Page images
PDF
EPUB

To learn in God's own school the Chriftian part,
And bind the tafk affign'd thee to thine heart :
Happy the man there seeking and there found,
Happy the nation where fuch men abound.

How shall a verse impress thee? by what name
Shall I adjure thee not to court thy shame?
By theirs whose bright example unimpeach'd
Directs thee to that eminence they reach'd,
Heroes and worthies of days paft, thy fires?
Or his, who touch'd their hearts with hallow'd fires?
Their names, alas! in vain reproach an age
Whom all the vanities they scorn'd, engage,
And his that feraphs tremble at, is hung
Difgracefully on ev'ry trifler's tongue,
Or ferves the champion in forenfic war,
To flourish and parade with at the bar.
Pleasure herself perhaps függests a plea,
If int'reft move thee, to perfuade ev'n thee::
By ev'ry charm that fmiles upon her face,
By joys poffefs'd, and joys still held in chace,
If dear fociety be worth a thought,

And if the feast of freedom cloy thee not,
Reflect that these and all that seems thine own,
Held by the tenure of his will alone,
Like angels in the service of their Lord,
Remain with thee, or leave thee at his word;

That

That gratitude and temp'rance in our use
Of what he gives unfparing and profufe,
Secure the favour and enhance the joy,
That thanklefs wafte and wild abufe deftroy..
But above all reflect, how cheap foe'er
Those rights that millions envy thee, appear,
And though refolv'd to risk them, and fwim down:
The tide of pleasure, heedlefs of his frown,
That bleffings truly facred, and when giv'n
Mark'd with the fignature and stamp of Heav'n,
The word of prophefy, those truths divine
Which make that Heav'n if thou defire it, thine;.
(Awful alternative! believ'd, belov'd,

Thy glory, and thy fhame if unimprov'd,)

Are never long vouchfaf'd, if push'd afide
With cold difguft or philofophic pride,
And that judicially withdrawn, difgrace,
Error and dark nefs occupy their place.

A world is up in arms, and thou, a fpot
Not quickly found if negligently fought,
Thy foul as ample as thy bounds are fmall;
Endur'ft the brunt, and dar'ft defy them all;.
And wilt thou join to this bold enterprize.
A bolder ftill, a conteft with the skies?
Remember, if he guard thee and fecure,.
Whoe'er effails thee, thy fuccefs is fure;;

But

But if he leave thee, though the skill and pow'r
Of nations fworn to spoil thee, and devour,
Were all collected in thy fingle arm,

And thou couldst laugh away the fear of harm,
That strength would fail, oppos'd against the push.
And feeble onset of a pigmy rush.

Say not (and if the thought of fuch defence
Should fpring within thy bofom, drive it thence).
What nation amongst all my foes is free

From crimes as bafe as any charg'd on me?
Their measure fill'd-they too fhall pay the debt
Which God, though long forborn, will not forget;
But know, that wrath divine, when most severe,
Makes juftice ftill the guide of his career,
And will not punish in one mingled crowd,.
Them without light, and thee without a cloud;

Mufe, hang this harp upon yon aged beech,
Still murm'ring with the folemn truths I teach,
And while, at intervals, a cold- blast fings
Through the dry leaves, and pants upon the strings,
My foul fhall figh in fecret, and lament
A nation fcourg'd, yet tardy to repent.
I know the warning fong is fung in vain,
That few will hear, and fewer heed the ftrain::
But if a fweeter voice, and one defign'd

Ableffing to my country and mankind,

Reclaim

Reclaim the wand'ring thousands, and bring home
A flock fo fcatter'd and fo wont to roam,

Then place it once again between my knees,
The found of truth will then be fure to please,
And truth alone, where'er my life be caft,
In fcenes of plenty or the pining waste,
Shall be my chofen theme, my glory to the last.

}

HOPE.

HOP E.

doceas iter et facra oftia pandas.
VIRG. EN. 6.

ASK what is human life—the fage replies,
With difappointment low ring in his eyes,
A painful paffage o'er a reftlefs flood,
A vain pursuit of fugitive false good,
A fcene of fancied blifs and heart-felt care,
Clofing at laft in darkness and despair.-
The poor, inur'd to drudg'ry and diftrefs,
Act without aim, think little and feel lefs,
And no where but in feign'd Arcadian fcenes,
Tafte happiness, or know what pleasure means.
Riches are pafs'd away from hand to hand,
As fortune, vice or folly may command;

A:

« PreviousContinue »