinguish'd place,
The scene of his most foul disgrace!

How does his fervent spirit burn
Their recent kindness to return!
What terms, what arguments employ,
To fill their hearts with holy joy!
What consolation from above;
What comfort from eternal love!
From God's blest Spirit drawing nigh;
Communion sweet, communion high!
Such strong persuasion must control,
Convince the reason, melt the soul!
He urges motives as a law,

Which some would think deter, not draw.
"Take as a gift reserv'd for you,
"Power to believe, and suffer too!"

The good COLOSSIANS now stand forth, Excell❜d by none in grace and worth. Behold the saint his touchstone give To try with Christ if Christians live. Oh, let your aspirations rise, Nor stop at aught beneath the skies. Your fruitless cares no more bestow On perishable things below. From sordid joys indignant fly; Know, avarice is idolatry. False worship's not confin'd alone To images of wood and stone; Whate'er you grasp with eager hold, Honours or pleasures, fame or gold; These are your idols, these you'll find Possess your soul, engross your mind. Heaven will with idols have no párt: That robs your God which steals your heart.

The THESSALONIANS next appear,
The bountiful and the sincere.

Here precept pure, and doctrine sound,
In sweet accordance may be found.
Mark the triumphant Christian's voice,
"Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!"
As he would echo back to heaven,
The holy transport grace had given,

Young TIMOTHY is on record,
Who sought betimes to know the Lord.
Here true maternal love we find,

Which form'd the heart, and taught the mind
Here may the British mother learn,
Her child's best interests to discern;
Her faithfulness to God best prove,
And best evince her Christian love.
Paul, while his pupil's good he seeks,
Through him to unborn pastors speaks;
"Reprove, exhort, be earnest still
"Your high commission to fulfil;
"Watch, labour, pray; in these consist
"The works of an Evangelist."
As Bishop, he commaads again,
"Commit the trust to faithful men;"
Bids him observe, that those who preach
Need to remind as well as teach.

To raise his soul to solemn thought, God's Judgment is before him brought; When seated in tremendous state,

The blest and only Potentate,

The members of the living head

Shall meet the Judge of quick and dead,

Then Christ his faithful sons shall own; Who bore his Cross, shall wear his Crown.

Next TITUS, youthful yet discreet,
First Bishop of the Isle of Crete.
Here prudent Paul, divines to show
They ought their people's faults to know,
Quotes their own poet, to declare
The Cretans sensual, insincere.
Such knowledge teaches to reprove
The erring, and the just to love.
Now in the gentle tone of friend
See him to private life descend;
The sober duties to impart,

Which grace the life, and mend the heart.
He shows upon what hallow'd ground
Domestic happiness is found;

Warns the fair convert not to roam:
The truest joys are found at home;
'Tis there the chaste obedient mind
Will life's best charm confer, and find.

Follows PHILEMON, who forgave,

Yea, honour'd, his converted slave.

Paul to the HEBREWS writes: - O, then, What inspiration guides his pen!

Let wits revile, let Atheists rail,
Such evidence shall never fail,
As the first pages here supply
Of Christ's unclouded Deity.

As he proceeds, to faith 'tis given
To soar on loftier wing to heaven.
See here the doctrine prov'd by facts,
Belief exhibited in acts.

See conquering Faith's heroic band
Church-militant in order stand!
The Red-Sea passengers we view,
Jephtha and Gideon, Barak too.
Had we all time, the time would fail
Of heroes to record the tale,
Whose deeds their attestation bring
That faith is no ideal thing.
Say, could ideal faith aspire
To quench the violence of fire?
To stop the famish'd lion's rage?
With dread temptations to engage?
All deaths despise, all dangers dare?
With no support, save God and prayer?
""Tis pride," the sneering Sceptic cries,
“Rank pride, the martyr's strength supplies:
"His fortitude by praise is fed,

"Praise is religion's daily bread.

"The public show, the attendant crowd,
"The admiration fond and loud;

“The gaze, the noise, his soul sustains,
“ Applause the opiate of his pains;
"Withdraw the charm spectators bring,
“And torture is no joyous thing.”

Thy triumphs, Faith, we need not take
Alone from the blest martyr's stake;
In scenes obscure, no less we see
That faith is a reality.