Stranger, go! Heav'n be thy guide! Quod the Beadsman of Nith side.

A PRAYER,

UNDER THE PRESSURE OF VIOLENT ANGUISH,

O Thou, great Being! what thou art

Surpasses me to know;
Yet sure I am, that known to Thee

Are all thy works below.

Thy creature here before Thee stands,

All wretched and distrest;
Yet sure those ills that wring my soul

Obey thy high behest.

Sure Thou, Almighty, canst not act

From cruelty or wrath!
O, free my weary eyes from tears,

Or, close them fast in death!

But if I must afflicted be,

To suit some wise design;
Then man my soul with firm resolves

To bear and not repine!

A PRAYER,

IN

THE PROSPECT OF DEATH.

I.
O THOU, unknown, Almighty Cause

Of all my hope and fear!
In whose dread presence, ere an hour,
Perhaps I must appear!

II.
If I have wander'd in those paths

Of life I ought to shun;
As something, loudly in my breast,
Remonstrates I have done;

III.
Thou know'st that Thou hast formed me

With passions wild and strong;. And list'ning to their witching voice Has often led me wrong.

IV. Where human weakness has come short,

Or frailty stept aside,
Do Thou, All-Good! for such Thou art,
In shades of darkness hide.

V.
Where with intention I have err'd,

No other plea I have,
But, Thou art good; and goodness still
Delighteth to forgive.

VOL. I.-I

STANZAS

ON

THE SAME OCCASION.

I.
Why am I loth to leave this earthly scene?

Have I so found it full of pleasing charms ?
Some drops of joy with draughts of ill between;

Some gleams of sunshine mid renewing storms: Is it departing pangs my soul alarms?

Or death's unlovely, dreary, dark abode?
For guilt, for guilt, my terrors are in arms;

I tremble to approach an ångry God,
And justly smart beneath his sin-avenging rod.

II.
Fain would I say, "Forgive my foul offence!"

Fain promise never more to disobey :
But, should my Author health again dispense,

Again I might desert fair virtue's way:
Again in folley's path might go astray ;

Again exalt the brute and sink the man; Then how should I for heavenly mercy, pray,

Who act so counter heavenly mercy's plan ?
Who sin so oft have mourn'd, yet to temptation ran ?

III.
O Thou, great Governor of all below!
If I

may dare a lifted eye to Thee,
Thy nod can make the tempest cease to blow,

Or still the tumult of the raging sea ;

With that controlling pow'r aseist ev'n me,

Those headlong, furious passions to confine ; For all unfit I feel my powers to be,

To rule their torrent in th' allowed line ; 0, aid me with thy help, Omnipotence Divine !

VERSES,

LEFT, BY THE AUTHOR, AT A REVEREND FRIEND'S
HOUSE, IN THE ROOM WHERE HE SLEPT.

I.
O trou, dread Pow'r, who reign'st' above;

I know thou wilt me hear :
When for this scene of peace and love,

I make my pray’r sincere

The hoary sire-the mortal stroke,

Long, long, be pleas'd to spare!
To bless his little filial flock,
And show what good men are.

III.
She, who her lovely offspring eyes

With tender hopes and fears,
O bless her with a mother's joys,
But spare a mother's tears !

IV.
Their hope, their stay, their darling youth,

In manhood's dawning blash;
Bless him, thou God of love and truth,

Up to a parent's wish!

V.
The beauteous, seraph sister-band,

With earnest tears I pray,
Thou knowest the snares on ev'ry hand,
Guide Thou their steps alway!

VI. When soon or late they reace that coast,

O'er life's rough ocean driv'n, May they rejoice, no wand'rer lost,

A family in heav'n!

A GRACE BEFORE DINNER.

OTHOU, who kindly dost provide

For every creature's want !
We bless thee, God of Nature wide,

For all thy goodness lent :
And if it please thee heavenly Guide,

May never worse be sent;
But whether granted or denied,
Lord, bless us with content!

Amen.