THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 Mufee Seatoniana* 
 
 A COMPLETE 
 
 COLLECTION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 CAMBRIDGE PRIZE POEMS, 
 
 FROM THE 
 
 FIRST INSTITUTION OF THAT PREMIUM BY 
 
 The Rev. Mr. THO. SEATON, in 1750, 
 TO THE PRESENT TIME. 
 
 TO WHICH ARE ADDED, 
 
 TWO POEMS, 
 
 LIKEWISE WRITTEN FOR THE PRIZE, 
 
 fcy Mr. B A L L Y and Mr. SCOTT. 
 LONDON: 
 
 POINTED BY T. WRIGHT FOR. G. PEARCH J 
 J. JOHNSON, AT NO. 72. IN ST. PAUI/S 
 
 CHURCH-YARD; AND j. & T. MERRILL., 
 
 CAMBRIDGE.
 
 ltAJ 
 C-H 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 ANECDOTES of Mr. SEATON. 
 
 ON the Eternity of the Supreme Being. By C. Smart, 
 
 On the Immenfity of the Supreme Being. By the Same, 
 On the Omnifcience of the Supreme Being. By the Same, 
 
 *7$2 21 
 
 On the Power of the Supreme Being. By the Same, 
 
 J753 3' 
 
 On the Juftice of the Supreme Being. By G. Bally, 
 
 *74 ' 41 
 
 On the Goodnefs of the Supreme Being. By C. Smart, 
 
 On the Wifdom of the Supreme Being. By G. Bally, 
 
 The Day of Judgment. By R. Glynn, 1757 89 
 
 The Providence of the Supreme Being. By G. Bally, 
 
 Death. By B. Porteus, 1759 "' ' " ... 125 
 
 Heaven: a Vifion. By J. Scott, 1760 iig 
 
 Purity of Heart. By the Same, 1761 i 
 
 923025
 
 CONTENT 9. 
 
 An Hymn to Repentance* By the Same, 1762 167 
 
 Redemption. By J. Hey, 1763 .*** - s ^ 
 
 The Converfwn of St. Paul, by J. Lettke, 1764 211 
 
 The Crucifixion. By T. Zouch, 1765 225 
 
 The Gift of Tongues. By C. Jenner, 1767 243 
 
 The Deftroftion of Nineveh. By the Same, 1768 257 
 
 The Dedication of the Temple of Solomon. By W. 
 
 Hodfon, 1770 2 
 
 The Two following Poems were written ftr the Prixt, 
 but rejefttd. 
 
 The Day of Judgment. By G. Bally, 1757 295 
 Redemption. By J. Scott, 1763 321 
 
 Juft PuUiJh(d, 
 In Four Volumes Small Olavo, Price 143. bound, 
 
 Tne SECOND EDITION of 
 A COLLECTION OF POEMS 
 
 By SEVERAL HANDS"; 
 Being a Proper SUPPLEMENT to<Mr. DODSLET'S COLLECTION". 
 
 Printed for Go, PEABCH: and Sold by J. JOHNSON, No, 72 
 St. Paul's Church-Yard,
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 IF the prefent Age is not celebrated for 
 Poetical Genius, it is remarkable for 
 JPoetical Tafte, even the mod refined. Nu- 
 merous Poems might be adduced in proof of 
 this, but none with greater propriety than 
 thofe contained in the following Collection. 
 
 A DESIGN was formed fome time ago to 
 colled all the Poems which gained Mr. 
 SEATON'S Prize j but it was either interrupted 
 or neglected. The defign was too laudable 
 to be entirely laid afide ; we have therefore 
 refumed it. We felt for the caufe of Lite- 
 rature when we faw fcattered in obfcure 
 corners, Poems which have done fo much 
 honour to their Authors, and which have 
 fo faithfully anfwered the intention of the 
 
 pious
 
 pious D6nor, by inculcating and embellifh- 
 ing the great truths of the Chriftian Religion, 
 
 IT may be necefTary to obferve, that the 
 following is a complete collection of all the 
 Prize-Poems, fome of which were become 
 very fcarce. In the years 1766, 1769, and 
 1 77 1 , no Poems were publiflied for the Prize. 
 We have added Two Poems to the Collec- 
 tion which were written for the Prize, but, 
 in the eftimation of the Judges, were not 
 ^fuppofed to deferve it. The Poems, how- 
 ever, have great merit, and as fuch we thought 
 them intitled to the ftation they poflefs, 
 
 WE deemed this no improper opportunity 
 to give the world fome account of Mr. 
 SEATON -, a man who is generally known to 
 it only by his liberality in the caufe of Reli- 
 gion and the Mufes \ but our refearches have 
 been unequal to the talk. It is remarkable, 
 that the hiftory of a public-fpirited Man 
 ftiould have been funk in the lhajlow gulph 
 
 Of
 
 of little more than twenty years , for the 
 Anecdotes of his life which are known are 
 but few, and indeed not very interefting. 
 
 THE Reverend Mr. THOMAS SEATON was 
 born at Stamford, in Lincolnfhire, about 
 the year 1684; anc U after patting the ufual 
 time at the ufual ftudies, was admitted, in 
 1701, a Sizer of Clare-Hall in the Univer- 
 fity of Cambridge, under the tuition of Mr. 
 Clarke, the then Bedel of the Univerfity. 
 Three years after, while Bachelor of Arts, 
 he was admitted Scholar of that College, 
 and at the end of the fubfequent three years 
 he acquired a Fellowfhip. Here he refided 
 fifteen or fixteen years ; in the courfe of 
 which he wrote, among other little things, 
 a Pamphlet againft Whifton on the Eternity 
 of the Son of God, In 1721 he refigned 
 his Fellowfhip, and went to refide at his 
 living in Northamptonmire, to which he had 
 been prefented by the late Lord Nottingham, 
 whofe Chaplain he was. Here he married, 
 
 and
 
 and poileiTed the univerfal good-wimes of his 
 parifh till his death. He was a man afft- 
 duous in promoting the caufe of Religion, 
 hecaufe he loved it ; and he gave no fmall 
 teftimony of his attachment to it in his 
 Will, from which the following claufe is 
 extracted : 
 
 " I GIVE my Kiflingbury eftate to the 
 ** Univerfuy of Cambridge for ever ; the 
 *' rents of which mail be oifpofed of yearly 
 " by the Vice-Chancellor for the time being, 
 " as he the Vice-Chancellor, the Matter of 
 " Clare-Hall, and the Greek Profefibr for 
 *' the time being, or any two of them, mall 
 *' agree. Which three perfons aforefaid (hall 
 * l give out a fubjecl:, which fubjedt mall, for 
 " the firft year, be one or other of the Per- 
 * c feclions or Attributes of the Supreme 
 *' Being, and fo the fucceeding years, till 
 ** the fubjecl is exhaufted , and afterwards 
 4 the fubjea (hall be either l/each, Judg- 
 * ; ment, Heaven, Hell, Purity of Heart, 
 
 " &c.
 
 ( vii ) 
 
 '* &c. or whatfoe\ 7 er elie may be judged by 
 " the Vice-Chancellor, Matter of Clare- Hall, 
 " and Greek Profeflbr, to be mod conducive 
 " to the honour of the Supreme Being and 
 " recommendation of Virtue. And they 
 *' mail yearly difpofe of the rent of the 
 " above eftate to that Mafter of Arts, 
 *' whofe Poem on the fubjeft given mail 
 44 be beft approved by them. Which Poem 
 " I ordain to be always in Englifli, and to 
 * c be printed , the expence of which (hall 
 " be deducted out of the product of the 
 " eftate, and the refidue given as a reward 
 " for the Compofer of the Poem, or Ode, 
 " or Copy of Verfes."
 
 ON THE 
 
 ETERNITY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 SUPREME BEING. 
 
 BY 
 
 CHRISTOPHER SMART, M. A. 
 M DCC L.
 
 ON THE 
 
 ETERNITY 
 
 SUPREME BEING. 
 
 JrX AIL, wond'rous Being, who in power fupreme 
 Exifts from everlafting, whofe great name 
 Deep in the human heart, and every atom 
 The Air, the Earth, or azure Main contains, 
 In undecypher'd characters is wrote-- 
 JNCOMPREHENSIBLE ! O what can words, 
 The weak interpreters of mortal thoughts, 
 Or what can thoughts (tho' wild of wing they rove 
 Thro' the vaft concave of th' astherial round)? 
 If to the Heaven of Heavens they wing their way 
 Adventurous, like the birds of night they're loft, 
 And delug'd in the flood of dazzling day. . 
 
 Bz May
 
 4 ETERNITY OF THE SUPREME BEING. 
 
 May then the youthful, uninfpired Bard 
 Prefume to hymn th' Eternal ; may he foar 
 Where Seraph and where Cherubin on high 
 Refound th' unceafing plaudits, and with them 
 In the grand Chorus mix his feeble voice ? 
 
 He may if Thou, who from the witlefs babe 
 Ordaineft honour, glory, ftrength, and praife, 
 Uplift th' unpinion'd Mufe, and deign'ft t'affift, 
 GREAT POET OF THE UNIVERSE, his fong. 
 
 Before this earthly Planet wound her courfe 
 Round Light's perennial fountain ; before Light 
 Herfelf 'gan mine, and at th' infpiring word 
 Shot to exiftence in a blaze of day ; 
 Before " the Morning-Stars together fang, 
 And haiFd Thee Architect of countlefs worlds j 
 Thou art all-glorious, all-beneficent, 
 All Wifdom and Omnipotence thou art. 
 
 But is the aera of Creation fix'd 
 At when thefe worlds began ? Could aught retard 
 Goodnefs, that knows no bounds, from blefling ever, 
 Or keep th' immenfe Artificer in floth ? 
 Avaunt the duft-direded crawling thought. 
 That Puiflance immeafurably vaft, 
 
 And
 
 KfERNlTY OF THE SUPREME BEING. 5 
 
 And Bounty inconceivable, could reft 
 Content, exhaufted with one week of adHon 
 No in th' exertion of thy righteous power, 
 Ten thoufand times more active than the Sun, 
 Thou reign'd, and with a mighty hand compos'd 
 Syftems innumerable, matchlefs all, 
 All ftampt with thine uncounterfeited feal. 
 
 But yet (if ftill to more ftupemlous heights 
 The Mufe unblam'd her aching fenfe may ftrain) 
 Perhaps wrapt up in contemplation deep, 
 The belt of Beings on the nobleft theme 
 Might ruminate at leifure, Scope immenfe 
 Th' eternal Power and Godhead to explore, 
 And with itfelf th' omnifcient mind replete. 
 This were enough to fill the boundlefs All, 
 This were a Sabbath worthy the Supreme ! 
 Perhaps enthron'd amidft a choicer few, 
 Of fpirits inferior, he might greatly plan 
 The two prime Pillars of the Univerfe, 
 Creation and Redemption and a while 
 Paufe with the grand prefentiments of glory. 
 
 Perhaps but all's conjecture here below, 
 All ignorance, and felf-plum'd vanity 
 O Thou, vvhofe ways to wonder at's diftruft, 
 
 B 3 Whom
 
 O ETERNITY OF THE SUPREME BEINO, 
 
 Whom to defcribe's prefumption (all we can- 
 And all w may ) be glorified, be prais'd. 
 
 A Day mall come, when all this Earth mall perifh, 
 Nor leave behind ev'n Chaos ; it mall come- 
 When all the armies of the elements 
 Shall war agairift themfelves ; and mutual rage, 
 To make Perdition triumph ; it fhall come 
 When the capacious atmofphere above 
 Shall in fulphureous thunders groan, and die, 
 And vanifh into void ; the earth beneath 
 Shall fever to the center, and devour 
 Th' enormous blaze of the deftru&ive flames. 
 Ye rocks, that mock the raving of the floods, 
 And proudly frown upon th' impatient deep, 
 Where is your grandeur now ? Ye foaming waves y 
 "That all along th' immenfe Atlantic roar, 
 In vain ye fwell ; will a few drops fuffice 
 To quench the inextinguifhable fire ? - 
 Ye mountains, on whofe cloud-crown 'd tops the cedars 
 Are leflen'd into fhrubs, magnific piles, 
 That prop the painted chambers of the heavens, 
 And fix the earth continual ; Athos, where ; 
 Where, Tenerif's thy ftatelinefs to-day ? 
 What, JEtna, are thy flames to thefe ? No more 
 Than the poor glow-worm to the golden fun. 
 
 Nor
 
 ETERNITY OF THE SUPREME BEING. 7 
 
 Nor mall the verdant vallies then remain 
 Safe in their meek fubmiffion ; they the debt 
 Of nature and of juftice too muft pay. 
 Yet I muft weep for you, ye rival fair^ 
 Arno and Andalufia ; but for thee 
 More largely and with filial tears muft weep, 
 O Albion, O my country ! Thou muft join, 
 In vain diflever'd from the reft, muft join 
 The terrors of th' inevitable ruin. 
 
 Nor thou, illuftrious monarch of die day ; 
 Nor thou, fair queen of night ; nor you, ye ftars, 
 Tho' million leagues and million ftill remote, 
 Shall yet furvive that day ; Ye muft fubmit, 
 Sharers, not bright fpeftators of the fcene. 
 
 But tho' the earth fhall to the center perifh, 
 Nor leave behind ev'n Chaos ; tho' the air 
 With all the elements muft pafs away, 
 Vain as an ideot's dream ; tho' the huge rocks, 
 That brandifh the tall cedars on their tops, 
 With humbler vales muft to perdition yield j 
 Tho' the gilt Sun, and filver-trefled Moon 
 With all her bright retinue, muft be loft ; J 
 
 Yet Thou, Great Father of the world, furviv'ft 
 Eternal, as thou wert ; Yet ftill furvives 
 
 B 4 The
 
 3 ETERNITY OF THE SUPREME BEING, 
 
 The foul of man immortal, perfect now, 
 And candidate for unexpiring joys. 
 
 He comes ! He comes ! the awful trump I hear ; 
 The flaming fword's intolerable blaze 
 I fee ! He comes ! th' Archangel from above. 
 " Arife, ye tenants of the filent grave, 
 Awake incorruptible and arife : 
 ** From eaft to weft, from the Antarctic p'ole 
 ' To regions Hyperborean, all ye fons, 
 " Ye fons of Adam, and ye heirs of Heaven 
 *' Arife, ye tenants of the filent grave, 
 " Awake incorruptible and arife." 
 
 'Tis tjien, nor fooner, that the refllefs mind 
 Shall find itfelf at home ; and like the ark, 
 Fix'd on the mountain-top, mail look aloft 
 O'er the vague paffage of precarious life ; 
 And, winds and waves and rocks and tempefts paft, 
 Enjoy the everlafting calm of Heaven : 
 'Tis then, nor fooner, that the deathlefs foul 
 Shall juftly know its nature and its rife : 
 'Tis then the human tongue new-tun'd mail give 
 Praifes more worthy the Eternal ear. 
 Yet what we can, we ought; and therefore Thou, 
 Purge Thou my heart, Omnipotent and Good I 
 
 Purge
 
 ETERNITY OF THE SUPREME BEING. 
 
 Purge Thou my heart with hyffop, left like Cain 
 
 I offer fruitless facrifice, and with gifts 
 
 Offend and not propitiate the Ador'd. 
 
 Tho' Gratitude were bleft with all the powers 
 
 Her burfting heart could long for, tho' the fwift, 
 
 The fiery-wing'd Imagination foar'd 
 
 Beyond Ambition's wifh yet all were vain 
 
 To fpeak Him as he is, who is INEFFABLE, 
 
 Yet ftill let Reafon thro' the eye of Faith 
 
 View Him with fearful love ; let Truth pronounce, 
 
 And Adoration on her bended knee 
 
 With heaven-direfted hands confefs His reign. 
 
 And let the Angelic, Archangelic band 
 
 With all the Holts of Heaven, Cherubic forms, 
 
 And forms Seraphic, with their filver trumps 
 
 And golden lyres attend : " For Thou art holy, 
 
 ' For Thou art One, th' Eternal, who alone 
 
 " Exerts all goodnefs, and tranfcends all praife." 
 
 ON
 
 ON THE 
 
 IMMENSITY 
 
 ,. 
 
 OF THE 
 
 SUPRE. ME- BEING. 
 
 BY 
 
 CHRISTOPHER SMART, M. A, 
 M DCC LI.
 
 ON THE 
 
 IMMENSITY OF THE SUPREME BEING. 
 
 V>NCE more I dare to roufe the founding firing, 
 THE POET OF MY GOD Awake, my glory, 
 Awake, my lute and harp myfelf mail wake, 
 Soon as the ftately night-exploding bird 
 Jn lively lay lings welcome to the dawn. 
 
 Lift ye ! how Nature with ten thoufand tongues 
 Begins the grand thankfgiving, Hail, all hail, 
 Ye tenants of the foreft and the field ! 
 My fellow-fubjels of th' Eternal King, 
 I gladly join your Mattins, and with you 
 Confefs his prefence, and report his praife. 
 
 O Thou, who or the Lambkin, or the Dove, 
 When offer'd by the lowly, meek, and poor, 
 Prefer'ft to Pride's whole hecatomb, accept 
 This mean Eflay, nor from thy treafure-houfe 
 Of Glory' immenfe the Orphan's mite exclude. 
 
 What
 
 l6 IMMENSITY OF THE SUPREME BEING. 
 
 Next to Pegu or Ceylon let me rove, 
 Where the rich ruby (cleem'd by Sages old 
 Of Sovereign virtue) fparkles ev'n like Sirius, 
 And blulhes into flames. Thence will I go 
 To undermine the treafure-fertile womb 
 Of the huge Pyrenean, to detect 
 The Agat and the deep-intrenched gem 
 Of kindred Jafper Nature in them both 
 Delights to play the Mimic on herfelf j 
 And in their veins me oft pourtrays the forms 
 Of leaning hills, of trees ereft, and flreams 
 Now ftealing foftly on, now thundering down 
 In defperate cafcade, with flowers and beads, 
 And all the living landfkip of the vale : 
 In vain thy pencil, Claudio or Pouffin, 
 Or thine, immortal Guido, would eflay 
 Such fkill to imitate it is the hand 
 Of God himfelf for God himfelf is there. 
 
 Hence with the afcending fprings let me advance 
 Thro' beds of magnets, minerals, and fpar, 
 Up to the mountain's fummit, there t' indulge 
 Th' ambition of the comprehenfive eye, 
 That dares to call th' Horizon all her own. 
 Behold the foreft, and the expanfive verdure, 
 Of yonder level lawn, whofe fmooth-fhorn fod 
 
 No
 
 IMMENSITY OF THE SUPREME BEING, 
 
 No objeft interrupts, unlefs the oak 
 
 His lordly head uprears, and branching arms 
 
 Extends Behold in regal folitude, 
 
 And paltoral magnificence, he ftands 
 
 So fimple ! and fo great ! the under-wood 
 
 Of meaner rank an awful diftance keep. 
 
 Yet Thou art there, yet God himfelf is there 
 
 Ev'n on the bufh (tho' not as when to Mofes 
 
 He fhone in burning majefty reveal'd). 
 
 Nathlefs confpicuous in the Linnet's throat 
 
 Is his unbounded goodnefs Thee her Maker, 
 
 Thee her Preferver chaunts fhe in her fong ; 
 
 While all the emulative vocal tribe 
 
 The grateful leflbn learn no other voice 
 
 Is heard, no other found for, in attention 
 
 Buried, ev'n babbling Echo holds her peace. 
 
 Now from the plains, where th' unbounded profpel 
 Gives liberty her utmoil fcope to range, 
 Turn we to yon enclofures, where appears 
 Chequer'd Variety in all her forms, 
 Which the vague mind attract and ftill fufpend 
 With fweet perplexity. What are yon towers, 
 The work of labouring man and clumfy art, 
 Seen with the ring-dove's neft ? On that tall beech 
 Her pen file houfe the feather 'd Artifl builds 
 
 The
 
 18 IMMENSITY Or THE SUPREME BEING,* 
 
 The rocking winds moleft her not ; for fee, 
 With fuch due poize the wond'rous fabric's hung, 
 That, like the compafs in the bark, it keeps 
 True to itfelf, and ftedfaft ev'n in ftorms. 
 Thou ideot, that afferts there is no God, 
 View, and be dumb for ever 
 Go bid Vitruvius or Palladio build 
 The bee his manfion, or the ant her cave- 
 Go call Correggio, or let Titian come 
 To paint the hawthorn's bloom, or teach the cherry 
 To blulh with juft vermilion Hence away 
 Hence, ye prophane ! for God himfelf is here. 
 Vain were th' attempt, and impious to trace 
 Thro' all his works th' Artificer Divine- 
 And tho' nor mining fun, nor twinkling ftar 
 Bedeck'd the crimfon curtains of the flcy ; 
 Tho' neither vegetable, beaft, nor bird 
 Were extant on the furface of this ball, 
 Nor lurking gem beneath ; tho' the great fea 
 Slept in profound ftagnation, and the air 
 Had left no thunder to pronounce its maker ; 
 Yet man at home, within himfelf, might find 
 The Deity immenfe, and in that frame 
 -So fearfully, fo wonderfully made, 
 Se.e and adore his providence and power 
 I fee, and I adore-oO God moft bounteous! 
 
 Oin-
 
 IMMENSITY OP THE SUPREME BEING. I 
 
 O infinite of Goodnefs and of Glory ! 
 
 The knee, that thou haft fhap'd, fhall bend to Thee ; 
 
 The tongue, which thou haft tun'd, fhall chaunt thy praife; 
 
 And, thine own image, the immortal foul, 
 
 Shall confecrate herfelf to Thee for ever. 
 
 
 
 C 2 ON
 
 ON THE 
 
 OMNISCIENCE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 SUPREME BEING. 
 
 BY 
 
 CHRISTOPHER SMART, M. A. 
 M DCC LII.
 
 ON THE 
 
 OMNISCIENCE OF THE SUPREME BEING. 
 
 2\ RISE, divine Urania, with new ftrains 
 
 To hymn thy God ! and thou, immortal Fame, 
 
 Arife, and blow thy everlafting trump ! 
 
 All glory to the Omnifcient, and praife, 
 
 And power, and domination in the height ! 
 
 And thou, cherubic Gratitude, whofe voice 
 
 To pious ears founds filverly fo fweet, 
 
 Come with thy precious incenfe, bring thy gifts, 
 
 And with thy choiceft ftores the altar crown. 
 
 Thou too, my Heart, whom He, and He alone 
 
 Who all things knows, can know, with love replete, 
 
 Regenerate, and pure, pour all thyfelf 
 
 A living facrifice before his throne ! 
 
 And may th' eternal, high myfterious tree, 
 
 That in the center of the arched Heavens 
 
 Bears the rich fruit of Knowledge, with fome branch 
 
 Stoop to my humble reach, and blefs my toil ! 
 
 C 4 When
 
 24 OMNISCIENCE OF THE SUPREME BEING. 
 
 When in my mother's womb conceal'd I lay 
 A fenfelefs embryo, then my foul-thou knew'il, 
 Knew'ft all her future workings, every thought, 
 And every faint idea yet unform'd. 
 When up the imperceptible afcent' 
 Of growing years, led by thy hand, I rofe, 
 Perception's gradual light, that ever dawns 
 Infenfibly to day, thou didft vouchfafe, 
 And taught me by that reafon thou infpir'dft, 
 That what of knowledge in my mind was low, 
 Imperfeft, incorrect in Thee is wond'rous, 
 Uncircumfcrib'd, unfearchably profound, 
 And eftimable folely by itfelf. 
 
 What is that fecret power, that guides the brutes, 
 Which Ignorance calls inftinft ? 'Tis from Thee, 
 It is the operation of thine hands 
 Immediate, inftantaneous ; 'tis thy Wifdom, 
 That glorious mines tranfparent thro' thy works. 
 Who taught the Pye, or who forewarn'd the Jay 
 To ftviin the deadly nightmade ? Tho' the cherry 
 Boafts not a gloffier hue, nor does the plum 
 Lure with more feeming fweets the amorous eye, 
 Yet will not the fagacious birds, decoy'd 
 By fair appearance, touch the noxious fruit. 
 They know to tafte is fatal, whence alarm'd 
 
 Swift
 
 OMNISCIENCE OF THE SUPREME BEING. 2$ 
 
 Swift on the winnowing winds they work their way. 
 
 Go to, proud reas'ner philofbphic Man, 
 
 Haft thou fuch prudence, thou fuch knowledge ? No. 
 
 Full many a race has fell into the fnare 
 
 Of meretricious looks, of pleafing furface ; 
 
 And oft in defart ifles the famifh'd pilgrim 
 
 By forms of fruit, and lufcious tafte beguil'd, 
 
 Like his forefather Adam, eats and dies. 
 
 For why ? his wifdom on the leaden feet 
 
 Of flow Experience, dully tedious, creeps, 
 
 And comes, like vengeance, after long delay. 
 
 The venerable Sage, that nightly trims 
 The. learned lamp, t'inveftigate the powers 
 Of plants medicinal, the earth, the air, 
 And the dark regions of the foflil world, 
 Grows old in following what he ne'er fhall find ; 
 Studious in vain ! till haply, at the laft 
 He fpies a mift, then fhapes it into mountains, 
 And bafelefs fabrics from conjecture builds : 
 While the domeftic animal, that guards 
 At midnight hours his threfhold, if opprefs'd 
 By fudden ficknefs, at his matter's feet 
 Begs not that aid his fervices might claim, 
 But is his own phyfician, knows the cafe,' 
 And from th' emetic herbage works his cure. 
 
 Hark,
 
 *6 OMNISCIENCE OF THE SUPREME BEINf, 
 
 Hark' from afar the feather'd matron * fcreams, 
 
 And all her brood alarms ! The docile crew 
 
 Accept the fignal one and all, expert 
 
 In th' art of Nature and unlearn'd deceit : 
 
 Along the fod, in counterfeited death, 
 
 Mute, motionlefs they lie ; full well appriz'd, 
 
 That the rapacious adverfary's near. 
 
 But who inform'd her of th' approaching danger ? 
 
 Who taught the cautious mother, that the hawk 
 
 Was hatch'd her foe, and liv'd by her definition ? 
 
 Her own prophetic foul is adive in her, 
 
 And moire than human providence her guard. 
 
 When Philomela, ere the cold domain 
 Of crippled Winter 'gins t' advance, prepares 
 Her annual flight, ahd;ui fome poplar made 
 Takes her melodious leave, who then's her pilot ? . 
 Who points her pafTage thro' the pathlefs void 
 To realms from us remote, to us unknown ? 
 Her fcience is the fcience of her God. 
 Not the magnetic index to the North 
 E'er afcertains her courie, nor buoy, nor beacon : 
 She, Heaven-taught voyager, that fails in air, 
 'Courts nor coy Weft nor Eaft, but inilant knows 
 What Newton -j- or not fought, or fought in vain. 
 
 Illaf. 
 * The Hen Turkey. -f The Longitude.
 
 OMNISCIENCE OF THE SUPREME BEING. ZJ 
 
 Illuftrious name ! irrefragable proof 
 Of man's vaft genius, and the foaring foul ! 
 Yet what wert thou to Him, who knew his work? 
 Before creation form'd them, long before 
 He meafur'd in the hollow of his hand 
 Th' exulting Ocean, and the higheft Heavenf 
 He comprehended with a fpan, and weigh'd 
 The mighty mountains in his golden (tales ; 
 Who fhone fupreme, who was himfelf the light. 
 Ere yet Refradion learn'd her (kill to paint, 
 And bend athwart the clouds her beauteous bow. 
 
 When Knowledge at her father's dread command 
 Refign'd to Ifrael's king her golden key, 
 O ! to have join'd the frequent auditors 
 In wonder and delight, that whilom heard 
 Great Solomon defcanting on the brutes, 
 O ! how fublimely glorious to apply 
 To God's own honour, and good will to man, 
 That wifdom he alone of men pofTefs'd 
 In plenitude fo rich, and fcope fo rare. 
 How did he roufe the pamper'd iilken fons 
 Of bloated Eafe, by placing to their view 
 The fage induftrious Ant, the wifeft infedl, 
 And belt ceconomift of all the field ! 
 Tho' me prefumes not by the folar orb 
 
 T
 
 #8 OMNISCIENCE OF THE SUPREME BEING, 
 
 To meafure times and feafons, nor confults 
 Chaldean calculations, for a guide ; 
 Yet confcious that December's on the march, 
 Pointing with icy hand to V/ant and Woe, 
 She waits his dire approach, and undifmay'd 
 Receives him as a welcome gueft, prepar'd 
 Againft the churlifh Winter's fierceft blow. 
 For when, as yet the favourable Sun 
 Gives to the genial earth th' enlivening ray, 
 Not the poor fuffering Have, that hourly toils 
 To rive the groaning earth for ill-fought gold, 
 Endures fuch trouble, fuch fatigue, as fhe ; 
 While all her fubterraneous avenues, 
 And ftorm-proof cells with management moft meet 
 And unexampled houfewifery fhe forms : 
 Then to the field fhe hies, and on her back, 
 B urden immenfe 1 fhe bears the cumbrous corn . 
 Then many a weary ftep, and many a Itrain, 
 And many a grievous groan fubdued^ at length 
 Up the huge hill fhe hardly heaves it home : 
 Nor refts fhe here her providence, but nips 
 With fabtle tooth the grain, left from her garner 
 In mifchievous fertility it fteal, 
 And back to day-light vegetate its way. 
 Go to the Ant, thou fluggard, learn to live, 
 And by her wary ways reform thine own. 
 
 Bat
 
 OMNISCIENCE OF THE SUPREME BEING. 2'j) ' 
 
 But if thy deaden 'd fenfe, and liftlefs thought 
 More glaring evidence demand ; behold, 
 Where yon pellucid populous hive prefents 
 A yet uncopied model to the world ! 
 There Machiavel in the reflecting glafs 
 May read himfelf a fool. The Chemift there 
 May \vith a'ftonimment invidious view 
 His toils out-done by each plebeian Bee, 
 Who, at the royal mandate, on the wing 
 From various herbs, and from difcordant flowers, 
 A perfect harmony of fweets compounds. 
 
 ' A vaunt, Conceit, Ambition, take thy flight 
 
 Back to the Prince of vanity and air ! 
 
 O : 'tis a thought of energy moft piercing ; 
 
 Form'd to make Pride grow humble ; form'd to force 
 
 Its weight on the reluftant Mind, and give her 
 
 A true but irkfome image of herfelf. 
 
 Woeful viciffitude ! when Man, fall'n Man, 
 
 Who firft from Heaven, from gracious God himfelf 
 
 Learn'd knowledge of the Brutes, muit know, by Brutes 
 
 Inftrufted and reproach'd, the fcale of being ; 
 
 By How degrees from lowly Heps afcend, 
 
 And trace Omnifcience upwards to its fpring ! 
 
 Yet murmur not, but praife for tho' we Hand 
 
 Of many a Godlike privilege amerc'd 
 
 By
 
 JO OMNISCIENCE OF THE SUPREME 
 
 By Adam's dire tranfgreflion ; tho' no more 
 
 Is Paradife our home, but o'er the portal 
 
 Hang in terrific pomp the burning blade ; 
 
 Still with ten thoufand beauties blooms the Earth 
 
 With pleafures populous, and with riches crovvn'd/ 
 
 Still is there fcope for wonder and for love 
 
 Ev'n to their laft exertion mowers of bleffings 
 
 Far more than human virtue can deferve, 
 
 Or hope expeft, or gratitude return. 
 
 Then, O ye People, O ye Sons of Men, 
 
 Whatever be the colour of your lives, 
 
 Whatever portion of itfelf his Wifdom 
 
 Shall deign t' allow, ftill patiently abide, 
 
 And praife him more and more ; nor ceafe to chaunt' 
 
 *' ALL GLORY TO TH' OMNISCIENT, AND PRAISE,' 
 
 AND POWER, AND DOMINATION IN THE HEIGHT ! 
 
 And thou, cherubic Gratitude, whoie voice 
 
 ' To pious ears founds filverly fo Iweet, 
 
 * Come with thy precious incenfe, bring thy giftej 
 
 ' And with thy choice ft (tores the altar crown." 
 
 Tfl En AOSA,
 
 ON T H 5 
 
 P O W E R 
 
 OF THE 
 
 SUPREME BEING. 
 B r 
 
 CHRISTOPHER SMART, M. A. 
 M DCC LIU.
 
 ( 33 ) 
 
 ON ThE 
 
 POWER OF THE SUPREME BEING. 
 
 JL REMBLE, thou Earth!" th' anointed poet faid, 
 ** At God's bright prefence, tremble, all ye mountains! 
 " And all ye hillocks on the furface bound !" 
 Then once again, ye glorious thunders, roll ! 
 The Mufe with tranfport hears ye ; once again 
 Convulfe the folid continent ! and make, 
 Grand mufic of Omnipotence, the ifles ! 
 'Tis thy terrific voice, thou God of Power, 
 'Tis thy terrific voice ; all Nature hears it 
 Awaken'd and alarm'd ; me feels its force ; 
 In every fpring (lie feels it, every wheel, 
 And every movement of her vaft machine. 
 Behold ! quakes Apennine ; behold ! recoils 
 Athos ; and all the hoary-headed Alps 
 Leap from their bafes at die godlike found. 
 But \vhat is this, cek-ltial tho' the note, 
 
 D And
 
 34 POWER OF *HE SUPREME BEING, 
 
 And proclamation of the reign fupreme,- . 
 Compar'd witli fuch as, for a mortal ear 
 Too great, amaze the incorporeal worlds ? : 
 Should Ocean to his congregated waves 
 Call in each river, cataraft r and lake, 
 And with the watry world down an huge rock 
 Fall headlong in one horrible- cafcade, 
 'Twere but the echo of the parting breeze, 
 When Zephyr faints upon the lily's breaft, 
 'Twere but the ceafing of fome inftrument, 
 When the laft lingering undulation 
 Dies on the doubting ear, if nam'd with founds 
 So mighty ! fo ftupendous ! fo divine ! 
 
 But not alone in the aerial vault 
 Does He the dread theocracy maintain ; 
 For oft, enrag'd with his inteftine thunders, 
 He harrows up the bowels of the earth, 
 And mocks the central magnet Cities then 
 Totter on their foundations, ftately columns, 
 Magnific walls, and heaven-aflaulting fpires. 
 What tho' in haughty eminence erect 
 Stands the ftrong citadel, and frowns defiance 
 On adverfe hofts, tho' many a baftion jut 
 Forth from the rampart's elevated mound, 
 Vain the poor providence of human art,. 
 
 And
 
 POWER OF THE SUPREME BEING. J$ 
 
 And mortal ftrength hdw vain ! while underneath 
 Triumphs his mining vengeance in th' uproar 
 Of fhatter'd towers, riven rocks, and mountains, 
 With clamour inconceivable uptorn, 
 And hurl'd adown th' abyfs. Sulphureous pyrites 
 Burfting abrupt from darknefs into day, 
 With din outrageous and deflrudlive ire, 
 Augment the hideous tumult, while it wounds 
 Th' afflictive ear, and terrifies the eye, 
 And rends the heart in twain. Twice have we felt, 
 Within Augufta's walls twice have we felt 
 Thy threaten'd indignation ; but ev'n Thou, 
 Incens'd Omnipotent, art gracious ever ; 
 Thy goodnefs infinite but mildly warn'd us 
 With mercy-blended wrath : O fpare us ftill, 
 Nor fend more dire conviftion ! We confefs 
 That thou art He, th' Almighty : we believe. 
 For at thy righteous power whole fyftems quake, 
 For at thy nod tremble ten thoufand worlds. 
 
 Hark ! on the winged whirlwind's rapid rage, 
 Which is and is not in a moment hark ! 
 On th' hurricane's tempeftuous fweep he rides 
 Invincible, and oaks and pines and cedars 
 And forefts are no more. For, conflid dreadful ! 
 The Weft encounters Eaft, and Notus meets 
 
 Da In
 
 $6 POWER. OF THE 3UPREME BEING. 
 
 In his career the Hyperborean blaft. 
 The lordly lions fhuddering feek their dens, 
 And fly like timorous deer ; the king of birds, 
 Who dar'd the folar ray, is weak of wing, 
 And faints and falls and dies ; while He fuprems 
 Stands ftedfaft in the center of the ftorm. 
 
 Wherefore, ye obje&s terrible and great, 
 Ye thunders, earthquakes, and ye fire-fraught wombs 
 Of fell volcanos, whirlwinds, hurricanes, 
 And boiling billows, hail ! in chorus join 
 To celebrate and magnify your Maker, 
 Who yet in works of a minuter mould 
 Is not lefs manifeft, is not lefs mighty. 
 
 Survey the magnet's fympathetic love, 
 That wooes the yielding needle ; contemplate 
 Th' attractive amber's power, invifible 
 Ev'n to the mental eye ; or when the blow 
 Sent from th' electric fphere affauks thy frame, 
 Shew me the hand that dealt it ! Baffled here 
 By his Omnipotence, Philofophy 
 Slowly her thoughts inadequate revolves, 
 And ftands, with all his circling wonders round her, 
 Like heavy Saturn in th' etherial fpace 
 Begirt with an inexplicable ring. 
 
 If
 
 POWER OF THE SUPREME BEING. 37 
 
 If fuch the operations of his power, 
 Which at all feafons and in every place 
 (Rul'd by eftablifh'd laws and current nature) 
 Arreft th' attention ; Who ! O Who mall tell 
 His ac~b miraculous ? when his own decrees 
 Repeals he, or fufpends, when by the hand 
 Of Mofes or of Jofliua, or the mouths 
 Of his prophetic feers, fuch deeds he wrought, 
 Before th' aftonifh'd Sun's all-feeing eye, 
 That Faith was fcarce a virtue. Need I fmg 
 The fate of Pharaoh and his numerous band 
 Loft in the reflux of the watry walls, 
 That melted to their fluid ftate again ? 
 Need I recount how Sampfon's warlike arm 
 With more than mortal nerves was fining t' o'erthrow 
 Idolatrous Philiftia ? Shall I tell 
 How David triumph'd, and what Job fuftain'd ? 
 But, O fupreme, unutterable mercy ! 
 O love unequall'd, myftery immenfe, 
 Which angels long t' unfold ! 'tis man's redemption 
 That crowns thy glory, and thy power confirms, 
 Confirms die great, th' uncontroverted claim. 
 When from the Virgin's unpolluted womb 
 Shone forth the Sun of Righteoufnefs reveal'd, 
 And on benighted reafon pour'd the day ; 
 
 D3 Let
 
 38 POWER OF THE SUPREME BEING. 
 
 " Let there be peace (he faid) !" and all was calm 
 
 Amongft the warring world calm as the fea 
 
 When, " O be ftill, ye boifterous Winds !" he cried. 
 
 And not a breath was blown, nor murmur heard. 
 
 His was a life of miracles and might, 
 
 And charity and love, ere yet he tafte 
 
 The bitter draught of death, ere yet he rife 
 
 Victorious o'er the univerfal foe, 
 
 And Death and Sin and Hell in triumph lead. 
 
 His by the right of conqueft is mankind, 
 
 And in fweet fervitude and golden bonds 
 
 Were ty'd to him for ever.O how eafy 
 
 Is his ungalling yoke, and all his burdens 
 
 ? Tis ecftacy to bear ! Him, bleffed Shepherd, 
 
 His flocks (hall follow thro' the maze of life 
 
 And fhades that tend to Day-fpring from on high j 
 
 And as the radiant rofes after fading, 
 
 jn fuller foliage and more fragrant breath 
 
 Revive in fmiling Spring, fo mail it fare 
 
 With thofe that love him for fweet is their favour, 
 
 And all Eternity (hall be their fpring. 
 
 Then mall the gates and everlafting doors, 
 
 At which the KING OF GLORY enters in, 
 
 Be to the Saints unbarr'd : and there, where pleafure 
 
 Boafts an undying bloom, where dubious hope
 
 POWER OF THE SUPREME BEING. 39 
 
 is certainty, and grief-attended love 
 Is freed from paffion there we'll celebrate, 
 With worthier numbers, Him, who is, and was, 
 And in immortal prowefs King of Kings, 
 .Shall be the Monarch of all worlds for ever. 
 
 I>4 ON
 
 ON THE 
 
 JUSTICE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 SUPREME BEING. 
 
 BY 
 
 GEORGE BALLY, M. A. 
 M DCC LIV.
 
 
 ( 43 ) 
 
 JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME BEING. 
 
 \_) THOU, whofe Juftice awes the moral World, 
 Dread Judge, and Governor fupreme ! thine eye, 
 Thro' the vait amplitude of fpace diffus'd, 
 No adlion 'fcapes, no thought that bubbling fprings 
 In the heart's troubled deep. In vain the Wretch, 
 Specious in borrow'd vizor, lifts his front 
 Triumphant : Thee no artificial glofs 
 Deceives : the Monfler walks beneath thy ken 
 Foul with unnumber'd fpots. His deeds are noted 
 In thy eternal volumes to confound 
 His guilt : tho' now perhaps he wanton baflcs 
 In Fortune's funny fmiles, and laughs difdainful 
 At Virtue, pin'd with penury and cold. 
 Nathlefs, when this dark fublunary plot, 
 Which now with feeming intricacies mocks 
 Qur bufy fearch, amazingly to view 
 
 Shall
 
 44 JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME BEING. 
 
 Shall {land unravell'd in th' all-clofmg fcene, 
 The Caitiff, at die curtain's fall, (hall bleed; 
 And Men and Angel- Choirs applaufive laud 
 Th' unerring redhude of all thy ways. 
 
 O may the Poet then, whofe faltering tongue 
 Lifps thefe rude ftrains, and trembles while he fings 
 What afks a Cherub's note, a Seraph's glow, 
 This mundane polity by Thee fuilain'd 
 On the firm bafis of eternal right, 
 O King, that reign'ft for ever ! may He then, 
 When Thou the fcatter'd Particles malt call 
 His Soul's demolim'd manfion to rebuild, 
 Approach thy dread Tribunal unappall'd ; 
 May Mercy o'er that Juitice then prevail, 
 Which here his humble verfe effay'd to paint ! 
 
 With fcanty line mall Reafon dare to mete 
 Th' immeafurable depths of Providence ? 
 On the fwoln bladders of Opinion borne 
 She floats awhile, then floundering finks abforb'd 
 Within that boundlefs fea me ilrove to grafp. 
 Shall Man, here ftation'd to revere that God 
 Who call'd him into being from the duft, 
 His moral fcheme implead, and impious cite 
 Th' Almighty Legiflator to the bar 
 
 Of
 
 JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME BEINC. 
 
 Of erring intellect ; too weak his fight 
 To trace each hidden link that knits the chain 
 Stupendous ? Hence he labours to depole 
 Jehovah from his fovereignty, and lifts 
 A blind ideal phantom to the throne. 
 Things oft inverted in this turbid mafs 
 Strike his difgufted eye, and make his Faith, 
 Too prone to fhift her compafs. Vice he fees 
 With gems and Tyrian purple fparkling gay, 
 And Virtue mouldering in a dungeon's gloom. 
 
 " Say, is This fitting (cries the doubting Sage) ? 
 " Do thefe unequal difpenfations fpeak 
 " A wife impartial Ruler of the World ? 
 " Shall earth, mall air, and every element 
 " Be tax'd to furnifh the blafphemer's meal, 
 " While Heaven's beft votary, who in fervent pray'r 
 " Exhales his foul, the fcantieil cfFal wants 
 " His macerated body to relieve ?" 
 Thus Man, whcfe mind's too narrow to contain 
 The vaft dimenfions of th' harmonious whole, 
 From parts, uncomely if afunder view'd, 
 Decifive fentence gives. Thou laugh'ft above, 
 Dread ELOHIM, to fee him ftudious weigh 
 Thy meafures in his balance : r f 'hou whofe grnfp 
 The waters, and whofe fpan the heavens compiiz'd.
 
 46 JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME BEING. 
 
 To judge aright how Providence conduces 
 The moral fyftem, where a clue is lent 
 T' unwind the myftic maze, with cautious fteps 
 Man muft purfue ; each nice gradation fcan ; 
 Obfei-ve how parts, erft oppofite, confpire 
 In one illuftrious concord of defign. 
 Then every jarring ftring, which, fingly touch'd^ 
 Grated Jiarfli diiTonance on Reafon's ear, 
 Will fpeak the graces of th' Almighty hand, 
 And in a fweet-ton'd Diapafon clofe. 
 
 The Sun of Juftice may withdraw his beams 
 Awhile from earthly ken, and fit conceal 'd 
 In dark recefs, pavilion'd round with clouds : 
 Yet let not Guilt prefumptuous rear her creft, 
 Nor Virtue droop defpondent : foon thefe clouds, 
 Seeming eclipfe, will brighten into day, 
 And in majeftic fplendor He will rife 
 With healing, and with terror on his wings. 
 
 Things in progreffive motion cheat our eye, 
 Unmark'd the deftin'd goal, to which they tend. 
 Mofes' all-powerful rod, amazing fight! 
 A ferpent crawls, and darts its forky tongue ; 
 But in his hand refum'd, to Ifrael's fons 
 Difpenfes blefiings, bids th' imp rifon'd itream 
 
 Gulh
 
 jt/STICE OF THE SUPREME BEII/d. 4*7 
 
 Gum from the ftricken rock/ th' obedient fca 
 
 Drive back its refluent waves, and Hand a wall 
 
 Condens'd, to yield a pafTage to his hoft. 
 
 Thus what we view abhorrent as deform, 
 
 And inconfiftent with that faultlefs rule, 
 
 By which a fapient God each aft fliould fquare, 
 
 In th' iflue will its frightful afpeft lofe, 
 
 And leave th' all-righteous Sovereign unimpeach'dV 
 
 What eye but melts with pity, when it fees 
 Jofeph's defencelefs piety and youth 
 To leagu'd fraternal hate a prey expos'd ? 
 Shall IfraePs darling, nay what's more, mall God's 
 With complicated ills be doom'd to ftrive ? 
 Shall a pit yawn for him, yet none for thofe 
 Who plot againft his life ? The bargain's ftruck ; 
 Unnatural bargain, where a Brother's fold ! 
 The feven-mouth'd Nile receives him : here the fky 
 Fallacious fmiles, to make the gathering cloud 
 Burft heavier on his head : the flighted charms 
 Of an enamour'd Miftrefs glow with ire 
 Fierce and impetuous as her former luft : 
 That ftubborn heart muft bleed, which would not melt. 
 Are chains the meed of Innocence ? Does God 
 Exalt his enemies to thrones, deprefs 
 His friends to dungeons ? Impious plaints, away ! 
 
 And
 
 48 JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME BEING. 
 
 And to that Hell, from whence ye rife, repair 1 
 O'erblown the ftorm, which only rag'd to fpeed 
 Heaven's chofen veflel to the deftin'd port, 
 The Hebrew bright emerges. Quick the fcene 
 Is fhifted from a dungeon to a throne. 
 Next to the proud Egyptian King he moves 
 In his high orb refplendent : lives to fcrain 
 Old Ifrael in his fond encircling arms, 
 To fee the typic Iheaves in marfhall'd ranks, 
 His brethren, erft with other paffions warm'd, 
 Submiflive bow their vaffal heads before 
 His Iheaf, that rears aloft it's lordly ftem. 
 
 Silenc'd be every tongue, that dar'd to breathe 
 The rank exuberance of a fenfual heart 
 In fceptic murmurs : Reafon, fland abafh'd, 
 And, whom thou canft not comprehend, adore ! 
 If Virtue fuffers, 'tis to prove her faith, 
 To make abafement glorioufly confpire, 
 Like Jofeph's, to her rife : each ftroke (he feels. 
 But adds new luflre to her maffive crown. 
 If Vice, unthank'd his feeder, gluts his maw 
 With iludied dainties, and with riot fwells, 
 'Tis but a viftirn fatten 'd for the fword 
 Of JuiKce, edg'd to drink his guilty blood. 
 A guileful Haman brooding o'er the fate 
 
 Of
 
 JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME BEING. 49 
 
 Of blamelefs Mordecai, when raptures high 
 Stretch every vein, and elevate the foul, 
 When glows the waflel moft, and fparkling joy 
 Laughs in each- ofter'd cup, O dire reverfe ! 
 Shall from the royal banquet to the grave 
 Be dragg'd unpitied, on that tree expire, 
 Which for wrong'd innocence his hands had rais'd. 
 
 The fcheme of Providence, tho' knots perplex'd 
 O'er the unfolding texture feem to caft 
 Unpleafmg (hades, at large difclos'd appears 
 With lucid order, and coherence crown'd. 
 So in the folded tapeftry, where parts 
 With gradual openings meet the paufmg eye, 
 Here fprouts a leafy branch, a human foot 
 There marks the woven ground : all feems a wild, 
 Mifhapen chaos of disjointed forms : 
 Yet, when in full expanfe the web entire 
 Shews the mixt groupe in orderly array, 
 The figur'd hiftory well-pleas'd we trace, 
 Each feveral part applaud, but moft the whole. 
 
 Shall counfels, plann'd by Wifdom infinite, 
 And by Omnipotence conducted, fail ? 
 Sooner the Heavens, the fabric of his hands, 
 Shrunk their extenfive cope like fhrivell'd parchment, 
 
 E Melted
 
 5 >USTICE OF THE SUPREME BEING. 
 
 Melted to viewlefs air lhall difappear, 
 Yea all things into primitive nothing fall, 
 Than God's eternal and all-wife decrees 
 One jot mall be abolifh'd. Flight of days, 
 The world obfcuring with their fhadowy wings, 
 Shall o'er his grand defigns a luftre throw ; 
 Shall clear that wondrous, foul-abforbing text, 
 Which poring Seraphs puzzles and confounds. 
 
 Righteous are all thy ways, O Power Supreme, 
 Whether thy patience ftruggling with thy wrath 
 Arrefts th' uplifted thunderbolt, that longs 
 To lance definition on the head accurs'd : 
 Or whether Piety, to purge her drofs 
 By fharp aflaying fires, thou feeft permiffive 
 Crufh'd by Oppreffion's iron arm, or torn 
 By racking maladies, inteftine war. 
 Orb* within orb involv'd, Thy myftic Wheel?, 
 On which this politic machine is whirl'd 
 Inceflant, with no giddy devious flight 
 Precipitate their courfe : with eyes they glow 
 Diftinft, and in a meafur'd orbit move. 
 
 -'>; 
 
 To right thy injur'd friends, and blaft thy foes, - 
 Thou counterwork'ft Man's purpofe, and from ill 
 
 Educeft 
 
 * See Ezckiel, chap. i.
 
 JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME EKING. 5! 
 
 Educeft good : as erft thy potent voice, 
 
 Omnific, from the womb of night abhorr'd 
 
 CalPd forth that light, which glads th' in veiled world. 
 
 A Pharaoh's Daughter, by thy impulfe led, 
 
 Shall in a Hebrew babe unweeting rear 
 
 Ifrael's Redeemer, and her Father's fcourge. 
 
 When Jacob's Seed, befide Euphrates' flood, 
 
 With groans refponiive to his murmurs, fwell 
 
 The current with their tears, and Sion's pride, 
 
 Illuftrious Sion wail, in afhes loft ; 
 
 The ravenous Eagle * from the Eaft mall urge 
 
 His rapid flight, and in his talons bear 
 
 Jehovah's thunder : Babylon's tower'd creft 
 
 Shall fink beneath his fwoop, while he full-gorg'd 
 
 O'er the Aflyrian prey mall clap his plumes, 
 
 Victorious Minifter of wrath divine. 
 
 Thy throne, O Lord, eftablifh'd on the bafe 
 Of Juftice, how tremendous, how benign ! 
 Here foft-ey'd Cherubim with wings difpred 
 The mercy-feat infold, and beam on Man, 
 Repenting man, compaffion and meek love: 
 There flamy Seraphs from their pinions make 
 Horror and dire difmay : Thy awful fword, 
 
 E 2 Fierce 
 
 * Cyrus, ftc Ifaiah, chap. xlvi.
 
 5 JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME BEING. 
 
 Fierce as a comet, blazes in their grafp 
 High-wav'd, to flafh the harden'd rebel dead. 
 
 Who can abide thy terrors, Judge fevere, 
 When by repeated provocations warm'd 
 Thy anger burns, and Mercy ftrives in vain 
 To interpofe her ihield betwixt thy bolt ! 
 Thy trampled laws, bright tranfcript of Thyfelf, 
 And the lefe Majefty of Heaven's high King, 
 Who pardon offer'd ; pardon but contemn'd ! 
 Ba^e thy red arm, and edge the vengeful brand. 
 
 Who in his milder governance difclaim'd 
 The living God, mail feel him in his dread 
 Vindiftive Attribute, and trembling own 
 That Power, whofe nod obedient Nature waits, 
 With all her armaments of fnow and wind, 
 Of battering hail, or wide-devouring fire, 
 To execute his. vengeance : who can forge 
 The meaneft creatures into fwords, to foil. 
 The boafts of Kings, and wither all their ftrength. 
 What ! tho' his wrathful vials in the clouds 
 Sufpended ftand awhile, nor burft, as once 
 O'er a devoted Sodom, or a World, 
 Whofe ftains a deluge fcarcely wafh'd away ; 
 Yet is His arm not fhorten'd :- Thou'rt the fame, 
 
 JE-
 
 JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME BEING. 53 
 
 JEHOVAH, thro' eternity unchang'd, 
 Thy eyes too pure, too beamy to behold 
 Iniquity's foul mift : each thought profane, 
 Each vile affeftion muft be far remov'd, 
 Ere we approach thy Sanctuary and live. 
 
 Tremble, ye Heavens, and Earth, but chief O Man, 
 Apoftate Man, before a God incens'd ! 
 Juflice exadts the debt, but Nature fails, 
 Mere Human Nature ; bankrupt and undone ! 
 God muft be righted, or Mankind be loft ; 
 For ever loft, unpitied, unrepriev'd. 
 Dreadful alternative ! heart-chilling thought, 
 That leads to Defperation's flippery brink ! 
 Who (hall the price immenfe, the ranfom pay, 
 Commenfurate to Guilt, and Worth divine ? 
 Who but the King of Kings, the Lord Himfelf, 
 The Coeternal, Coeflential Son ! 
 He, to appeafe infinity of wrath, 
 Muft quit the bofom of paternal blifs, 
 And in a fiefhly tabernacle mroud 
 His plenitude of light. Lord ! what is Man, 
 Corruption's heir, and brother to the worm, 
 That Thou fo kindly labour'ft in his weal ? 
 Oh ! the exceflive depth, th' amazing height 
 Of Heavenly Wifdom ! Juflice how fevere ! 
 
 E 3 Mercy
 
 54 JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME BEING. 
 
 Mercy how tender ! from the clouds of ire 
 Omnipotent diftilling balmy dew ! 
 
 Shall then th> all-perfect and unfpotted Lamb 
 For our tranfgreffions bleed, to death refign 
 His broken frame, to heal us with his wounds ? 
 Shall the Son groan in bitternefs of foul, 
 Implore his angry Father to remove 
 The baleful cup, empoifon'd with the fins 
 Of a whole World, and yet (hall Man tranfgrefs, 
 Man by His death aflerted into life ? 
 O ! let us turn repentant to our Sire, 
 Shake off our fordid lufts, thofe thorns which gor'd 
 Our Saviour's temples, and thofe fpikes obfcene 
 That nail'd his finlefs body to the crofs. 
 Let God's feverity our hearts appall, 
 Ev'n whilft his kindnefs clafps us in its arms. 
 Elfe will that vocal Blood, which pleads above, 
 Cry loud for vengeance, and its cries afcend 
 High as the dread judicial Court of Heaven. 
 
 That awful Court who mall efcape ? The Dead ' 
 And Living there mall wait their final doom. 
 Methinks I fee from th' empyrean fkies, 
 Preceded by his bright Angelic Hoft, 
 The Judge defcend : how chang'd from Him who late 
 
 The
 
 JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME BEING. 5 
 
 The thorny crown, and reedy fccptre bore ! 
 
 Glory arrays him ; from his countenance beams 
 
 Splendor ineffable : liars cluttering weave 
 
 A rich tiara for His head, who gave 
 
 Their beauteous lamps to mine. Look, Ifrael, the.r 
 
 Affrighted, and with dire conviction own 
 
 Thy King triumphant in his cloudy car ! 
 
 See the Crofs glitter thro' th' enfanguin'd air, 
 
 Proud enfign of his conquelt, and thy fhame ! 
 
 Hark ! thro' Heaven's wide reverberating vault 
 The clanging Trumpet founds th' awakening peal. 
 Obedient tombs expand their marble jaws, 
 And every fad repofitory hears 
 The quickening voice, and renders back its trull 
 To light and life ; each particle difpers'd 
 Crowds to a heap, and builds th' identic Man. 
 Chang'd are the living, and alive the dead. 
 Lo ! cited myriads fill th' extended plain, 
 And trembling to the Grand Tribunal prefs. 
 
 The Book is open'd, and the feal remov'd ; 
 The adamantine Book ; where every thought, 
 Tho' dawning on the heart, then funk again 
 In the corrupted mafs, each al obfcure, 
 In characters indelible remain. 
 
 E 4 How
 
 54 JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME BEING. 
 
 Mercy how tender ! from the clouds of ire 
 Omnipotent diftilling balmy dew ! 
 
 Shall then th' all-perfect and unfpotted Lamb 
 For our tranfgreffions bleed, to death refign 
 His broken frame, to heal us with his wounds ? 
 Shall the Son groan in bitternefs of foul, 
 Implore his angry Father to remove 
 The baleful cup, empoifon'd with the fins 
 Of a whole World, and yet (hall Man tranfgrefs, 
 Man by His death afferted into life ? 
 O ! let us turn repentant to our Sire, 
 Shake off our fordid lufts, thofe thorns which gor'd 
 Our Saviour's temples, and thofe fpikes obfcene 
 That nail'd his finlefs body to the crofs. 
 Let God's feverity our hearts appall, 
 Ev'n whilft his kindnefs clafps us in its arms. 
 Elfe will that vocal Blood, which pleads above, 
 Cry loud for vengeance, and its cries afcend 
 High as the dread judicial Court of Heaven. 
 
 That awful Court who mail efcape ? The Dead " 
 And Living there mail wait their final doom. 
 Methinks I fee from th' empyrean Ikies, 
 Preceded by his bright Angelic Hoft, 
 The Judge defcend : how chang'd from Him who late 
 
 The
 
 JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME BEING. J 
 
 The thorny crown, and reedy fceptre bore ! 
 
 Glory arrays him ; from his countenance beams 
 
 Splendor ineffable : ftars cluttering weave 
 
 A rich tiara for His head, who gave 
 
 Their beauteous lamps to mine. Look, Ifrael, the.r 
 
 Affrighted, and with dire conviftion own 
 
 Thy King triumphant in his cloudy car ! 
 
 See the Crofs glitter thro' th' enfanguin'd air, 
 
 Proud enfign of his conqueft, and thy fhame ! 
 
 Hark ! thro' Heaven's wide reverberating vault 
 The clanging Trumpet founds th' awakening peal. 
 Obedient tombs expand their marble jaws, 
 And every fad repofitory hears 
 The quickening voice, and renders back its trult 
 To light and life ; each particle difpers'd 
 Crowds to a heap, and builds th' identic Man. 
 Chang'd are the living, and alive the dead. 
 Lo ! cited myriads fill th' extended plain, 
 And trembling to the Grand Tribunal prefs. 
 
 The Book is open'd, and the feal remov'd ; 
 The adamantine Book ; where every thought, 
 Tho' dawning on the heart, then funk again 
 In the corrupted mafs, each aft obfgure, 
 In characters indelible remain . 
 
 E * How
 
 56 .JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME BEING. 
 
 How vain thy bofcft, vile Caitiff, to have 'fcap'd 
 An earthly Forum, now thy crimfon ftains 
 Glare on a congregated World, thy Judge 
 Omnifcience, and Omnipotence thy Scourge ! 
 Thy malk, Hypocrify, how ufelefs here, 
 When by a beam, mot from the Fount of Light, 
 The varnilh'd faint ftarts up a ghaftly fiend ! 
 
 But Ye of manners blamelefs, faith approv'd, 
 Who a long toilfome warfare have endur'd, 
 By flelhly wiles aflail'd, yet unfubdu'd ; 
 Ye who have fair Religion's caufe maintain'd, 
 Tho' Princes frown'd, and Flames encircling rag'd, 
 With front ereft approach the throne auguft. 
 See how your Saviour bends his gracious head, 
 Smiling unutterable love \ The choir 
 Of Saints congenial beckon you to blifs, 
 And all the glorify'd AflefTors burn 
 To add your fteady phalanx to their roll. 
 
 Soon are their wifhes, and your labours crown'd : 
 For now, your virtue's teft, your trial o'er, 
 Where every bafhful grace, that blopm'd unfeen, 
 Too delicate to bear the ruffling breath 
 Of worldly praife, is brought to light before 
 Its beft applauders, Angels and their Lord, 
 
 The
 
 JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME BEING. 57 
 
 The Judge with accent mild cries : " Come, Ye Blefs'd, 
 
 " Share the unfading pleasures of my realm, 
 
 " Coheirs of blifs, my Sire's adopted fons." 
 
 Strait at that found the Pious, like a flock 
 
 Of harmlefs doves, are rapt with ardent wing 
 
 To meet their dear Redeemer in the clouds. 
 
 The bellowing convex ecchoes to the Trump, 
 And lo ! the yelling Wicked crowd the bar. 
 Settled Defpair, and pale Dejection dim 
 Each louring afpecl : Beauty hides her face, 
 And fain would hide her guilt : curs'd Mammon's Cave 
 Laments his treafures were not there fecur'd, 
 Where neither moth corrupts, nor ruft devours : 
 Grim-vifag'd Murder with reluctance lifts 
 Th' accufing hand, which Oceans ne'er could blanch ; 
 And, like a hunted panther, ftarts to fee 
 His horrid deeds emblazon'd in his fpots. 
 Confcience, God's dread official here below, 
 Too oft her friendly whifpers drown' J in noife, 
 Now rings her loud alarum in their hearts, 
 Their fears awakens, and foreftalls their doom. 
 
 Methinks I hear a felf-convicled Wretch 
 To his aflbciates vent his anguifh'd foul : 
 " Yonder He fits, whofe mercies we have fpurn'd, 
 
 Whofe
 
 58 JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME BEING, 
 
 " Whofe laws we have profan'd, whofe fides we oft 
 
 " Have pierc'd with Blafphemy's envenom'd fpear : 
 
 " How fhall we now confront his awful eye, 
 
 " That melts all Nature with a darted glance ? 
 
 " Or whither from His dreaded prefence flee ? 
 
 " O that fome rock would fall, fome mountain yawn 
 
 " To bury us for ever in its womb ! 
 
 ' Vain hope, alas ! thefe mountains and thefe rocks 
 
 ' Soon will be gone ; the Heavens and Earth diflblv'd j 
 
 " And nothing for His fiery wrath remain 
 
 " To prey on but ourfelves, immortal only 
 
 To fuffer an eternity of pain." 
 
 The Procefs Hern commences : filence deep, 
 And dreadful Expectation fits on all. 
 Each hidden fraud, each word, and thought impure, 
 Each overt violence, or flander dark, 
 From out th' omnifcient regifters produc'd, 
 Blaze in the view of Angels, and a World. 
 The heart now bar'd before its Maker's eye, 
 Evolv'd its mazes, and its filth expos'd, 
 How loath'd a fpeftacle the Villain Hands ! 
 The Virtuous look with horror down to fee 
 Now firft in genuine colours Vice appear, 
 And fliudder at deformity fo foul. 
 Ccnfcience inceflant plies her fcorpion-whip, 
 
 And
 
 JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME BEINC. 5$ 
 
 And makes th' abominable mifcreants add 
 Self-accufation to their charge, and owa 
 God's Juftice in the rigour of his Wrath. 
 
 And now the Judge with vifage all inflam'd, 
 At which the molten mountains ihrink like wax, 
 With voice that makes the pillar'd firmament, 
 The dire award pronounces : " Go, Ye Curs'd, 
 ' To fire, as everlafting as your fouls, 
 " For Satan, and his impious Hoft, prepar'd." 
 Strait from the inmoft center of the earth 
 Flames burft in fpiring eddies to the Ikies : 
 Trembles the ground convuls'd, feas boiling roar, 
 And dalh yon crackling canopy with foam. 
 Creation finks beneath th' enormous blaze. 
 Myriads now burning, with th' Archangel's Trump, 
 The growling thunder of th' expiring Heavens, 
 And with a falling World's tremendous groan 
 Mingle their hideous yell ; and vainly wifli 
 They, like thofe Elements, could be no more. 
 
 His Equal Ways illuftrioufly reveal'd 
 In Vice's torments, and in Virtue's blifs, 
 Th' Almighty rifes from his throne, and wings 
 To heavenly Zion his triumphal car. 
 Th' Angelic Hierarchy with loud acclaim 
 
 Accompany
 
 $50 : jtfStlCE'toF THE SUPREME BEItffc. 
 
 Accompany their King ; with warbled Hymns 
 
 The ranfom'd Saints their bleft Redeemer greet. 
 
 Unnumber'd voices in fweet concord cry : 
 
 " Hofanna to the Lamb that fits above, 
 
 " To the.World's honour'd Judge ! how juft his ways ! 
 
 " How Everlafting Glory crowns them all !" 
 
 -j 
 . 
 ,fc : r . 
 
 ON
 
 ON THE 
 
 GOODNESS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 SUPREME BEING. 
 
 BY 
 
 CHRISTOPHER SMART, M. A 
 M DCC LV.
 
 ON THE 
 
 GOODNESS OF THE SUPREME BEING. 
 
 O 
 
 RPHEUS, for fo the Gentiles * call'd thy name, 
 Ilrael's fweet Pfalmift, who alone could'ft wake 
 Th' inanimate to motion ; who alone 
 The joyful hillocks, the applauding rocks, 
 And floods, with mufical perfwafion drew ; 
 Thou who to hail and (how gav'ft voice and found, 
 And mad'ft the mute melodious ! greater yet 
 \Vas thy divinelt Ikill, and rul'd o'er more 
 Than art and nature ; for thy tuneful touch 
 Drove trembling Satan from the heart of Saul, 
 And quell'd the evil Angel: in this breafl 
 Some portion of thy genuine fpirit breathe, 
 And lift me from, myfelf, each thought impure 
 Banifh ; each low idea raife, refine, 
 
 Enlarge, 
 
 * See this conjeflure ftrongly fupported by Dclany, in his Life of 
 David.
 
 64 GOODNESS OF THE SUPREME BEING. 
 
 Enlarge, and fanclify;- fo mall the Mufe 
 Above the ftars afpire, and aim to praife 
 Her God on earth, as he is prais'd in heaven. 
 
 Immenfe Creator ! whofe all-powerful hand 
 Fram'd univerfal Being, and whofe eye 
 Saw like thyfelf, that all things form'd were good ; 
 Where {hall the timorous Bard thy praife begin, 
 Where end the pureft facrifice of fong, 
 And juft thankfgiving ? The thought-kindling light, 
 Thy prime production, darts upon my mind 
 Its vivifying beams, my heart illumines, 
 And fills my foul with gratitude and Thee. 
 Hail to the chearful rays of ruddy morn, 
 That paint the ftreaky Eaft, and blithfome roufe 
 The birds, the cattle, and mankind from reft ! 
 Hail to the frefhnefs of the early breeze, 
 And Iris dancing on the new-fall'n dew ! 
 Without the aid of yonder golden globe 
 Loft were the garnet's luftre, loft the lily, 
 The tulip and auricula's fpotted pride ; 
 Loft were the peacock's plumage, to the fight 
 So pleafing in its pomp and gloffy glow. 
 O thrice-illuftrious ! were it not for Thee 
 Thofe panfies, that reclining from the bank, 
 View thro' th' immaculate, pellucid ftream 
 
 Their
 
 GOODNESS OF THE SUPREME BEING. 
 
 Their portraiture in the inverted heaven, 
 
 Might as well change their triple boaft, the white, 
 
 The purple, and the gold, that far outvie 
 
 The Ealtern monarch's garb, ev'n with the dock, 
 
 Ev'n with the baleful hemlock's irkfome green. 
 
 Without thy aid, without thy gladfome beams 
 
 The tribes of woodland warblers would remain 
 
 Mute on the bending branches, nor recite 
 
 The praife of Him, who, ere he form'd their lord, 
 
 Their voices tun'd to tranfport, wing'd their flight, 
 
 And bade them call for nurture, and receive : 
 
 And lo ! they call ; the blackbird and the thrufh, 
 
 The woodlark, and the red-breaft jointly call ; 
 
 He hears and feeds their feather'd families, 
 
 He feeds his fweet muficians, nor neglefts 
 
 Th' invoking ravens in the greenwood wide : 
 
 And tho' their throats coarfe rattling hurt the ear, 
 
 They mean it all for mufic, thanks and praife 
 
 They mean, and leave ingratitude to man, 
 
 But not to all, for hark the organs blow 
 
 Their fwelling notes round the cathedral's dome, 
 
 And grace th' harmonious choir, celeftial fend 
 
 To pious ears, and med'cine of the mind ; 
 
 The thrilling trebles and the manly bafe 
 
 Join in accordance meet, and with one voice 
 
 All to the facred fubjeft fuit their fong. 
 
 F While
 
 66 GOODNESS OP THE SUPREME BEING. 
 
 While in each breaft fweet Melancholy reigns 
 
 Angelically penfive, till the joy 
 
 Improves and purifies; the folemn fcene 
 
 The Sun thro' ftoried panes furveys with awe, 
 
 And bafhfully with-holds each bolder beam. 
 
 Here, as her home, from morn to eve frequents 
 
 The cherub Gratitude ; behold her eyes ! 
 
 With love and gladnefs weepingly they fhed 
 
 Ecftatic fmiles ; the incenfe, that her hands 
 
 Uprear, is fweeter than the breath of May 
 
 Caught from the ne&arine's bloflbm, and her voice 
 
 Is more than voice can tell ; to Him me fmgs, 
 
 To Him who feeds, who clothes, and who adorns, 
 
 Who made, and who preferves, whatever dwells 
 
 In air, in ftedfaft earth, or fickle fea. 
 
 O He is good, He is immenfely good ! 
 
 Who all things form'd, and form'd them all for man > 
 
 Who mark'd the climates, varied every zone, 
 
 Difpenfing all his bleffings for the beft 
 
 In order and in beauty : rife, attend, 
 
 Atteft, and praife, ye quarters of the world ! 
 
 Bow down, ye elephants, fubmiffive bow 
 
 To Him, who made the mite ! Tho' Afia's pride ! 
 
 Ye carry armies on your tower-crown'd backs, 
 
 And grace the turban'd tyrants, bow to Him 
 
 Who is as great, as perfeft, and as good 
 
 In
 
 GOODNESS OF THE SUPREME BEING. 67 
 
 In his lefs ftriking wonders, till at length 
 
 The eye's at fault, and fceks th' affifting glafs. 
 
 Approach and bring from Araby the Bleft, 
 
 The fragrant caflia, frankincenfe, and myrrh, 
 
 And meekly kneeling at the altar's foot 
 
 Lay all the tributary incenfe down. 
 
 Stoop, fable Africa, with reverence ftoop, 
 
 And from thy brow take oft' the painted plume ; 
 
 With golden ingots all thy camels load 
 
 T' adorn his temples, haften with thy fpcar 
 
 Reverted, and thy trufty bow unftrung, 
 
 While unpurfu'd thy lions roam and roar, 
 
 And ruin'd towers, rude rocks, and caverns wide 
 
 Remurmur to the glorious, furly found. 
 
 And thou, fair Indian, whofe immenfe domain 
 
 To counterpoife the Hemifphere extends, 
 
 Hafte from the Weft, and with thy fruits and flowers, 
 
 Thy mines and med'cines, wealthy maid, attend. 
 
 More than the plenteoufnefs fo fam'd to flow 
 
 By fabling bards from Amalthea's horn 
 
 Is thine ; thine therefore be a portion due 
 
 Of thanks and praife : come with thy brilliant crowa 
 
 And veft of furr ; and from thy fragrant lap 
 
 Pomegranates and the rich ananas * pour. 
 
 But chiefly thou, Europa, feat of Grace 
 
 F 2 And 
 
 * Ananas, the Indian name for pine-npples.
 
 68 GOODNESS OF THE SUPREME BEING* 
 
 And Chriftian excellence* his Goodnefs own, 
 
 Forth from ten thoufand temples pour his praife ; 
 
 Clad in the armour of the living God 
 
 Approach, unmeath the Spirit's flaming fword ; 
 
 Faith's fhield, Salvation's glory, -compafs'd helm 
 
 With fortitude aflume, and o'er your heart 
 
 Fair Truth's invulnerable breafl-plate fpread ; 
 
 Then join the general chorus of all worlds, 
 
 And let the fong of Charity begin 
 
 In ftrains feraphic, and melodious prayer. 
 
 " O all-fufficient, all-beneficent, 
 
 " Thou God of Goodnefs and of Glory, hear ! 
 
 *' Thou, who to lowlieft minds doft condefcend, 
 
 tl Afluming paffions to enforce thy laws, 
 
 " Adopting jealoufy to prove thy love : 
 
 " Thou, who refign'd humility uphold, 
 
 " Ev'n as the florift props the drooping rofe, 
 
 But quell tyrannic pride with peerlefs power, 
 
 Ev'n as the tempeft rives the ftubborn oak : 
 
 " O all-fufficient, all-beneficent, 
 
 ' Thou God of Goodnefs and of Glory, heart 
 
 " Blefs all mankind, and bring them in the end 
 
 "To heaven, to immortality, and THEE !" 
 
 ON
 
 ON THE 
 
 WISDOM 
 
 OF THE 
 
 SUPREME BEING. 
 BY 
 
 GEORGE BALLY, M. A. 
 M DCC LVJ. 
 
 ON
 
 ON THE 
 
 WISDOM OF THE SUPREME BEING. 
 
 \^/ N C E more the Mufe, with pious ardor rapt, 
 Spurns the dank Earth, and trembling foars aloft 
 To hymn her God, JEHOVAH Only- Wife. 
 
 O for a beam from th' uncreated Fount 
 Of Light to pierce the gloom, that hov'ring damps 
 The briflc etherial Particle, which longs 
 Unmanacled and free to trace the fteps 
 Of Wifdom, and at diftance to adore ! 
 O Thou, who from the ftamm'ring lips of babes 
 Male' ft heav'nly Truths diftill to fhame the pride, 
 The letter'd pride of reas'ning erring Man ; 
 Who, when the full Maturity of Time, 
 From endlefs ages preordain'd, arriv'd. 
 Did' ft from the dregs of Ignorance eled 
 Promulgers of thy Knowledge, O vouchfafe 
 Thy gracious aid to thefe my labour'd ftrains, 
 
 F 4 Which
 
 72 WISDOM OF THE SUPREME BEING. 
 
 Which fain would fwell the choral fymphony 
 Of Angels and Archangels evermore 
 Glowing with love intenfe, and warbling fweet 
 Their fongs of joy with praifes intermix! ! 
 O let Thy ImpuJfe guide Me, whilft I range 
 Nature's wide field of Wonders, where impreft 
 On ev'ry atom mines creative Skill, 
 And ev'ry humble fhrub proclaims a God ! 
 Without Thy Influence fpiritlefs would flow 
 Thefe Numbers, as a tinkling cymbal's found : 
 And much, I ween, would Folly's babbling tongue 
 Profane that Wifdom, me prefum'd to fing. 
 
 Shall boaftful Reafon, the minuteft ray 
 Beam'd from the felf-exiftent Sire of Lights, 
 Difdain fubjeclion, and refufe to bring 
 Her incenfe to the throne of God ? Inftead 
 Of Admiration, which His Works exacl;, 
 Works where tranlcendent Art difplays her pow'rs, 
 Shall me, with impious triumph flufli'd, retort 
 Her wanton cenfure, infidel reproof ? 
 Say, Sceptic, can thine eye pervade the whole, 
 See Syftem on dependent Syftem verge, 
 And Caufes with Effects connected all 
 In one unbroken chain ? Did Science ever 
 Lend Thee a Seraph's flamy wing to mount 
 
 Above
 
 WISDOM OF THE SUPREME BEING. 73 
 
 Above th' empyreal Sphere ? There did'ft thou view 
 The golden Balance which the Mountains weigh'd, 
 Ere their afpiring foreheads pierc'd the clouds ? 
 
 Proud philofophic fool ! thy airy flight 
 Sufpend awhile, and drop into Thyfelf : 
 Attentive fcan the texture of thy Frame 
 How fearfully contriv'd ! the vifual orbs 
 Remark, how aptly ftation'd for their tafk ; 
 Rais'd to th' imperial Head's high citadel 
 A wide extended profpeft to command. 
 See the arch'd outworks of impending Lids 
 With hairs, as palifadoes, fenc'd around 
 To ward annoyance from without. The Nofc 
 Its intervening wall projects, the Cheeks 
 Swell with a gentle eminencej to fhield 
 The Body's gay irradiating Beam. 
 Who tauglit the rays, refracted from the bright 
 Chryftalline Convex, in a central point 
 To join their confluent ftreams, and paint each form 
 Qf Dedal Nature in the fund opake, 
 111 copied by Apelles' happieft fkill ? 
 Who but th' Omnifcient Architect ! who bade 
 The univerfal Eye, th' illuilrious Sun, 
 From Chaos' darkfome wornb his fplendors dart 
 T' enlighten and refrefh the new-born World. 
 
 The
 
 74 WISDOM OF THE SUPREME BEING. 
 
 The channel'd Ear with many a winding maze 
 How artfully perplext, to catch the found, 
 And from her repercuffive caves augment ! 
 
 When the crude fhapelefs Mafs imprifon 'd lay 
 In its maternal cell, what plaftic pow'r 
 Appropriate figure to each part aflign'd, 
 And gave th' envelop'd Animal t' expand ? 
 Whofe Nod controll'd the work abftrufe, infus'd 
 All-quick'ning vigour, and each motion fway'd ? 
 Who in the dark the vital flame illum'd, 
 And from th' impullive engine caus'd to flow 
 Th' ejaculated ftreams through many a pipe 
 Arterial with meandring lapfe, then bring 
 Refluent their purple tribute to their Fount ? 
 Who fpun the finews' branchy thread, and twin'd 
 The azure veins in fpiral knots to waft 
 Life's tepid waves all o'er j or Who with bones 
 Compared, and with nerves the Fabric ftrung ? 
 Their fpecious form, their fitnefs, which refults 
 From figure and arrangement, all declare 
 
 Th' Artificer divine. 'Twas Thou, O Lord, 
 
 Who in the deep recefs did'ft mould the clay 
 Obfequious to thy will ; the procefs dark 
 Thou faw'ft, and Nought efcap'd thy piercing Eye. 
 Ere yet I was, in thy eternal Rolls 
 
 Each
 
 WISDOM OF THE SUPREME BEING. 75 
 
 Each bone was written, and each fibrous chord, 
 All-pcrfedt Models of my future Frame. 
 
 And yet mall Man, who bears a World inclos'd 
 Of Wonders in Himfelf, though on his mind 
 Convidlion flafhes like a flood of Day, 
 In voluntary gloom benighted fit ? 
 With intellectual faculties endow'd, 
 Stamp'd on thy foul Thy Maker's fignaturc, 
 In this magnific fky-rooPd Temple plac'd 
 High-PrieiT: of Nature, to return to Heav'n 
 Due Incenfe, and articulate the praife 
 Of thy mute vaffals, dar'ft Thou, Wretch ingrate, 
 The Gift accept, the Giver leave unthank'd ? 
 See feeble Inftindl with unvaried aim 
 Guide thy brute fubjefts to their Being's end, 
 Reproach to Reafon's over-weening pride ! 
 Their talk enjoin'd they chearfully perform, 
 And laud the beft they can their bounteous God. 
 With deep-ton 'd praifes roars the Wildernefs, 
 The Groves with Melody refound ; All Nature 
 Upbraids the thanklefs filence of her Lord, 
 Rebel to Him, whofe delegate he reigns. 
 
 How fighdefs foars Philofophy, whene'er 
 She quits the beaten track that Nature points, 
 
 And
 
 ? WISDOM OF THE SUPREME BEING. 
 
 And Reafon, yet with prejudice unting'd ; 
 When impious fhe affumes creative pow'r, 
 And builds a World without an Architect ! 
 In vain does Epicurus, borne aloft 
 Beyond the flaming barriers of our fphere 
 Into th' illimitable Void, command 
 His marlhal'd atoms, and diredl their flight. 
 Whatever courfe he gives them, ftraight, oblique, 
 They never could, though ages they had fped 
 Their fwift career, have met in Space immenfe, 
 And each concurring with his like coher'd. 
 
 Illufive Dreams, and ravings of a Brain 
 Unpurg'd with Ellebore ! to think that fmall 
 Unguided particles, at random floating 
 Through fhorelefs feas of Emptinefs diffus'd, 
 Could haply clafh, and flide into an orb ! 
 Say, Grecian Dotard, did thy idol Chance, 
 Of Worlds expert Artificer, e'er bid 
 A fudden palace deck the wond'ring wafte ; 
 Did Hones and timber, trooping to her call, 
 Leap to a fmifh'd pile, and Hand felf-rang'd ? 
 
 When firft thy atoms with a ceafelefs fhow'r 
 Rufh'd from th' Expanfe tumultuous, fay what Mounds, 
 Rais'd in the thin vacuity t' arreft 
 
 Their
 
 WISDOM OF THE SUPREME BEING. 77 
 
 Their progrefs, check'd them in midway, and made 
 
 Them fettle to a Mafs ? Could they unknowing 
 
 Determine where to fixj and there in fpite 
 
 Of Gravity's accelerating force, 
 
 Lull'd in the Air's foft ambient bofom reft ? 
 
 What counteracted Nature's gen'ral laws, 
 
 And gave th' infledled bias ? Did they call 
 
 A. Council ere they fally'd from the goal, 
 
 And for each troop a rendezvous appoint ? 
 
 Here Reafon fails You, and your wife reply 
 
 Amounts to nothing more than fo it chanc'd 
 
 That this our Planet with th' unnumber'd Orbs, 
 
 Which perfecl the ftupendous artful Whole, 
 
 After repeated conflicts, and a war 
 
 Of thwarting particles, their ftrife compos'd, 
 
 Did ruffled into Harmony fubfide. 
 
 That pbllofophic tow'r, from whence You boaft 
 To look all Nature through, and pity Man 
 Bewilder'd in the mazy vale below, 
 Shook with each flight interrogation nods : 
 And, when the ftorm of Argument affaults, 
 The treach'rous bafis finks, and down it falls. 
 
 Duration's bounds Stagira's bolder Sage 
 O'erleaps, and lefs'ning to the view a World 
 
 Amldfl
 
 78 WISDOM OP THE SUPREME BEING. 
 
 Amidft Eternity's vaft tracklefs wilds 
 
 Explores. But what fuccefs, what glorious meed 
 
 Rewards th' adventure ? Merits He for this 
 
 The Realms of Science with defpotic fway 
 
 To govern, and his tyranny ufurp'd 
 
 Deep in our vaffal intellects to found ? 
 
 Let this high-vaulting Genius from his flight 
 
 Tranfcendent ftoop, and to enquiring Senfe 
 
 A fober anfwer give, why, if for ever 
 
 Things in the fame unvaried tenor flow'd, 
 
 If Battles from eternity were fought, 
 
 And Polities in endlefs feries plann'd, 
 
 No direful tumults fwell^H th' Aonian Trump 
 
 Before the war of Thebes, or fiege of Troy : 
 
 Why from no higher fpring hiltoric Truth 
 
 Rolls down through ages her memorial {lores : 
 
 Why Arts flow-rip'ning in the womb of Time 
 
 So late attain'd their growth : why from the Ealt 
 
 But yefterday her orient beam difplay'd 
 
 Emerging Science, and with Heav'n's bright Lamp 
 
 In radiant progrefs journey'd to the Weft. 
 
 Did one eternal torpor chill the brain 
 
 Of infinite fucceflions ? Unalert 
 
 Was Nature, nor yet ftrong enough to form 
 
 An Ariftotle's all-pervnding Mind ? 
 
 [a
 
 WISDOM OF THE SUPREME BEING. 79 
 
 In vain your routed clan of Vot'ries fly 
 To Deluges. For where embofom'd fleeps 
 Sufficient mafs of Moifture to diffolve 
 The Globe, and from its faded place to blot 
 Each faithful Monument ? If this exceeds 
 Nature's weak pow'rs, they'll ceafe to roufe at will 
 The Waters from their bed, left unawares 
 They conjure up an Agent they difclaim. 
 If Nature can atchieVe the feat, Ye Wits 
 Illumin'd, fay, why in a round immenfe 
 Of unbeginning Years it always chanc'd 
 That indifcriminating Floods mould fpare 
 A chofen Few, to ftock the defert World : 
 Why, when the Deep its riven jaws difclos'd, 
 And Defolation o'er the proftrate Ball 
 Wide-wafting fwept along, not All Mankind 
 Once in the oft repeated Wrecks was loft, 
 And Your Eternal Race expung'd for ever. 
 
 If Particles obnoxious to decay 
 The univerfal Frame compofe, amidic 
 The ceafelefs ravage of unmeafur'd Years 
 Earth on her Axis had no longer mov'd 
 Vertiginous, long fince a mould'ring heap 
 Of Duft : the Sun, fo prodigal of light, 
 His golden urn exhaufted whence the Stars 
 
 Imbil e
 
 fO WISDOM OF THE SUPREME 
 
 Imbibe their gleam, had fpent his lateft ray, 
 And fcatter'd in loofe atoms roam'd the Vokl. 
 
 Thus with Sifyphian toil mifguided Wit 
 The ftone reluftant up the fteep high Cliff 
 Urges : with violent recoil the Mafs 
 Rufhes precipitous, and mocks their pains. 
 Though Mountain pil'd on Mountain threat'ning ftands, 
 Confufion follows, and their Babel drops. 
 Philofbphy's but Folly in difguife, 
 A glitt'ring Ignorance, a fev'rifh Dream, 
 Unlefs from Earth, the Footftool of her God, 
 She leads like Jacob's Ladder to H'u Throne. 
 
 To trace the Wifdom of th' all-knowing Mind 
 In the World's ample Volume to our view 
 In fliining characters difplay'd, to glow, 
 Like Seraphs, as we turn th' amazing page, 
 And magnify the glorious Author's name, 
 This, This is to be Wife beyond the School 
 Of Epicurus, or Lyceum fam'd. 
 
 What human tongue can worthily record 
 The treafures of Eternal Iritellcft, 
 The Fair archetypal, whence beams derived 
 Each Good deleftable, each beauteous Form, 
 
 That
 
 WISDOM OF THE SUPREME BEING. 8l 
 
 That Nature's fpacious Theatre adorns ? 
 
 How fhall fublim'd Imagination dart 
 
 Into th' unlimited circumfluous deep 
 
 Of Chaos drear and dark, there fee Heav'n's King 
 
 Borne on Cherubic Wings enounce the Word 
 
 Omnific ? Wild Uproar hears, and is ftill, 
 
 And Circumfcription checks Infinity ! 
 
 How all-accomplifh'd Sapience blaz'd abroad 
 Confpicuous in each grand proportion'd Work, 
 When the Divine Geometrician ftretch'd 
 Th' immeafurable level through the Void, 
 And to the canton Syftem bounds ordain'd ! 
 What Hand could fcoop the Sea's capacious bed, 
 But His, who grafp'd the Waters in his palm ? 
 Who could expand the Curtains of the Sky, 
 And tinge with Blum of Day their gorgeous Skirts, 
 But the ineffable I AM, who reigns 
 In fplendor unapproachable enfhrin'd ? 
 What placid fmiles of fweet complacency 
 In the Creator's radiant afpedl flione, 
 When He furvey'd his Workmanfhip, and faw 
 Utility and Grace diffus'd throughout ! 
 With admiration rapt of Heav'nly Skill 
 The Sons of Phofphor haiPd the dawning World 
 With mou^s triumphant ; every harp was tun'd 
 
 Q Angelic
 
 2 WISDOM OF THE SUPREME BEINfi, 
 
 Angelic to His praife, who Order call'd 
 From tumult, and from Nothing All educ'd. 
 
 Where'er We turn our eyes, above, below, 
 The Deity confronts Us, and reveal'd 
 Flames in each Bum, and fparkles in each Star. 
 Where could the Platform of this complex Frame, 
 But in th' Eternal Mind's abyfs, exift ? 
 What but a Wife Omnipotence the Plan 
 Illuftrious could fo fplendidly complete ? 
 
 The Sun, when with a v.ig'rous Bridegroom's heat - 
 He fallies from the chambers of the Eaft, 
 His Maker in his filent courfe proclaims. 
 Look up, vain Sceptic, and derive a ray 
 Thence to thy darken'd Soul ; yon glorious Orb 
 Perpend, the Persian's Mithras, who afcrib'd 
 Th' emaning Good, by Providence devis'd 
 Omnifcient, to th' unconfcjous Inflrument, 
 Abforpt his Senfe$ in the dazzling Beam. 
 Thou more fagacious hence infer a God, 
 Who launch'd in Air the Planet, and prefcrib'4 
 An Orbit to His Ends benign mofl fit. 
 See ! at due diftance from Our Globe difpos'd 
 With warmth attemper'd to her Womb he cheirs 
 Th' all-fruitful Mother, and each Birth matures. 
 
 Had
 
 WISDOM OF THE SUPREME BEING. 8j 
 
 Had he, where fluggifti Saturn rolls, been plac'd, 
 
 What defolation had deform'd this fcene 
 
 Now fo profufe of ev'ry boon ! Undeck'd 
 
 With mantling Grafs her lap, defpoil'd her meads 
 
 Of laughing harvefts, Earth had flood untrod 
 
 By Man or Beaft, an icy Wildernefs.. 
 
 If nearer he had wheel'd his flamy car, 
 
 His torrid rays had cleft the folid Rocks, 
 
 Exhal'd the Lakes, and drain'd the briny Deep. 
 
 The molten furface had to afhes turn'd, 
 
 Or whirl'd in eddying fands obfcur'd the Sky. 
 
 See ! how declining from the way direcl: 
 He winds obliquely through th' Ecliptic road 
 His courfe unwearied. Hence the Seafons rife, 
 And glad with fweet viciffitude the Year. 
 Could Chance atchieve thefe Wonders, and imprefs 
 Such conftant movements that, fince Time began 
 His meafur'd race, not once the Sire of Day 
 Should ftart forgetful from the track, and bring 
 Chill Winter into Summer's flow'ry reign ? 
 Or where fuch Counfel, fuch Defign are feen, 
 Muft We not call an All-direfting Mind 
 To folve th' amazing Knot ? Th' Qpificer 
 All-pow'rful and All-wife alone could frame 
 For Ufes multiform an Orb, without 
 
 G a Whofe
 
 84 WISDOM OF THE SUPREME BEING. 
 
 Whofe vital beams All Nature would expire, 
 And Darknefs be the Burier of the Dead. 
 He the projected Motion gave : His Arm, 
 Unfhorten'd ftill, reftridls the rapid whirl 
 Of Planets to their Centre, and with Chains 
 Of Gravity and firm Cohefion binds 
 Each ftruggling atom, which would elfe unhing'd 
 Fly off, and ruin fcatter through the Void. 
 
 Who fees a Sphere, where mimic Wit difplays 
 The fite, the number, and the fize of All 
 Yon rolling Worlds, and how in figur'd dance 
 They glide harmonious, at firft glance aflents 
 That Reafon fway'd the cunning Artift's hand. 
 Yet when he fees the wond'rous Archetype, 
 The Heav'ns themfelves, with fwift rotation urg'd, 
 Invariably each grateful Change revolve 
 Conducive to the Welfare of the Whole, 
 Doubts he that this by Reafon is perform'd, 
 By Reafon All-furpaffing and Divine ? 
 
 Though Man were filent, th' azure Firmament, 
 The Moon, and all the glitt'ring Hoft of Stars, 
 Fix'd and erratic, would with one accord 
 Blazon Almighty Wifdom, and declare 
 The Marvels of His Finger, who, for ends 
 
 Subfervient
 
 WISDOM OF THE SUPREME BEING, 8j 
 
 Subfervient to His Glory and Our Good, 
 
 Bade their gay Splendors gild the brow of Night. 
 
 If to this lower Planet we advert, 
 Seat of our Birth and Nurture, proofs abound 
 Of infinite Contrivance, matchlefs Skill. 
 Whether the fite or figure we regard, 
 Or diftribution of the various parts 
 Perfeflive of the Syftem, Strokes appear 
 Too exquifite for bungling Chance to hit 
 With erring implements. A Mind alone, 
 Where Models of Perfection treafur'd lay 
 From All Eternity, could call the fair 
 Exemplar into being when it will'd. 
 
 A form orbicular how fit to weigh 
 The golden gift of Light and Heat to all 
 The fcatter'd diftrids with impartial fcale ! 
 Hence too the Waters, thofe meandring veins 
 O'er the Earth's body interfpers'd, with juft 
 Partition flow falubrious. To the Winds, 
 Balmy refiners of the winnow'd Air, 
 This moft commodious Figure yields a pafs 
 Free, unobftru&ed. Had another fhape 
 Been giv'n, impeding Angles had oppos'd 
 
 G 3 The
 
 ' 
 
 86 WISDOM OF THE SUPREME 
 
 The breezy Currents, and Mankind had droop'd 
 Sickly and faint from th' intercepted Gale. 
 
 What made the humid Particles recede 
 From the dry land, and wear a furrow'd bed 
 Capacious of their flreams ? Could aught but Art 
 The blended Mafs fo fkilfully disjoin ? 
 Thou, Thou alone, with whom enthron'd on high 
 Sits coeflential Wifdom, bad'ft fubfide 
 The Vallies, and the Mountain* ffom amidfi 
 Th' o'erwhelming moifture heave their brow fublime. 
 The liquid troops,- obedient to Thy Voice, 
 Fled to th' appointed ftafion. Thou a bound 
 Haft fet they cannot pafs j nor ever fpread 
 Their flowing Mantle o'er th' inverted Earth : 
 Thou to the Sea fay'ft, Hitherto advance, 
 And here thy proud licentious waves be ftay'd. 
 In various dufts, as Thou ordain'ft, difperft 
 The Globe-encircling Waters draw their train, 
 And health and vigour as they glide impart. 
 . 
 
 Yet here rafh Man Thy Counfels dares implead'/ 
 And blames the vaft diffufion of the Deep 
 As ufelefs and deform. He thinks that thrift 
 In dealing out the Treafures of th' Abyfs, 
 And a more lib'ral dole of needful Land* 
 
 Had
 
 WISDOM OF THE SUPREME BEING. 87 
 
 Had fpoke a wife Difpenfer of his floras. 
 
 Vainly he cries, " Half th' Ocean might be fpar'd, 
 
 " Superfluous Wafte ! and added to domains 
 
 ' Too ftrait for Man, who, by continual wars 
 
 ' T' inlavge his frontier, feems to breathe but ill, 
 
 *' As in a Prifon's narrow limits pent." 
 
 Blum, futile Caviller, who Nature's Lord 
 Arraign'ft, unread in Nature's myftic lore. 
 For know that Vapours on their dufky wings 
 In due proportion to the Surface rife 
 Sublim'd. Had then thy frugal fcheme prevail'd, 
 And the mrunk Ocean flov/'d with le (Ten 'd wave, 
 Inflead of plenteous ftreams which now refrefh 
 Earth's faturated womb, but few had roll'd 
 Their fcanty fluid o'er the thirfty glebe : 
 Eve had not fhed profufe her trickling balm, 
 Nor Clouds dropt fatnefs on the laboured field. 
 
 Thus in the nat'ral as the moral World 
 The ftri&eft fcrutiny but ferves t' unveil 
 New Riches in the deep exhauftlefs Mine 
 Of heav'nly Wifdom : What is bell, the ftamp 
 Of Deity, occurs in ev'ry work. 
 His Providence the floating vail Machine 
 Steers with unerring hand. Hence 'midft the flight 
 
 G 4 Of
 
 88 WISDOM OP THE SUPREME BEIN. 
 
 Of Ages ne'er one jarring atom broke 
 The nice adjuftment of confpiring parts, 
 Or clogg'd the motion of the fmalleft wheel. 
 
 Sceptic, no more the dazzling beams withftand, 
 Bright emanations of a fapient God, 
 But, taught by Nature, Nature's Lord adore : 
 From known Effects of Order and Defign 
 Rife to the felf-exiftent Caufe Supreme : 
 The Depths of Wifdom, far as human Ken 
 Can penetrate, explore j and here attain 
 A foretafte of that Knowledge, which perhaps, 
 With Angels poring o'er the Text abftrufe, 
 And in ecftatic admiration loft, 
 Will in Eternity's unceafing round 
 The intuition of thy Soul abforb. 
 
 ON
 
 THE 
 
 DAY OF JUDGMENT. 
 
 BT 
 
 R. O L Y N N, M. D. 
 M DCC LVII.
 
 DAY OF JUDGMENT. 
 
 *> H V Juftice, heav'nly King ! and that great Day< 
 When Virtue, long abandon'd and forlorn, 
 Shall raife her penlive head ; and Vice, that erft 
 Rang'd unreprov'd and free, fhall fink appall'd j 
 
 I fmg advent'rous. But what eye can pierce 
 
 The vaft immeafurable realms of Space, 
 
 O'er which Meffiah drives His flaming car 
 
 To that bright region, where enthron'd He fits 
 
 Firft-born of Heav'n to judge aflembled worlds; 
 
 Cloath'd in cceleilial radiance ! Can the Mufe, 
 
 Her feeble wing all damp with earthly dew, 
 
 Soar to that bright Empyreal, where around 
 
 Myriads of Angels God's perpetual choir 
 
 Hymn Hallelujahs ; and in concert loud 
 
 Chaunt fongs of triumph to their Maker's praife / *- 
 
 Yet will I ftrive to fmg, albeit unus'd 
 
 To
 
 92 THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. 
 
 .". " 
 
 To tread Poetic Soil. What though the wiles 
 
 Of Fancy me enchanted ne'er could lure 
 
 To rove o'er Fairy lands ; to fwim the ftreams 
 
 That through her vallies weave their mazy way ; 
 
 Or climb her mountain tops ; yet will I raife 
 
 My feeble voice, to tell what Harmony 
 
 (Sweet as the mufic of the rolling Spheres) 
 
 Attunes the moral world : That Virtue ftill 
 
 May hope her promis'd crown ; that Vice may dread 
 
 Vengeance, though late ; that reas'ning Pride may own 
 
 Jufl though unfearchable the ways of Heaven. 
 
 Sceptic ! whoe'er thou art, who fay'it the foul, 
 That divine particle which God's own breath 
 Infpir'd into the mortal mafs, fliall reft 
 Annihilate, 'till Duration has unrolled 
 Her never-ending line ; tell, if thou know'ft, 
 Why every nation, every clime, though all 
 In Laws* in Rites, in Manners difagree, 
 With one confent expeft another world, 
 Where Wickednefs mall weep ? Why Paynim Bards 
 Fabled Elylian plains, Tartarean Lakes, 
 Styx and Cocytus ? Tell, why Hali's fons 
 Have feign'd a Paradife of Mirth and Love, 
 Banquets, and blooming Nymphs ? Or rather tell, 
 Why, on the brink of Orellana's ftream, 
 
 Where
 
 THE DAY OF JUDGMENT, 
 
 Where never Science rear'd her facred Torch, 
 Th' untutor'd Indian dreams of happier worlds 
 Behind the cloud-topt Hill ? Why in each breaft 
 Is plac'd a friendly monitor, that prompts, 
 Informs, direfts, encourages, forbids ? 
 Tell, why on unknown evil grief attends ; 
 Or joy on fecret good ? Why Confcience afts 
 With tenfold force, when Sicknefs, Age, or Pain 
 Stands tott'ring on the precipice of Death ? 
 Or why fuch Horror gnaws the guilty foul 
 Of dying Sinners ; while the Good Man fleeps 
 Peaceful and calm, and with a fmile expires ? 
 
 Look round the world ! with what a partial hand 
 The fcale of Blifs and Mifery is fuftain'd ! 
 Beneath the fhade of cold obfcurity 
 Pale Virtue lies ; no arm fupports her head, 
 No friendly voice fpeaks comfort to her foul, 
 Nor foft-ey'd Pity drops a melting tear ; 
 But, in their ftead, Contempt and rude Difdain 
 Infult the baniih'd Wanderer : on fhe goes 
 Negledled and forlorn : Difeafe, and Cold, 
 And Famine, worft of Ills, her fleps attend : 
 Yet patient, and to HeavVs juft will refign'd, 
 She ne'er is feen to weep, or heard to figh. 
 
 Now
 
 94 THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. 
 
 Now turn your eyes to yon fweet-fmelling Bow'r, 
 Where flufh'd with all the infolence of wealth 
 Sits pamper'd Vice ! For him th' Arabian Gale 
 Breathes forth delicious odours ; Gallia's Hills 
 For him pour Nedlar from the purple vine. 
 Nor think for thefe he pays the tribute due 
 TO Heav'n : of Heav'n he never names the name ; 
 Save when with imprecations dark and dire 
 He points his Jeft obfcene. Yet buxom Health 
 Sits on his rofy cheek ; yet Honour gilds 
 His high exploits ; and downy-pinion'd Sleep 
 Sheds a foft opiate o'er his peaceful couch. 
 
 See'ft thou this, righteous Father ! See'ft thou this, 
 And wilt thou ne'er repay ? Shall Good and III 
 Be carried undiftinguiih'd to the Land 
 
 Where all things are forgot ? Ah ! no ; the Day 
 
 Will come, when Virtue from the cloud mall burft 
 That long obfcur'd her Beams ; when Sin mail fly 
 Back to her native Hell j there fink eclips'd 
 In penal Darknefs ; where nor Star mail rife, 
 Nor ever Sunihine pierce th' impervious gloom, 
 
 On that great pay the folemn Trump mall found, 
 (That Trump which once in Heaven on Man's revolt 
 Convok'd th' aftoniih'd Seraphs) at whofe voice 
 
 Th' un-
 
 THE DAV Or j'tDGMLNT. $f 
 
 Th' unpeopled Graves fliall pour forth all their Dead, 
 
 Then fliall th' afiembled nations of the Earth 
 
 From ev'ry Quarter at the Judgment-Seat 
 
 Unite ; Egyptians, Babylonians, Greeks, 
 
 Parthians ; and they who dwelt on Tyber's banks, 
 
 Names fam'd of old : or who of later age, 
 
 Chinefe and Ruffian, Mexican and Turk, 
 
 Tenant the wide Terrene j and they who pitch 
 
 Their tents on Niger's banks j or where the Sun 
 
 Pours on Gokonda's Spires his early light 
 
 Drink Ganges' facred ftream. At once fliall rife 
 
 Whom diflant ages to each others fight 
 
 Had long denied : Before the Throne fhall kneel 
 
 Some great Progenitor, while at his fide 
 
 Stands his Defcendant through a thoufand Lines. 
 
 \Vhate'er their nation, and whate'er their rank, 
 
 Heroes and Patriarchs, Slaves and fceptred Kings, 
 
 With equal eye the God of All fhall fee ; 
 
 And judge with equal love. What though the Great 
 
 With coftly pomp and aromatic fweets 
 
 Embalm'd his poor remains ; or through the Dome 
 
 A thoufand tapers fhed their gloomy light, 
 
 While folemn organs to his parting foul 
 
 Chaunted flow orifons ? Say, by what mark 
 
 Doll thou difcern him from that lowly Swain 
 
 Whofe mouldering bones beneath the thorn-bound turf 
 
 Long
 
 gS THE DAY OF JUDGMENT* 
 
 Long lay neglecled ? All at once fhall rife } 
 
 But not to equal glory : for, alas ! 
 With howlings dire and execrations loud 
 
 Some wail their fatal birth. Firft among thefc 
 
 Behold the mighty murth'rers of mankind ; 
 
 They who in {port whole kingdoms flew ; or they 
 
 Who to the tott'ring pinnacle of power 
 
 Waded through feas of blood ! How will they curfe 
 
 The madnefs of ambition ; How lament 
 
 Their dear-bought Laurels j when the widow'd wife 
 
 And childlefs mother at the Judgment-Seat 
 
 Plead trumpet-tongu'd againft them ! Here are they 
 
 Who funk an aged Father to the Grave ; 
 Or with unkindnefs hard and cold difdain 
 
 Slighted a Brother's fuff 'rings. Here are they 
 
 Whom Fraud and fkilful Treachery long fecur'd ; 
 Who from the infant Virgin tore her dow'r, 
 
 And eat the Orphan's bread : who fpent their flares 
 
 In felfifh Luxury ; or o'er their gold 
 
 Proflrate and pale ador'd the ufelefs heap. 
 
 Here too who ftain'd the chafte connubial Bed ; 
 Who mix'd the pois'nous bowl ; or broke the ties, 
 
 Of hofpitable Friendfhip : And the Wretch 
 
 Whofe liftlefs foul fick with the cares of life 
 fJnfummon'd to the prefence of his God 
 jRufh'd in with infult rude. How would they joy 
 
 Once
 
 THE DAY OF JUDGMENT, 
 
 Once more to vifit earth ; and, though opprefs'd 
 With all that Pain or Famine can inflia, 
 Pant up the Hill of Life ? Vain wifh ! the Judge 
 Pronounces doom eternal on their heads, 
 Perpetual punifhment. Seek not to know 
 What punifhment ! for that th' Almighty Will 
 Has hid from mortal eyes : And mail vain Man 
 With curious fearch refin'd prefume to pry 
 Into thy fecrets, Father ! No : let him 
 With humble patience all thy works adore, 
 And walk in all thy paths : fo fhall his meed 
 Be great in Heav'n, fo haply fhall he 'fcape 
 Th' immortal Worm and never-ceafing Fire, 
 
 But who are they, who bound in ten-fold chains 
 Stand horribly aghaft ? This is that Crew 
 Who ftrove to pull Jehovah from His throne, 
 And in the place of Heav'n's eternal King 
 Set up the Phantom Chance. For them in vain 
 Alternate feafons chear'd the rolling year ; 
 In vain the Sun o'er Herb, Tree, Fruit, and Flow'r 
 Shed genial influence, mild ; and the pale Moon 
 Repair'd her waning orb. Next thefe is plac'd 
 The vile Blafphemer, He, whofe impious Wit 
 Profan'd the facred Myfteries of Faith, 
 And 'gainft th' impenetrable walls of Heav'n 
 
 H Planted
 
 58 THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. 
 
 Planted his feeble battery. By thefe ftands 
 
 The arch-Apoftate : He with many a wile 
 
 Exhorts them ftill to foul revolt. Alas ! 
 
 No hope have they from black Defpair, no ray 
 
 Shines through the gloom to chear their finking fouls : 
 
 In agonies of grief they curfe the hour 
 
 When firft they left Religion's onward way. 
 
 Thefe on the left are rang'd : But on the right 
 A chofen Band appears, who fought beneath 
 The Banner of Jehovah, and defy'd 
 Satan's united Legions. Some, unmov'd 
 At the grim tyrant's frown, o'er barb'rous climes 
 Diffus'd the Gofpel's Light j fome, long immur'd, 
 (Sad fervitude !) in chains and dungeons pin'd ; 
 Or rack'd with all the agonies of pain 
 Breath'd out their faithful lives. Thrice happy They 
 Whom Heaven eledled to that glorious ftrife ! ' 
 Here are they plac'd, whofe kind munificence 
 Made heav'n-born Science raife her drooping head ; 
 And on the labours of a future Race 
 Entail'd their juft reward. Thou amongft Thefe, " 
 Good SEAT ON ! whofe well-judg'd benevolence 
 Foft'ring fair Genius bade the Poet's hand 
 Bring annual off'rings to his Maker's fhrine, 
 Shalt find the generous care was not in vain. 
 
 Here
 
 THE DAY OF JUDGMENT, g 
 
 Here is that fav'rite Band, whom mercy mild 
 God's bell lov'd Attribute adorn'd ; vvhofe gate 
 Stood ever open to the Stranger's call ; 
 Who fed the Hungry ; to the Thirfty lip 
 Reach'd out the friendly cup ; whofe care benign 
 From the rude blaft fecur'd the Pilgrim's fide ; 
 Who heard the Widow's tender tale ; and Ihook 
 The galling fhackle from the Prifoner's feet \ 
 Who each endearing tye, each office knew 
 
 Of meek-ey'd heav'n-defcended Charity. 
 
 Q Charity, thou Nymph divinely fair ! 
 
 .Sweeter than thofe whom ancient Poets bound 
 
 Jn Amity's incIifTolubie chain, 
 
 The Graces ! How ihall I efTay to paint 
 
 Thy charms, celeftial Maid ; and in rude verfe 
 
 Blazon thofe deeds thyfelf did'ft ne'er reveal ? 
 
 For Thee nor rankling Envy can infect, 
 
 Nor Rage transport, nor high o'erweening Pride 
 
 Puff up with vain conceit : ne'er didft thou fmil^ 
 
 To fee the Sinner as a verdant Tree 
 
 Spread his luxuriant branches o'er the ftream ; 
 
 While like fome blafted Trunk the Righteous fall, 
 
 Proftrate, forlorn. When Prophecies mail fail, 
 
 When Tongues mail ceafe, when Knowledge is no more ? 
 
 And this Great Day is come ; Thou by the Throne 
 
 Shalt fit triumphant. Thither, lovely Maid, 
 
 H 2 for
 
 1OO THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. 
 
 Bear me, O bear me on thy foaring wing, 
 And through the Adamantine Gates of Heav'n 
 Conduct my Steps, fafe from the fiery Gulph 
 And dark Abyfs where Sin and Satan reign ! 
 
 But can the Mufe, her numbers alt too weak, 
 Tell how that reftlefs Element of Fire 
 Shall wage with Seas and Earth inteftine war, 
 And deluge all Creation ? Whether (fo 
 Some think) the Comet, as through fields of air 
 Lawlefs he wanders, mall rufh headlong on, 
 Thwarting th' Ecliptic where th' unconfcious Earth 
 Rolls in her wonted courfe ; whether the Sun 
 With force centripetal into his orb 
 Attraft her long reluftant ; or the Caves, 
 Thofe dread Vulcanos where engend'ring lye 
 Sulphureous Minerals, from their dark Abyfs 
 Pour Breams of liquid fire ; while from above, 
 As erft on Sodom, Heav'n's avenging Hand 
 Rains fierce combuftion. Where are now the works 
 Of Art, the Toil of Ages ? Where are now 
 Th' Imperial Cities, Sepulchres and Domes, 
 Trophies and Pillars ? Where is Egypt's boaft, 
 Thofe lofty Pyramids which high in air 
 Rear'd their afpiring Heads, to diftant times 
 f Memphian Pride a lafling monument ? - 
 
 Tell
 
 THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. 101 
 
 Tell me where Athens rais'd her Towers ? Where Thebes 
 Open'd her Hundred Portals ? Tell me where 
 Stood fea-girt Albion ? Where Imperial Rome 
 Propt by Seven Hills fat like a fceptred Queen, 
 And aw'd the tributary world to peace ? 
 Shew me the Rampart, which o'er many a hill, 
 Through many a valley ftretch'd its wide extent, 
 Rais'd by that mighty Monarch, to repel 
 The roving Tartar, when with infult rude 
 'Gainft Pekin's tow'rs he bent th' unerring Bow. 
 
 But what is mimic Art ? Even Nature's works, 
 Seas, Meadows, Paftures, the meand'ring Streams, 
 And everlafting Hills fhall be no more, 
 No more fhall TenerifF cloud-piercing height 
 O'er-hang th' Atlantic Surge. Nor that fam'd Cliff, 
 Through which the Perfian fteer'd with many a fail, 
 Throw to the Lemnian Ifle its evening lhade 
 
 O'er half the wide .^Egasan. Where are now 
 
 The Alps that confin'd with unnumber'd realms, 
 And from the Black Sea to the Ocean ftream 
 
 Stretch'd their extended arms ? -Where's Ararat, 
 
 That Hill on which the faithful Patriarch's Ark 
 Which feven long months had voyag'd o'er its top 
 Firft refted, when the Earth with all her Sons, 
 As now by ftreaming catarads of fire, 
 
 H 3 Was
 
 102 THE DAY OF JUDGMENT* 
 
 Was whelm'd by mighty waters ? All at one* 
 
 Are vanifli'd and diffolv'd ; no trace remains * 
 No mark of vain diftin&ion : Heaven itfelf, 
 That azure vault with all thofe radiant orbs, 
 
 Sinks in the univerfal ruin loft. 
 
 No more (hall Planets round their central Sun 
 
 Move in harmonious dance j no more the Moon 
 
 Hang out her Silver Lamp ; and thofe Fix'd Stars 
 
 Spangling the golden canopy of night, 
 
 Which oft the Tufcan with his optic glafs- 
 
 CalPd from their wond'rous height, to read their names 
 
 And magnitude, fome winged minifter 
 
 Shall quench ; and (fureft fign that all on earth 
 
 Is loft) mail rend from Heaven the myftic Bow. 
 
 Such is that awful, that tremendous Day# 
 Whofe Coming who mail tell ? For as a Thief 
 Unheardj unfeen, it fteals with filent pace 
 Through Night's dark gloom. Perhaps as here I fit> 
 And rudely carol thefe incondite Lays, 
 Soon mall the Hand be check'd, and dumb' the Mouth 
 That lifps the fault'ring ftrain. O ! may it ne'er 
 Intrude unwelcome on an ill-fpent hour ; 
 But find me wrapt in meditations high, 
 Hymning my .great Creator ! 
 
 " Power
 
 THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. 103 
 
 " Power fupreme ! 
 
 O everlafting King ! to Thee I kneel, 
 To Thee I lift my voice. With fervent heat 
 Melt all ye Elements ! And Thou, high Heav'n, 
 Shrink like a mrivel'd Scroll ! But think, O Lord, 
 Think on the belt, the nobleil of thy works ; 
 Think on thine own bright Image ! Think on Him, 
 Who dy'd to fave us from thy righteous wrath ; 
 And 'midft the wreck of Worlds remember Man !" 
 
 H 4 THE
 
 THB 
 
 PROVIDENCE 
 
 OP THE 
 
 SUPREME BEING. 
 
 BT 
 
 GEORGE BALLY, M, A. 
 M DCC tVIII.
 
 THE 
 
 PROVIDENCE OF THE SUPREME BEING. 
 
 SOVEREIGN of Nature^ Omniprefent King, 
 
 Eflential Goodnefs ! Thou, whofe plaftic Word 
 
 Call'd from the womb of Darknefs into day 
 
 This beauteous Syflem, which, if Thou withdraw'ft 
 
 Thy flaying hand, would inftantly relapfe 
 
 Into primeval Nothing ! Who mall dare 
 
 To circumfcribe thy Centre, that extends 
 
 Far as Creation's amplefl range ; or fet 
 
 Bounds to thy Providence, that clafps at once 
 
 In its parental all-incircling arm 
 
 The tow'ring Seraph, and the grov'ling Worm ? 
 
 Each link, that weaves the univerfal chain 
 
 Of Order, and connects th' amazing plan, 
 
 Is faflen'd to the footflool of thy throne. 
 
 All Caufes, in thy Intellect compriz'd, 
 
 Obvious as light that fills th' uncrowded eye, 
 
 Rank'd in their feries (land, and wait thy nod 
 
 To
 
 lo8 PROVIDENCE OF THE SUPREME 
 
 To ifiue into aftion, and atchieve 
 
 Eternal counfels. Wifdom infinite 
 
 Sits at the helm prefiding, and diredts 
 
 Each fev'ral movement to the purpos'd end; 
 
 Thou giv'ft the vegetable tribe to draw 
 
 Its kindly nutriment. Th' inliv'ning fap, 
 
 Obedient to thy Laws, through fitted tubes 
 
 Afcends fermenting* and at length matur'd 
 
 Breaks forth in gems, and germinates in leaves; 
 
 By Thee each Family of flow'rs is cloth'd 
 
 In one unvarying drefs, and breathes the fame 
 
 Tranfmitted effences ; and, though the loom 
 
 No virgin fingers ply to fwell her pride, 
 
 The lily mines more gorgeoufly array'd 
 
 Than monarchs, where the Eaft with hand profufe 
 
 Sfonv'rs on their pomp barbaric pearl and gold. 
 
 O ? er all thy works, exuberance of love, 
 
 Thy care unweary'd watches. Hence conferv'd 
 
 Each kind, each being, and each want fupply'di 
 
 To Thee the tenant of the pafture lifts 
 
 His afking eye : to Thee with fuppliant voice 
 
 The fliaggy tyrant of the wildemefs 
 
 Roars his petition, as he roams the wafte 
 
 Intent on .prey. Thou, common Father, op'ft 
 
 Th' exhauftlefs treafures of thy bounty : All 
 
 Are fill'd, and ev'ry heart with joy rebounds. 
 
 Yet
 
 PROVIDENCE OF THE SUPREME BEING. 1 
 
 Yet are there found of Man's imperial race, 
 So favour'd, and by reafon high advanc'd, 
 (That ray infus'd to light him to his God) 
 Who, rebels to their Maker, fpurn his rule, 
 And impious dare in narrow fpace include 
 Infinity itfelf. In Heav'n, fome fay 
 Blafpheming, fits in majefty fupine 
 Th' Eternal King, and flumb'ring on his throne, 
 From Earth, and all its cares alike remov'd, 
 A liftlefs dull beatitude enjoys. 
 Conceit abfurd ! yet fuited to the foil 
 Of Epicurus' garden, rank with weeds 
 That kijl Religion's root. No bufy God 
 His blind unguided atoms muft controul, 
 But Chance muft build his World, and govern too. 
 That fcheme of Happinefs, he frames for Man, 
 Muft, as he doats, to Deity extend ; 
 Whofe Blifs would be impair'd, if reftlefs thought, 
 And Nature's vaft moliminous concerns 
 Should violate the Sabbath of his reft. 
 Philofophizing fool, who ne'er couldft (hake 
 The cumbrous load of matter from thy foul, 
 And pierce thofe regions, where One fovereign Mind, 
 One pure difFufive Energy at eafe 
 By fole volition ac~ls his purpofcs 
 Through the wide realms of Being ! He to all, 
 
 Centre
 
 110 PROVIDENCE OF THE SUPREME BEIN. 
 
 Centre without circumference, is nigh, 
 
 Is intimately prefent : nought eludes 
 
 His Knowledge ; nought impedes his mighty Pow'r, 
 
 ' 
 
 If the World floats by ev'ry cafual blaft 
 Driv'n to and fro, without a pilot-hand 
 To regulate its courfe, fay, why do all 
 Hearken to Laws appropriate to their kind ? 
 Why never ftray the devious Orbs, but keep 
 Their ftations, and with fteady pace repeat 
 Their periodic journies ? Whence to Plants 
 Peculiar feeds allotted, and a leaf 
 That marks their lineage ? Or how taught by turn^ 
 To flourilh, and diverfify the year ? 
 Whence is each particle of matter fway'd 
 Or to attraft its neighbour or repel ? 
 In Brutes to individuals whence affign'd 
 With rule precife the fame organic make. 
 As beft the functions of their kind promotes ? 
 Why prompted all to propagate their breed, 
 To fliun the noxious, feek the wholefome food ? 
 This fettled Order through the whole diffus'd, 
 Thefe Laws invariably purfu'd, proclaim 
 As with a trumpet's found a Pow'r unfeen, 
 Who fits not idle on th' empyreal fphere. 
 Wrapt up in contemplation of Himfelf 
 
 Through
 
 PROVIDENCE OF THE SUPREME BEING. l| 
 
 Through endlefs ages, but who all furveys 
 
 In Space, his boundlefs fenfoiy, and fills 
 
 Earth with his Goodnefs, with his Glory Heaven. 
 
 And yet fliall Man, as fhipwreck'd from the womb 
 On the World's bleak inhofpitable coaft, 
 As by his Maker carelefsly expos'd, 
 Bewail his orphan lot, and cry that God 
 Regardlefs of his welfare flights his pray'rs ? 
 Shall not a Sparrow fall without his will, 
 Shall not a Raven croak in vain ; yet Man, 
 Heir of Eternity, Creation's pride, 
 Be left to wander in the maze of Life 
 Without a Guide, a Father, and a Friend ? 
 How mail he 'fcape th' embattel'd ills that war 
 Againft his foul, th' unnumber'd fhafts that fly 
 Wing'd with deltrudlion, if no hand unfeen 
 Invefts him with a fhield, and guards his fteps ? 
 
 But Man (ingenious to contrive his woe, 
 And rob himfclf of all that makes this vale 
 Of tears bloom comfort) cries, If God forefees 
 Our future actings, then the objects known 
 Mull be determin'd, or the knowledge fail : 
 Thus Liberty's deftroy'd, and all we do 
 Or fuffer, by a fatal thread is fpun. 
 
 Say,
 
 1I PROVIDENCE 01 THE SUPREME BEING. 
 
 Say, fool, with too much fubtilty milled, 
 Who reafon'ft but to err, does Prefcience change 
 The properly of things ? Is aught thou fee'ft 
 Caus'd by thy vifion, not thy vifion caus'd 
 By forms that previoufly exift ? To God 
 This mode of feeing future deeds extend, 
 And Freedom with Foreknowledge may fubfiil. 
 
 Nor think that ev'ry moment Nature's courfe 
 Muft take a difF'rent bias to comply 
 With each occafion. He, to whom are known 
 The wants and the deportment of each being, 
 May fuch a Plan original have fram'd 
 As All adjufted may confpire to make 
 One compaft Syflem ; where the Saint devout. 
 And fin-polluted Infidel may find 
 Forecafted, in th' eftablimment of things, 
 Effe&s proportion'd to their varying ftamp 
 Of moral character. Look round and fee 
 Reward and punimment in part difpens'd 
 To Man by Nature's gen'ral Laws : fee Health 
 Fly the luxurious Glutton's rich repaft, 
 And with the Hermit at his temp'rate board 
 Sit a pleas'd gueft : fee calm unruffled Joy 
 With dovelike wing infold the virtuous breaft, 
 While arm'd with harpy- talon keen Remorfe 
 
 Hovers
 
 PROVIDENCE OF THE SUPREME BEING. I IJ 
 
 Hovers o'er Guilt, and poifons ev'ry fweet. 
 
 Lo ! (to convert our vices into rods) 
 
 Paflions indulg'd beyond a certain bound 
 
 Lead to a precipice, and plunge in woe 
 
 The heedlefs agent. Avarice o'erfhoots 
 
 Its deftin'd mark, and with abundance curs'd, 
 
 In wealth the ills of poverty' endures. 
 
 Ambition, when the pinnacle is gain'd 
 
 With many a toilfome fiep, the pow'r it fought 
 
 Wants to fupport itfelf, and iighs to find 
 
 The envy'd height but aggravates die fall. 
 
 Unbridled Luft inftead of Pleafure's rofe 
 
 The prickly thorn oft grafps, wkh pangs of mind, 
 
 And body now tormented, now condemn'd 
 
 To bleed a vi&im on the bed it ftains. 
 
 Nor deem this Order broke, thefe Laws infring'd, 
 As oft as Vice in the warm funny beam 
 Of Fortune wanton balks, and Virtue droops 
 Forlorn, by Penury's chill wintry blaft 
 A flail 'd. That luxury and pomp perhaps 
 Is but the fplendid cover of diilrefs 
 Rankling within ; while confcience ever gay, 
 And placid refignation to his lot, 
 Cheer the poor tatter'd Pilgrim, and derive 
 
 I Afla-
 
 114 PROVIDENCE OF THE SUPREME BEING. 
 
 A flavour to his cafual homely meal, 
 
 The rich man's labour'd dainties cannot yield. 
 
 Dar'ft thou decide where Mercy mould diftil 
 Its foft refrefhing dews, where Juftice pour 
 The vials of its treafur'd wrath, who know'ft 
 Man in appearance only ? Oft beneath 
 The faintly veil the Votary of fin 
 May lurk unfeen, and to that Eye alone, 
 Which penetrates the inmoft heart, reveal'd. 
 And He, whom Cenfure fingles from the herd 
 To brand with infamy, whom Envy loads 
 With black'ning colours, to th' Omnifcient Judge 
 (Whom nought can biafs, and whom nought deceives) 
 May otherwife appear, and fitly fpread 
 His fwelling fails before the profp'rous gale. 
 Befides, that opulence, thou vainly gild'ft 
 With fpecious name of good, if fcann'd aright, 
 Is Heav'n's fliarp Vifitation to the fool. 
 See him the giddy round of riot tread, 
 And madly purchafe at a price immenfe 
 Want, fhame, difeafe, and heart-corroding grief : 
 Or fee him brooding o'er the facred heap 
 Unenvy'd by the Beggar whom he hates : 
 And then pronounce him happy if you can. 
 
 But
 
 PROVIDENCE OF THE SUPREME BEING. 11$ 
 
 But how this equal fcale upheld, thou cry'ft, 
 Wa;n, like the ruihing deep, Adverilty 
 Pours all its billows o'er the virtuous head ? 
 Stop thy complaints. God ever in the florin, 
 As in the calm, preildes. The Man, perhaps, 
 Thou pity 'II, draws his comforts from diilrefs. 
 That Mind fo poiz'd, and center'd in the good 
 Supreme, fo kindled with Devotion's flame, 
 Might with Profperity's inchanting cup 
 Inebriate have forgot th' all-giving Hand, 
 Might on Earth's vain and tranfitory joys . 
 Have built its fole felicity, nor e'er 
 Wing'd a defire beyond its fenfual ftye, 
 Grov'ling, impure, and level'd with the Brute. 
 
 Thus by th' appointment of that Poiv'r who weighs 
 What with our welfare, not our wifh, comports, 
 Our Blifs may be connected with our Woes. 
 Hence Graces, wither'd by too warm a beam, 
 May fpread and fiourifh in the dreary made : 
 And Pleafure, to voluptuous Guilt deny'd, 
 May bloom ambrofial from Affliction's thorn. 
 
 Too fliort is Reafon's line to found the depths 
 Of heav'nly wifdom ; rafti her cenfure too, 
 
 I 2 When
 
 Il6 PROVIDENCE OF THE SUPREME BEING, 
 
 When (he prefumes to cavil at His ways, 
 
 Who oft obliquely to th' intended goal 
 
 His fteady but meandring courfe direcls, 
 
 Makes Oppofites harmonioufly combine 
 
 His grand eventful counfels to mature, 
 
 That Man, by common notices unmov'd, 
 
 By Admiration may be taught to fear. 
 
 He, who this complex mafs of wonders call'd 
 
 From Chaos, and from darknefs launch'd thofe lights 
 
 That gild the fluid ether, oftimes bids 
 
 'Midft the well-temper'd ftrife of jarring wills 
 
 Order from tumult break, from evil good. 
 
 He reins the fury of the waves, and bounds 
 
 The rage of Man, and makes the friendly florm 
 
 Drive when he lifts the veffel into port. 
 
 Abafement by his guidance fhall exalt, 
 
 Difgrace ennoble, and Misfortunes blefs. 
 
 - See bafe ungen'rous Envy fweli the breafls 
 Of Ifrael's fons : fee Jofeph for a dream, 
 Typic of future greatnefs, doom'd to feel 
 The rigours of fraternal hate. And can 
 Such venom'd hate in kindred bofoms dwell ? 
 How lhall defencelefs innocence efcape 
 Impendent death, when favage Brethren lift 
 
 The
 
 PROVIDENCE OF THE SUPREME BEING. 117 
 
 The murd'rous fteel ? Prevailing nature melts 
 Reuben's foft heart, arrefts the bloody deed, 
 And heav'n-direaed Iflimaelites convey 
 To diftant climes the purchas'd fpoil, than all 
 Their fpicy wealth more precious. Pharian realms 
 Receive the facred charge, the Patriarch's hope. 
 Vanifii the clouds, the welkin brightens round, ; 
 Illufive profpeft 1 foon new woes fucceed : 
 A lovefick Mifcrefs fmiles, and Fortune frowns. 
 To flighted charms and womanifh revenge 
 Th' innoxious Youth falls an unpity'd prey, 
 And in a dungeon's gloom his pious foul 
 Pours to his God in pray'r, nor pours in vain. 
 For now the myfiic web of Providence 
 Gradual unfolds, fhades foften into light, 
 And on" th' admiring eye coherence dawns. 
 The rage of Brethren, and th' opprobrious fale 
 Confpire to realize his dream : the wife 
 Of Potiphar unconfcious weaves the meed, 
 And calumny to honour fmooths the way. 
 Quick fhifts the fcene : the dungeon for a throne 
 Is chang'd. The Hebrew next to Egypt's king, 
 In all the pride of regal pomp array'd, 
 Shines through the land of Nile rever'd, and lives 
 To cherifh Ifrael's drooping age, to pant 
 
 I 3 With 

 
 Il8 PROVIDENCE OF THE SUPREME BEING. 
 
 With filial tranfport on the Patriarch's breaft 
 Big with tumultuous jcy. His brethren round, 
 Sheaves of his dream, in marfhal'd order ftand, 
 And pay obeifance to his Sheaf, that rears 
 Its head aloft, and triumphs in its height. 
 
 Great is the Lord JEHOVAH, high above 
 The loftieft flight of raptur'd praife ; his throne 
 Is built on Equity's broad bafe ; his Arm 
 (Though oft invisible to mortal ken) 
 Is ever ftretch'd to prop the finking good, 
 Or crufh the wicked. Not a wheel amongft 
 Th' infinite orbs, which roll the fates of Man, 
 And Kingdoms in their rapid whirl, but glows 
 Diftiticl; with eyes, and in a meafur'd courfe 
 Harmonious verges to fome certain goal. 
 
 See ! the fond Mother takes her fad adieu, 
 And flow-receding cafts a tearful glance 
 Where floats the rufh-wove ark : to calm her grief, 
 To give her darling to her throbbing breaft 
 The Memphian princefs fpeeds, and (Heav'n fo wills) 
 Nurtures in Wililonvs lore the Youth ordain'd 
 Ifrael to free, and humjble Pharaoh's pride. 
 
 When
 
 PROVIDENCE OF THE SUPREME BEING. 11 
 
 When Judah totters on the brink of fate, 
 And guileful Haman meditates the death 
 Of blamelefs Mordecai, what hand can ward 
 The threaten 'd blow, and give the wiles to fall 
 Retorted on the Machinator's head ? 
 His Hand alone, who vindicates the Juft, 
 That plucks from Arrogance the boaftad plume, 
 And plants it on meek Virtue's brow. In vain 
 With ev'ry blandifhment the Per/i-in wooes 
 Sleep to his wakeful lid. The Volume's fpread, 
 Where the Jew's faithful fervices inroll'd 
 Rufh on the monarch's fight. Go, Haman, now, 
 And glory in thy ftratagems, condemn'd 
 To deck the triumphs of the Man thy hate 
 Mark'd for deflrudlion. To the regal feaft 
 Go, fhort-liv'd gueft. For know Death goes along 
 A reveller, and points the hidden fhaft. 
 Look from the palace ; fee Fate's engine rife 
 Tremendous, and extend its arms for Thee 
 Its cruel builder, and unpity'd load. 
 
 When artful Malice broods o'er dark revenge, 
 When ftern Oppreffion frowns, and Ills furround, 
 Let not the Good defpair, but reft fecure 
 Beneath AD ON AI's fhadowing wing. His Eye 
 
 I 4 Beholds,
 
 I2O PROVIDENCE OF THE SUPREME BEING. 
 
 Beholds, his out-ftretch'd Arm conduces their fteps 
 Througli Death's incircling horrors ; and when broke 
 Each feeble anchor, when die tenth wave rolls 
 Its gather'd ruin, plucks them from the deep. . 
 Nor let them murmur, though their way be oft 
 Perplext with briers, and with crags o'erhung, 
 But onwards prefs unfainting to the goal, 
 Where, to o'erpay their momentary toil, 
 Applauding Angels hold th' unwith'ring wreath 
 Of beatific Joy. From ardent lips 
 Let the fweet incenfe of melodious praife 
 Afcend to Him who vifits all his works, 
 But chief the fon of Man. 
 
 Pow'r inlinite, 
 
 Thou Giver, and Preferver of my being, 
 Who rul'ft all Caufes, govern'lt all Events, 
 O teach me ever to thy will refign'd 
 To bear rriy lot with patience, and efteem 
 That Beft which Thou ordain'ft. In weal or woe, 
 In health or ficknefs, let me ne'er forget 
 Thy Mercies : ev'n in thine affliclive rod 
 May I a Father's tendernefs adore, 
 Who chaftens but to heal, in wrath benign ! 
 Avert thofe ills that hover o'er my head, 
 And with thy fhield inconwafs all my paths. 
 
 Of
 
 PROVIDENCE OF THE SUPREME BEING. 121 
 
 Of eaithly goods that portion Thou affign 
 Which with my prefent and my future blifs \ 
 May beft accqrd ; and grant this humble ftrain 
 May be a prelude to that nobler fong, 
 Which by thy Grace, this dreary vale paft through, 
 My Soul, with brighter views of Providence 
 Illum'd, and kindling from a near accefs, 
 Shall chainit refponfive to th'Angelic Choin 
 
 ?*. & .Xk 
 
 ^ 
 
 DEAT-H.
 
 DEATH. 
 
 P O R T E U S, D. D. 
 
 M DCC LIX.
 
 DEATH. 
 
 JL* RIEND to the wretch, whom ev'ry friend fbrfakes, 
 
 I woo thee, DEATH ! In Fancy's fairy paths 
 
 Let the gay Songfter rove, and gently trill 
 
 The ftrain of empty joy. Life and its joys. 
 
 I leave to thofe that prize them. At this hour, 
 
 This folemn hour, when Silence rules the world, 
 
 And wearied Nature makes a gen'ral paufe ! 
 
 Wrapt in Night's fable robe, through cloyfters drear 
 
 And charnels pale, tenanted by a throng 
 
 Of meagre phantoms mooting crofs my path 
 
 With filent glance, I feek the fhadowy vale 
 
 Of Death ! Deep in a murky cave's recefs 
 
 Lav'd by Oblivion's liftlefs ftream, and fenc'd 
 
 By fhelving rocks and intermingled horrors 
 
 Of yew' and cyprefs' ihade from all intrusion 
 
 Of bufy noon-tide beam, the Monarch fit* 
 
 In unfubftantial Majefty enthron'd. 
 
 At
 
 126 DEATH. 
 
 At his right hand, nearefc himfelf in place 
 
 And frightfulnefs of form, his parent Sin 
 
 With fatal induftry and cruel care 
 
 Bufies herfelf in pointing all his flings, 
 
 And tipping every {haft with venom drawn 
 
 From her infernal ftore : around him rang'd 
 
 In terrible array and flrange diverfity 
 
 Of uncouth fhapes, ftand his dread Miniflers : 
 
 Foremoft Old Age, his natural ally 
 
 And firmeft friend : next him difeafes thick, 
 
 A motley train ; Fever with cheek of fire ; 
 
 Confumption wan ; Palfy, half warm with life, 
 
 And half a clay-cold lump ; joint-torturing Gout, 
 
 And ever-gnawing Rheum ; Convulfion wild ; 
 
 Svvoln Dropfy ; panting Afthma ; Apoplex 
 
 Full-gorg'd. There too the Peftilence that walks 
 
 In darknefs, and the Sicknefs that deftroys 
 
 At broad noon-day. Thefe and a thoufand more, 
 
 Horrid to tell, attentive wait ; and, when 
 
 By Heaven's command Death waves his ebon wand, 
 
 Sudden rufn forth to execute his purpofe, 
 
 And fcatter defolation o'er the Earth. 
 
 Ill-fated Man, for whom fuch various forms 
 Of Mifery wait, and mark their future prey ! 
 Ah ! why, All-righteous Father, didft thou make 
 
 This
 
 DEATH. 127 
 
 This Creature Man ? Why wake th' unconfcious duft 
 
 To life and wretchednefs ? O better far 
 
 Still had he flept in uncreated night, 
 
 If this the Lot of Being ! Was it for this 
 
 Thy Breath divine kindled within his breaft 
 
 The vital flame ? For this was thy fair image 
 
 Stampt on his foul in godlike lineaments ? 
 
 For this dominion given him abfolute 
 
 O'er all thy creatures, only that he might reign 
 
 Supreme in woe ? From the bleft fource of Good 
 
 Could Pain and Death proceed ? Could fuch foul Ills 
 
 Fall from fair Mercy's hands ? Far be the thought, 
 
 The impious thought ! God never made a Creature 
 
 But what was good. He made a living Man : 
 
 The Man of Death was made by Man himfelf. 
 
 Forth from his Maker's hands he fprung to life, 
 
 Frem with immortal bloom ; No pain he knew, 
 
 No fear of death, no check to his defires 
 
 Save one command. That one command (which flood 
 
 'Twixt him and ruin, the teft of his obedience,) 
 
 Urg'd on by wanton curiofity 
 
 He broke. There in one moment was undone 
 
 The faireft of God's works. The fame rafh hand 
 
 That pluck'd in evil hour the fatal fruit, 
 
 Unbarr'd the gates of Hell, and let loofe Sin 
 
 And Death and all the family of Pain 
 
 To
 
 128 P E A T H, 
 
 To prey upon Mankind. Young Nature faw 
 
 The monftrous crew, and fhook through all her frame. 
 
 Then fled her new-born luftre, then began 
 
 Heaven's chearful face to low'r, then vapours choak'd 
 
 The troubled air, and form'd a veil of clouds 
 
 To hide the willing Sun. The Earth convuls'd 
 
 With painful throes threw forth a briftty crop 
 
 Of thorns and briars j and Infect, Bird, and Beaft, 
 
 That wont before with admiration fond 
 
 To gaze at Man, and fearlefs croud around him, 
 
 Now fled before his face, ihunning in hafle 
 
 Th' infection of his mifery. He alone, 
 
 Who juftly might, th' offended Lord of Man, 
 
 Turn'd not away his face ; he full of pity 
 
 Forfook not in this uttermoft diftrefs 
 
 His beft-lov'd work. That comfort ftill remain 'd, 
 
 (That belt, that greateft comfort in affliction) 
 
 The countenance of God, and through the gloom 
 
 Shot forth fome kindly gleams, to chear and warm 
 
 Th' offender's finking foul. Hope fent from Heaven 
 
 Uprais'd his drooping head, and fhevv'd afar 
 
 A happier fcene of things ; the Promis'd Seed 
 
 Trampling upon the Serpent's humbled creft, 
 
 Death of his fting difarm'd, and the dank grave 
 
 Made pervious to the realms of endlefs day, 
 
 No more the limit but the gate of life. 
 
 Chear'i
 
 Chear'd with the view, Man went to till the ground 
 From whence he rofe ; fentenc'd indeed to toil 
 As to a punifhment, yet (ev'n in wrath 
 So merciful is Heaven) this toil became 
 The folace of his woes, the fweet employ 
 Of many a live-long hour, and fureft guard 
 Againft Difeafe and Death. Death though denounced 
 Was yet a diflant 111, by feeble arm 
 Of Age, his fole fupport, led flowly ort . 
 Not then, as finte, the (hort-liv'd fons of men 
 Flock'd to his realms in countlefs multitudes ; 
 Scarce in the courfe of twice five hundred years 
 One folitary ghoft went fhivering down 
 To his unpeopled fhofe. In fober ftate, 
 Through the fequefter'd vale of rural life, 
 The venerable Patriarch guilelefs held 
 The tenor of his way ; Labour prepar'd 
 His fimple fare, and Temperance rul'd his board. 
 Tir'd with his daily toil, at early eve 
 He funk to fudden reft ; gentle and pure 
 As breath of evening Zephyr and as fweet 
 Were all his flumbers j with the Sun he rofe, 
 Alert and vigorous as He, to run 
 His deftin'd courfe. Thus nerv'd with Giant Strength 
 He ftem'd the tide of Time, and flood the fhock 
 Of ages rolling harmlefs o'er his head, 
 
 * At
 
 At life's meridian point arriv'd, he flood, 
 And looking round faw all the vallies fill'd 
 With nations from his loins ; full well content 
 To leave his race thus fcatter'd o'er the Earth, 
 Along the gentle Hope of life's decline 
 He bent his gradual way, till full of years 
 He dropt like mellow fruit into his grave. 
 
 Such in the infancy of time was Man, 
 So calm was life, fo impotent was Death. 
 O had he but preferv'd thefe few remains, 
 Thefe fhatter'd fragments of loft happinefs, 
 Snatch'd by the hand of Heaven from the fad wreck 
 Of innocence primaeval 3 ftill had he liv'd 
 Great ev'n in ruin ; though fall'n, yet not forlorn j 
 Though mortal, yet not every where befet 
 With Death in every fhape ! But He, impatient 
 To be compleatly wretched, haftes to fill up 
 The meafure of his woes. 'Twas Man himfelf 
 Brought Death into the world, and Man himfelf 
 Gave keennefs to his darts, quicken'd his pace, 
 And multiplied deftruftion on mankind. 
 
 Firft Envy, Eldeft^Born of Hell, embru'd 
 Her hands in blood, and taught the Sons of Men 
 To make a Death which Nature never made, 
 
 And
 
 And God abhorr'd, with violence rude to break 
 The thread of life ere half its length was run, 
 And rob a wretched brother of his being. 
 With joy Ambition faw, and foon improv'd 
 The execrable deed. 'Twas not enough 
 By fubtle fraud to fnatch a fingle life, 
 Puny impiety ! whole kingdoms fell 
 To fate the luft of power ; more horrid {till, 
 The fouleil ftain and fcandal of our nature 
 
 Became its boaft. One Murder made a Villain, 
 
 Millions a Hero. Princes were privileg'd 
 
 To kill, and numbers fan&ified the crime. 
 
 Ah ! why will Kings forget that they are Men ! 
 
 And Men that they are Brethren ? Why delight 
 
 In human facrifice ? Why burft the ties 
 
 Of Nature^ that mould knit their fouls together 
 
 In one foft bond of amity and love ; 
 
 Yet ftill they breathe deftruclion, ftill go on 
 
 Inhumanly ingenious to find out 
 
 New pains for life, new terrors for the grave, 
 
 Artificers of Death ! Still Monarchs dream 
 
 Of univerfal Empire growing up 
 
 From universal ruin. Blaft the defign, 
 
 Great God of Hoils, nor let thy creatures fall 
 UnpitieJ victims at .Ambition's .ihrine.! 
 
 K 2 Yet
 
 1JZ rf E A T H, 
 
 Yet fay, fhould Tyrants learn at laft to feel, 
 And the loud din of battle ceafe to roar ; 
 Should dove-ey'd Peace o'er all the earth extend 
 Her olive branch, and give the world repofe, 
 Would Death be fdil'd ? Would health, and flrength, and' 
 
 youth 
 Defy his power ? Has he no arts in ftore, 
 
 No other fhafts fave thofe of war ? Alas ! 
 
 Ev'n in the fmile of Peace, that fmile which fheds 
 A heavenly funlhine o'er the foul, there bafks 
 That ferpent Luxury : War its thoufands flays, 
 Peace its ten thoufands : In th' embattled plain. 
 Though Death exults, and claps his raven wings,. 
 Yet reigns he not ev'n there fo abfolute, 
 So mercilefs, as in yon frantic fcenes 
 Of midnight revel and tumultuous mirth, 
 Where, in th' intoxicating draught conceal'd, 
 Or couch'd beneath the glance of lawlefs Love, 
 He fnares the fimple youth, who nought fufpe&ing 
 Means to be bleft But finds himfelf undone. 
 
 Down the fmooth ftream of life the Stripling dar& 
 Gay as the morn ; Bright glows the vernal fky, 
 Hope fwells his fails, and Fancy fleers his courfe j 
 Safe glides his little bark along the more 
 Where Virtue takes her ftand i but if too far 
 
 He
 
 DEATH. 133 
 
 He launches forth beyond Difcretion's mark, 
 Sudden the tempefi fcowls, the furges roar, 
 Blot his fair day, and plunge him in the deep. 
 O fad but fure mifchance ! O happier- far 
 To lie like gallant HOWE 'midft Indian wilds 
 A breathlcfs corfe, cut off by favage hands 
 In earliefl prime, a generous facrifice 
 To Freedom's holy caufe ; than fo to fall 
 Torn immature from life's meridian joys, 
 A prey to Vice, Intemperance, and Difeafe, 
 
 Yet die ev'n thus, thus rather periih ftill, 
 Ye Sons of Pleafure, by th' Almighty ftricken, 
 Than ever dare (though oft, alas ! ye dare) 
 To lift againft yourfelves the murderous fteel, 
 To wreft from God's own hand the fword of Jultice, 
 And be your own avengers Hold, ram Man, 
 Though with anticipating fpeed thou'ft rang'd 
 Through every region of delight, nor left 
 One joy to gild the evening of thy days, , 
 
 Though life feem one uncomfortable void, 
 Guilt at thy heels, before thy face defpair. 
 Yet gay this fcene, and light this load of woe, 
 Compar'd with thy hereafter. Think, O think, 
 And ere thou plunge into the vaft abyfs, 
 Paufe on the verge awhile, look down and fee 
 K 3
 
 Thy future man/Ion ? Why that ftart of horror * 
 From thy flack hand why drops th' uplifted fteel ? 
 
 Didft thou not think fuch vengeance muft await 
 The wretch, that with his crimes all frefh about him, 
 Rufhes irreverent, unprepar'd, uncall'd, 
 Into his Maker's prefence, throwing back 
 With infolent difdain his ehoiceft gift ? 
 
 Live then, while Heaven In pity lends thee life, 
 And think it all too Ihort to warn away 
 By penitential tears and deep contrition 
 The fcarlet of thy crimes. So fhalt thou find 
 Reft to thy foul, fo unappall'd malt meet 
 Death when he comes, not wantonly invite 
 His lingering ftroke. Be it thy fole concern 
 With innocence to live, with patience wait 
 Th' appointed hour ; too foon that hour will come, 
 Though Nature run her cpurfe ; But Nature's God, 
 If need require, by thoufand various ways, 
 Without thy aid, can ihorten that fhort fpan, 
 
 And quench the lamp of life. O when he comes> 
 
 Rous'd by the cry of wickednefs extreme 
 
 To Heaven afcending from fome guilty land 
 
 Now ripe for vengeance ; when he comes array'd 
 
 In all the terrors of Almighty wrath ; 
 
 Forth from his bofom plucks his lingering Arm, 
 
 And
 
 DEATH, 135 
 
 And on the mifcreants pours deftruftion down ! 
 
 Who can abide his coming ? Who can bear 
 
 His whole difpleafure ? In no common form 
 
 Death then appears, but ftarting into Size 
 
 Enormous, meafures with gigantic ftride 
 
 Th' aftonilh'd Earth, and from his looks throws round 
 
 Unutterable horror and difmay. 
 
 All Nature lends her aid. Each Element 
 
 Arms in his caufe. Ope fly the doors of Heaven, 
 
 The fountains of the deep their barriers break, 
 
 Above, below, the rival torrents pour, 
 
 And drown creation, or in floods of fire 
 
 Defcends a livid catajaft, and confumes 
 
 An impious race. Sometimes, when all feems peace, 
 
 Wakes the grim whirlwind, and with rude embrace 
 Sweeps nr^ons to their grave, or in the deep 
 Whelms the proud wooden world ; full many a youth 
 Floats on his watery bier, or lies unwept 
 
 On fome fad defart more : At dead of night 
 
 In fallen filence ftalks forth Peftilence : 
 Contagion clofe behind taints all her fteps 
 With poifonous dew ; no fmiting Hand is feen, 
 No found is heard ; but foon her fecret path 
 Is mark'd with defolation ; heaps on heaps 
 Promifcuous drop : No friend, no refuge near ; 
 
 K 4 All
 
 >30 D P A T p. 
 
 All, all is falfe and treacherous around, 
 
 All that they touch, or tafte, or breathe, is Death, 
 
 But ah ! what means that ruinous roar ? Why fail 
 
 Thefe tottering feet ? Earth to its centre feels 
 
 The Godhead's power, and trembling at his touch 
 
 Through all its pillars, and in every pore, 
 
 Kurls to the ground with one convulsive heave 
 
 Precipitating domes, and towns, and towers, 
 
 The work of ages. Crufli'd beneath the weight 
 
 Of general devaftation, millions find 
 
 One common grave ; not ev'n a widow left 
 
 To wail her fons : the houfe, that mould proteft, 
 
 Entombs its matter, and the faithlefs plain, 
 
 If there he flies for help, with fudden yawn 
 
 Starts from beneath him. Shield me, gracious Heaven } 
 
 O fnatch me from deftrudtion ! If this Globe, 
 
 This folid Globe, which thine own hand hath madq 
 
 So firm and fure, if this my fteps betray ; 
 
 If my own mother Earth from whence I fprung 
 
 Rife up with rage unnatural to devour 
 
 Her wretched offspring, whither {hall I fly ? 
 
 Where look for fuccour ? Where, but up to thee, 
 
 Almighty Father ? Save, O fave thy fuppliant 
 
 From horrors fuch as thefe ! At thy good time 
 
 Lei
 
 P P A T p. 
 
 Let Death approach ; I reck not let him but come 
 
 In genuine form, not with thy vengeance arm'd, 
 
 Too much for Man to bear. O rather lend 
 
 Thy kindly aid to mitigate his ftroke, 
 
 And at that hour when all aghaft I ftand 
 
 (A trembling Candidate for thy conipaffion) 
 
 On this World's brink, and look into the next ; 
 
 When my foul ftarting from die dark unknown 
 
 Cafts back a wifliful look, and fondly clings 
 
 To her frail prop, unwilling to be wrench'd 
 
 From this fair fcene, from all her cuftom'd joys 
 
 And all the lovely relatives of life. 
 
 Then Hied thy comforts o'er me ; then put on 
 
 The gentleft of thy looks. Let no dark Crimes 
 
 In all their hideous forms then ftarting up 
 
 Plant themfelves round my couch in grim array, 
 
 And ftab my bleeding heart with two-edg'd torture^ 
 
 Senfe of pad guilt, and dread of future woe. 
 
 Far be the ghaftly crew ! and in their ftead, 
 
 Let chearful Memory from her pureft cells 
 
 Lead forth a goodly train of Virtues fair 
 
 Cherilh'd in earlieft youth, now paying back 
 
 With tenfold ufury the pious care, 
 
 And pouring o'er my wounds the heavenly balm 
 
 Of confcious innocence. But chiefly, Thou, 
 
 foft-ey'd Pity once led down from Heaven
 
 To bleed for Man, to teach him how to live, 
 And, oil ! ftill harder Leffon ! how to die, 
 Difdain not Thou to fmooth the reftlefs bed 
 
 Of Sicknefs and of Pain. Forgive the tear* 
 
 That feeble Nature drops, calm all her fears, 
 Wake all her hopes, and animate her faith, 
 Till my rapt Soul anticipating Heaven 
 Burfts from the thraldom of incumbering clay, 
 And on the wing of Extafy upborn 
 Springs into Liberty, and Light, and Life. 
 
 HEAVEN
 
 E N; 
 
 A 
 
 VISION. 
 
 BY 
 J. SCOTT, M. A. 
 
 VfAW view TST^WTOV (ttv iffcteot, ty? ffoty&s TS v.cn 
 ftsetTac -/.an <KU.^ avO^wnrSf TeleAe^xoIa?, a/xva? ruv 
 ru avalw. PLATO* 
 
 M DCC LX.
 
 HE A V EN. 
 
 I. 
 
 JT ULL many a tedious hour, with care oppreH, 
 
 Stretcht on my wear}' bed, I wakeful lay, 
 Sad troublous thoughts, like hornets, ftung my breaft, 
 
 And brufht the dews of balmy fleep away. 
 Ah ! what avails, I cry'd with painful toil, 
 
 By Virtue's ftedfaft flar the bark to guide, 
 Far from * Ac R ASIA'S wily-wandring Me, 
 
 Where eafe and pleafure the frail heart divide, 
 If life's fhort voyage undiftinguifh'd tends 
 To darknefs, and the land where all forgotten ends ? 
 
 n. 
 
 Shall Worth lie hid in Sorrow's baleful made ? 
 
 And no" reward mall fufPring Goodnefs find, 
 While VICE triumphant lifts her pamper'd head, 
 
 -j- Nor hears- the fteps of Vengeance clofe behind ? 
 
 * S f infer' sT AIR? QUEEN, Book II. 
 ' f dntecidsntcm fce/e/lum deferuit Ptena, HoR,
 
 H2 HEAVE N. 
 
 Then take me, Pow'r of Beauty, to thy arms, 
 
 And lull, ah lull to peace my troubled foul ! 
 Difclofe, O God of Wine, thy purple charms, 
 
 I'll drown reflection in the mantling bowl ! 
 'Gairift wind, and tide, let Stoic dullnefs fail, 
 Be mine the calmeft fea, and Pleafure's brilkeft gale. 
 
 III. 
 
 Perifive I mus'd, 'till rofe the blufliing Morn, 
 
 And fpread her faffron mantle o'er the (Ides j 
 When pitying Mo R p H E u s fhook his opiate horn, 
 
 And flumbrous humours drown'd my weary 'd eyes j 
 Yet FANCY ftill awake, to footh my pain, 
 
 Sweet fcenes of joy in livelieft hue pourtray'd ; 
 She call'd forth all her bright ideal train, 
 
 And pleafing truths in myftic dreams convey'd : 
 Oh fail me not, thou fair enchanting Pow'r, 
 At Sorrow's grim approach, and Care's diftrefsful hour ! 
 
 IV. 
 
 Borne thro' the yielding air, methought I flew 
 To fome more blifsful clime, fequefter'd far 
 
 From this frail world, that juil appear'd to view, 
 Like the faint glimm'ring of a diflant ftar. 
 
 Deep
 
 HE A V E N. 143 
 
 Deep in the fea's encircling wave 'twas plac'd, 
 
 As gems in fdver ; hoary Ocean fmil'd 
 hear'd with the pleafmg fight ; and* from his hrcnll 
 
 Sent his fweet children, breezes frem and mild : 
 No clouds, nor darknefs, veil'd the chearful fcene, 
 Nor wintry blails defonn'd the ground's eternal green. 
 
 V. 
 
 T,o to the Weft a large and fpacious plain, 
 
 Where meet in concert, wood, and hill, and dale : 
 Brighter than all that mufe-led Poets feign 
 
 Of J.DA'S grove, and TEMPE'S hallow'd vale; 
 Tho' PENEUS there revolves hisf amber ftream, 
 
 And fuppliant DAPHNE fpreads her branching arm? ; 
 . Still trembling left the Sun's prolific beam, 
 
 Too fiercely wanton, blaft her vsi^-ia charms : 
 Would'il thou efcape ? Go, coy relefitleis raaid, 
 Go chufe foiae worfe retreat, fome left luxurious fhadc ? 
 
 VI. 
 
 There blooming groves, gay fmiling with delight, ' 
 From her fair womb fpontaneous Nature brings ; 
 
 Where percht on every bough, all richly dight 
 With painted plumes, fome J harmleis Siren 
 
 paxctfun vaffot-v tHt*eaibn etvfeti tvtp-nmvert 
 
 v$~uf t CALLIM. Amms purior eleftrc* Viae. 
 Nemorh Siren, inmxia Sire a. STRADA'SNIGHTIN.
 
 Pleas'd with the wild notes Zephyr flits unfeeftV 
 And on his mufky wings the found conveys ; 
 While trickling foft, each vary'd paufe between; 
 
 The murm'ring riv'lets roll their filver bafe ; 
 Winds, waters, birds in feemly fort agree, 
 And am'rous ECHO blends the liquid melody. 
 
 VIT. 
 
 Nor there alone was charm'd one fcanty fenfe i 
 
 The loaded trees ambroiial fruitage bear ; 
 The * weeping fhrubs their fpicy gums difpenfe,- 
 
 Whofe fragrance frefh-imbalms the buxom air } 
 Thoufands of flow'rs their filken webs unfold, 
 
 Amarants, immortal amarants arife, 
 Thefe beaming bright with f vegetable gold, 
 
 And thefe with azure, thefe with Tyrian dyes 5 
 There laughing fvveetly red the rofes glow, 
 While from their breathing fouls celeilial odours flow, 
 
 viii. , 
 
 But hark, a voice foft-warbling (hikes' my ear ! 
 " Behold, O man, fair VIRTUE'S ample meed"; 
 
 Behold thefe Yadiant plains, this ftar-girt fphere, 
 " By righteous JOVE her portion are decreed! 
 
 * Flet tamen, et tepida manant ex Ai-bore Gutttf, OVID. MET, 
 
 Mould
 
 HEAVEN. 145 
 
 " Mould not, ah mould not then in idle cell, 
 
 " But ftrive thefe rapt'rous Mansions to attain ; 
 " Here all the wife, the brave, the virtuous dwell, 
 
 " Eternal ages * free from care, and pain : 
 " Here in ELYS IAN feats, their calm abodes, 
 " Live in communion bleft, f with heroes, and with gods !" 
 
 IX. 
 Eaftward to this methought a difPrent fcene v 
 
 Of equal beauty, charm'd my raptur'd fight : 
 Wide fpacious lawns with fwelling hills between, 
 
 And groves of blifs, and gardens of delight. 
 There lotes, and palms their copious branches twine,. 
 
 And over-arching form delicious bow'rs ; 
 There gufh neftareous rills of dulcet wine, 
 
 And honey'd ftreams revolve their milky ftores ; 
 Frefh-bleeding myrrh, and caffia flied perfume, 
 Ananas fwell with fweets, and wild pomegranates bloom. 
 
 X. 
 Faft by a fount, whofe J fpicy wafers glide 
 
 In am'rous mazes, on the velvet ground 
 With blufhing flow'rs all goodly beautify'd, 
 
 A fmiling troop of Virgins dance around ; 
 
 * Aoctf.fvv vtjj.bvla.1 audta. PlND. 
 J- Tlafoe. pet T,M.JOS wv. Ibid. 
 
 % Called by the Arabic Writers Zenxebll, and promifed by Ma- 
 homet to all the Faithful. 
 
 L Fairer
 
 Fairer than DELIA'S filver-buflun'd train, 
 When erft, LA DON A, by thy lilied banks, 
 
 Or cool * Eu ROTA'S laurel-fringed plain, 
 
 To breathing lutes they tript in feemly ranks ; 
 
 And fairer, CYPRIS, than thy wanton quire, 
 That melt the foul to love, and kindle fierce defire. 
 
 XI. 
 Their eyes, f like pearls within the Ihells conceal'd, 
 
 Beauteous and black ; their lips with rubies vye ; 
 On their fair cheeks, with white and red anneal'd, 
 
 What thoufand dimpling Smiles in am'oufli lie ! 
 See, fee they point to yon embow'ring made, 
 
 Where cool gales fan their odorif 'rous wings, 
 And FLORA'S frefheft, fofteft couch is fpread ; 
 
 The whiles fome one this lovely ditty fings ! 
 Thro' all my veins what thrilling transport flew 
 To hear the ne&ar'd words, dropping like honey'd dew ! 
 
 XII. 
 " Hafte, gentle youth, for lo, the way is plain ! 
 
 " Hafte, gentle youth, andhear the PROPHET'S call! 
 '* Thefe are the joys that true Believers gain, 
 
 " Immortal joys, that never know to pall. 
 
 * ' In Eurotte Rlpis 
 
 Exereet Diana Cier'os Vi R c. 
 
 ^ See Sales Koran) Chapter the 56th. 
 
 " Come
 
 ** Come then, ah come, thy wear)' limbs recline 
 " On filken beds of rofes fweetly ftrow'd, 
 
 '" Where to thy touch compliant bows the vine, 
 " All faint and lab'ring with the lufcious load ; 
 
 *' Where Nymphs of Paradife their charms reveal, 
 " And with their am'rous fpoils thy greedy eyes regale !" 
 
 xm. 
 
 She ceas'd And molten with excefs of joy, 
 
 Voluptuous Hope was bufy in my breaft : 
 When lo, fwift-darting from th' extremeft iky, 
 
 With Seraph-plumes, an Angel ilood confeft ! 
 A pure immortal Crown adqrn'd her head, 
 
 Of gold inwove with jewels ; in her hand 
 The Book of Life, and Mercy was difplay'd, 
 
 With ruddy drops of dying Martyrs ftain'd ; 
 Her eagle-eyes were quick, and paffing bright, 
 Yet beam'd ferene, and mild, with Heav'ji's celeftial light, 
 
 XIV, 
 
 "And O fond foolim man," {he cryM, " forbear 
 
 " Idly to glote on forms fo light, and vain ! 
 -" What are thefe jocund fcenes, but empty air, 
 -*' The fleeting coinage of a phrenzy'd brain ? 
 
 L 2 Yet
 
 148 HEAVEN. 
 
 Yet ev'n in Thefe, as * darkly thro' a glafs, 
 
 " Some faint, fome glimm'ring view the eye may gairt 
 
 *' Of thofe unmingled joys, that far furpafs 
 " Whatever of blifs the wit of man can feign; 
 
 " Thofe pure Delights, that flow in flreams divine, 
 *' Where thy imperial Tow'rs, O heav'nly SALEM, mine !' 
 
 XV, 
 " For know, my Son, that they whofe worth is try'd, 
 
 f As gold by fire, by great and virtuous deeds, 
 " Soon as thie carnal fetters are unty'd, 
 
 *' That chain the foul, and ftript thefe mortal weeds j 
 " Haply mall foar, in Robes of Glory clad, 
 
 " To heav'nly Manfions, bright Abodes, prepar'd 
 f f Ere the foundations of the deep were laid, 
 
 " Or the firm pillars of the earth were rear'd j 
 ' Ere GOD his golden compafTes employ'd, 
 f And markt this beauteous World on Chaos daik, and 
 " void. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 5? There mail they live, O happy, happy fpiritsr! - 
 
 ". There mail they live remov'd from all the cares ? 
 ' And thoufand ills, that feeble flefh inherits : 
 " No greedy Want, nor wayward Luft, that tears 
 
 * i Corinth, chap. xiii. 12. f Prov. viii. 6. 24. 25. 27, &c. 
 
 " With
 
 HEAVEN. I}9 
 
 *' With vip'rousrage the breaft from whence it fprung, 
 " Their deep-embofom'd peace fhall e'er torment ; 
 " But hymning Aveet, the Angel Troops among, 
 
 " Their undifturbed lays of pure content, 
 " The fmiling hours immortal lhall employ, 
 In trance of holy eafe, or extacy of joy. 
 
 XVII. 
 
 11 Then mall their eyes, from cloudy films fecure, 
 
 " With lightning-glance unmeafur'd fpace behold j 
 < And all the thoufand Stars, that pave the floor 
 
 " Of Heav'n, with orient pearl, or living gold ; 
 f< Then floating thro' the boundlefs Deep of air, 
 
 " An azure fea, like gems of richeft'hue, 
 " Myriads of Worlds thick-fcatter'd lhall appear, 
 
 " With all their bright Inhabitants to view; 
 " Their aftive minds fhall traverfe, quick as thought, 
 '*' Creation's ample fields, the range 'twixt GOD and 
 " nought. 
 
 XVHI. 
 
 And oh whatftreams of mafic Aveet, and clear, 
 Shall drown in deep delight their raptur'd fouls '! 
 
 *' Ay me, in vain to Man's unpurged ear 
 
 fl Their heav'nly Notes each tuneful planet rolls i 
 L 3 " Av
 
 " Ay me, in vain with foftly-thrilling voice, 
 
 " * Thro' ev'ry land they hymn their Maker's Praife> 
 
 " While Choirs of young-ey'd Cherubims rejoice, 
 " And to their golden Harps mellifluous Lays 
 
 " Attuning, Holy, holy, holy, fing, 
 O Lord, Almighty God, the Saints' eternal King ! 
 
 XIX. 
 
 " But not in vain the tuneful planets raife 
 
 " To pure etherial fouls their voice divine ; 
 *' Nor yet in vain their great Creator's praife 
 
 " Do gladfome choirs of young-ey'd Cherubs join ; 
 " No blefTed Sp'rit but hears the facred fong, 
 
 " And wakes his lyre melodious part to bear 
 " In the fweet fymphony ; while all the throng 
 
 " Of angels, and arch-angels, nay, the ear 
 " Of God delighted liftens to the ftrains. 
 " In Heav'n, and heav'n-born minds fuch rapt'rous 
 " concord reigns ! 
 
 XX. 
 
 '* But where, ah where can glowing tints be found 
 " To paint the charms of f SIGN'S facred place, 
 
 " j Where C H R i s T the Lamb in radiance fits enthron'd, 
 " The || lively Image of his Father's Grace ? 
 
 * Pfal. xlx, 3, 4. f Heb. xii. 22. J Pfal. ii. 6. || Heb. i. 3. 
 
 " O
 
 " O Flow'r of love ! O * glorious Morning ftar ! 
 
 " O -j- Sun of Righteoufnefs, whofe healing wings 
 *' Brought life, and peace, and mercy from afar ! 
 
 " From Thee the light, thou beaming Fountain, 
 
 " fprings, 
 
 " That guides poor mortals in their weary way, 
 Thro' black Amiaion's night, to Pleafure's endlefs day ! 
 
 XXI. 
 
 '* JESUS ! and didft thou leave thy Bow'rs of joy? 
 
 " And didft thou leave thy Father's dear embrace, 
 ' Content with agonizing pangs to die 
 
 " For man's forlorn, rebellious, linful race? 
 " What blifs to hear the high myilerious ftory, 
 
 " By all the Prophets, all th' Apoftles fung, 
 " And noble army' of Martyrs, crown'd with glory j 
 
 *' Where bleft, the fix-wing'd Seraphins among, 
 " They drink immortal, from thy rapt'rous fight, 
 Conceivelefs draughts of Love's ineffable delight ! 
 
 XXII. 
 
 * Hail, faints of light! who once the patient train 
 " Of filent Sorrow, thro' the thorny road 
 
 ' Of mis'ry toil'd, and unappall'd by pain 
 
 " With Pilgrim-feet the long, long journey trod ! 
 
 * Rev. xxii. 16. f Mai. iv. 2. 
 
 1-4 O taught
 
 7/2 'HEAVEN. 
 
 " O taught by them, thou man of earth, fuftain 
 " With firm unweary'd arm the dang'rous fight! 
 
 " The * Prize of thy High-calling dare to gain, 
 " f Victorious Palms, and robes of fpotlefs white; 
 
 " So in | the Book of Life thy nfame mall mine, 
 " And Heav'n's eternal joys, and tranfports all be thine." 
 
 XXIII. 
 Scarce had me {poke, when that |j Cherubic car, 
 
 Inftindl with foul, and thofe felf-moving wheels, 
 That whirPd the holy Sage, from CHE BAR far, 
 
 Appear'd : my breaft the rufhing impulfe feels. ! 
 I fee, I fee thy glitt'ring turrets rife, 
 
 Celeftial SALEM, all of lucid gold, 
 Inlaid with gems of thoufand, thoufand dyes ! 
 
 And lo, the everlafting gates unfold 
 Their fl doors of pearl, and o'er my aching fight 
 Full tides of glory flow, and ftreams of living light ! 
 
 XXIV. 
 Of Light furpafling far thy glimm'ring ray, 
 
 (More bright, more clear, more glorious, more divine) 
 Tho' dreft by thee, ** O golden Eye of Day, 
 
 In gaudy robes the fparkling diamonds mine ; 
 
 * Phil. iii. 14. f Rev. vii. 9. J Rev. iii. 5. |j Ezek. i. 
 Rev. xxi. 1 8, 19. f[ Rev. xxi. ai. 
 ** n jfti7Ea? pfa$ /3^^foi'. SOPH. 
 
 Tho
 
 HEAVEN. 153 
 
 Tho' yon fair Moon to thee her laftre owes, 
 
 Gilding with borrow'd light the mountain's b'row; 
 
 And IRIS fteals from thee each tint, that glows 
 In the gay forehead of the fhow'ry Bow : 
 
 Faint is thy feeble blaze, O beauteous Sun '. 
 Such peerlefs beams appear from Truth's eternal throne. 
 
 XXV. 
 See thro' the ftreets, * like liquid jafper clear, 
 
 The Fount of life in mazy error flows ! 
 Thro' the bright f Cryftal finds of gold appear, 
 
 And heaps of pearJy grain ; while blooming grows, 
 On either bank of dainty flow'rs profufe, 
 
 The Tree of Life fuperior o'er the reft, 
 Whofe teeming branches neclar'd fruits produce ; 
 
 J Twelve various fruits of fvveetly-vary'd taile, 
 From ev'ry leaf || falubrious dews exhale, 
 And pure elixirs breathe in ev'ry balmy gale. 
 
 XXVI. 
 Lo there, diffus'd along the facred brink, 
 
 Angelic choirs replete with love and joy, 
 Conceive their God, and from his prefence drink 
 
 Beatitude paft utt 'ranee ! There they lie 
 On flow'ring beds of balfam, caffia, nard, 
 
 And myrrh, a wildernefs of rich perfumes ; 
 Embalm'd they lie, like that Arabian bird, 
 
 'Midft od'rous fhrubs, and incenfe-breathing gums, 
 * Rev. xxi." ii. } Ibid. J Rev. xxii, z, j] Ib4,
 
 Whofe life fprings recent from the fun-born fire, 
 While clouds of fpicy fmoke in bluifh wreaths afpire. 
 
 XXVII. 
 But fpare, O fpare me, Heav'n ! my fainting foul 
 
 Sickens with blifs too great for mortal fenfe ! 
 Come, o'er my limbs thy quick'ning waters roll, 
 Life-giving itream, and all thy balm difpenfe ! 
 And thou, fair Tree, the fource of all our woes, 
 (That bloom'd fo fatal erft in EDEN'S glade, 
 Tranfplanted fmce to Heav'n) thy friendly boughs 
 ,; \ Extend, and wrap me in thy browneft made ! 
 
 O veil me from the LAMB'S too glorious fight, 
 From Majefly's full blaze, infufferab'y bright ! 
 
 XXVIII. 
 Trembling I vvak'd with fweet excefs of joy, 
 
 And on the wings of Sleep, more fwift than wind, 
 Away the fickle, fond delufions fly ; 
 
 Yet leave their Fairy-fleps the trace behind : 
 Hear then, ye fainted Myriads, from your (pheres, 
 And gently beam your kindlieft influence down ; 
 Lift, lift my thoughts above life's groveling cares, , 
 
 To Joys fublime, and Virtue's glorious Crown ! 
 O guide my Virgin-Soul the high Abode 
 To reach, the HEAV'N OF HEAV'NS, where reigns 
 th' eternal GOD ! 
 
 PURITY
 
 PURITY OF HEART, 
 
 BY 
 J. SCOTT, M. A. 
 
 ^ot Stowi, ii>$t -n wr,<yvi T ay9tf. ANTONINUS. 
 
 Sic oiwttuhtm eft, tanquam in confpeflu <vi<vamus ; fie cogi* 
 tandum, tanquam aliquis in Peffus intimum infyicert 
 ?<$*> et pote/l* SENECA. 
 
 M DCC LXI,
 
 ( 157 ) 
 
 PURITY OF HEART. 
 
 I 
 
 N that rude climate where the Alps arife> 
 And mountains heap'd on mountains threat the flues, 
 From one prolific hill their wat'ry ftores 
 The Rhone, the Rhine, the Po, the Danube pours : 
 Thro' different lands their different courfe they bend ; 
 Now prone in rapid catara&s defcend, 
 Boil, foam, and roar, the trees impetuous tear, 
 And grate hoarfe thunder on the diftant ear j 
 Now Healing gently thro' their oozy bed, 
 O'er fmiling plains their beauteous plenty fpread, 
 With ne&'rous dews the purple vineyards feed, 
 Bid olives rife, and harvefts crown the mead, 
 Fair Commerce all her canvafs wings unfold, 
 And fly to diftant funs, and mores of gold : 
 
 Thus from the Heart, that feat of joy, and woe, 
 In various ftreams our various Paffions flow : 
 Now, loud as Etna's fmouldring torrents roar, 
 They burft impetuous ; tides of reeking gore 
 
 Whelm
 
 1^8 PURITY OFH1ART, 
 
 Whelm in promifcuous ruin heaps of flain, 
 And dreary delegation fweeps the plain ! 
 Now gentler grown, with current fmooth and mild, 
 They chear the barren, footh the thirfty wild, 
 By Reafon guided, checkt, impell'd^ produce 
 In Life's fair plan aJl Ornament and Ufe. 
 
 This fruitful fource, thus rightly underftood, 
 Of gneateft evil-, or of greateft good, 
 Whence all their hues our tinftur'd Paflions draw, 
 O watch, preferve it pure, with facred awe ! 
 Can ftreams be clear from fountains dark and foul ? 
 Or Aftions good, corrupt, and bafe the Soul ? 
 No, Lucius, no fair Virtue trembling flies, 
 Or mould fhe;ftay, her boafted beauty dies ; 
 Devotion turns to farce, and fenfe and fpirit 
 Are what ? the venal Statefman's grand demerit. 
 
 When dear to Virtue, to his country dear, 
 Accomplimt POLL to charm'd the public ear, 
 Firm as a rock 'midft wav'ring fenates flood,' 
 And boldly ftem'd corruption's venal flood, 
 What .crou Js admir'd his wit and manly fenfe J 
 What crouds ador'd his patriot eloquence ! 
 'Tis paft, 'tis gone and lo the wife, the brave, 
 The virtuous POLL 10 is a titled {lave, 
 
 Blum,
 
 PURITY OF HEART. I $<) 
 
 Elufh, Freedom, blufli ! thy fav'rite Son is fold, 
 And love for Thee fubmits to love for gold ; 
 Dead to all fame, and to his parts unjult, 
 He makes God's gift a pander to his luft. 
 
 Not fo CAMILLUS, BRITAIN'S dear delight, 
 Firm to his triut, inflexible from right ; 
 Born to fapport his drooping country's caufe, 
 Maintain her freedom, and fecure her laws, 
 To guide the frail machine with ceafelefs care, 
 Each crazy fpring, and tott'ring wheel rerjair. 
 Bleft Statefman, that can Attic wit combine 
 With Roman ftrength, and Eloquence divine ; 
 Can Attic wit, and Roman ftrength employ, 
 To blaft the foes of heav'n-born Liberty ! 
 In vain Ambition fpreads her tinfel charms ; 
 And Pleafure woos him with extended arms, 
 Drawn by no Party's devious glare aftray, 
 Thofe wand'ring fires, that glitter to betray, 
 Up Virtue's fteep afcent the Patriot toils, 
 And meets his due reward in B R i T A i N 's fmlles. 
 
 Say what 'twixt POLLIO'S and CAMILLUS' part 
 The diff'rence makes ? I'll tell you, friend die Heart : 
 Be This the Patriot's pride, with this uncrown'd 
 Wit is a jeft, and Eloquence a found ; 
 
 i This
 
 l6o P. U R I T Y OF HEART. 
 
 This too the Saint's delight unvvarm'd within 
 Pray'r is mere gabbling, fan&ity is fin. 
 
 Conftant at Church AVARO prays fo loud, 
 His noify zeal confounds the gaping croud ; 
 With hands uprais'd, and heav'n-proje&ed eyes, 
 Full thrice a day he fmites Ixis breaft and iighs : 
 Diflembling wretch, with heart fo prone to evil, 
 A mere machine, a ftopwatch to the Devil ! 
 Will Nature's awful GOD fo j.uft, and wife, 
 Whofe inftant glance thro' all creation flies, 
 Pervades each Movement of our inmoft fouls, 
 Where thought impelling thought continual rolls, 
 Pleas'd with fuch off'jings view with partial Eye 
 Thy fpecious form, and well-feign'd fan&ity ? 
 No he beholds thee, Wretch, tho' wrapt in pray'r, 
 A Wolf difguis'd, a painted Sepulchre j 
 Regards no more thy cant, and godly whine, 
 Than yon dumb ftatue, on the marble ihrine, 
 Whofe hands are feen in holy rapture clos'd. 
 And ffedfaft Eyes to heav'n alone difpos'd, 
 Pray Ys fenfelefs image, where no foul within 
 Speaks thro' die form, and animates the mien. 
 When all the breaft is pure, each warm defire 
 Sublim'd by holy Love's etherial fire, 
 
 On
 
 PURITY OF HEART. l6l 
 
 On winged words our breathing Thoughts may rife, 
 
 And foar to heav'n a grateful facrifice : 
 
 Not fo, my Friend, when carnal Paffions reign, 
 
 And grofter afts of lin the Heart diftain ; 
 
 Our fouls all clotted by contagion grow, 
 
 And brood, and grovel in the dull below : 
 
 Like ling'ring Ghofts, that loath, as fables fay, 
 
 To leave the body, haunt their kindred clay. 
 
 But ah how few a firm, and faithful band, 
 Th' a/faults of warring Paffions can withftand ! 
 With whirlwind-force they now the Heart aflail, 
 Now with furprize, and crafty feints prevail, 
 Betray the fort, thro' Friendmip's fair difguife, 
 Till half-confenting vanquim'd Virtue dies. 
 For ev'ry Vice to Virtue is ally'd, 
 And thin partitions their weak bounds divide : 
 To the pale Mifer, bent with fordid pain, 
 And brooding, harpye like, o'er ill-got gain, 
 His fav'rite Vice the garb of Virtue wears, 
 And dreft by paflion hcneft Thrift appears : 
 'Tis Nature's law, voluptuous CLODIO cries, 
 Steaming- from ftews, and brothel revelries ; 
 'Tis Nature's law, decrepid HIRCUS fwears, 
 Love-fick, and lewd, at more than feventy Years : 
 M
 
 l6i PURITY OF HEART. 
 
 What, PUB LI us, made thy gentle foul defpife 
 The ftrifteft bonds, and deareft charities ? 
 Rous'd thy young blood to more than civic ftrife, 
 And arm'd thy hand againft thy Sov'reign's Life ? 
 The Daemon Difcord rofe in CATO'S form, 
 And blew the trump to freedom's falfe alarm ; 
 He caught the found, and, mad with patriot pride, 
 In faction's curfed caufe the rebel dy'd. 
 
 Thus the fond heart, by fome dear paffion fway'd, 
 Frail and corrupt is foon to fin betray'd ; 
 Vice by degrees a firm poffeffion gains, 
 And o'er the willing Soul defpotic reigns : 
 Dreadful no more the meagre hag appears, 
 Purfu'd by doubts, and harrow'd up with fears. " 
 Trickt out in lavifti ornaments fhe fmiles 
 A dang'rous Circe fraught with charmful wiles. 
 When fome lone Traveller, from Ontario's Ihore, 
 Hears Niagara's rufhing Cat'rafts roar^ 
 Appall'd he ftands, with chilling horrour pale, 
 Or flies impetuous to fome diftant Vale, 
 Where prone beneath ithe Myrtle's od'rous (hade 
 Peaceful and calm may reft his aching head j 
 Not fo the native hind by cuftom brave, 
 Carelefs-he hears the foaming Surges rave, 
 
 Views
 
 PARITY OF HEART, 163. 
 
 Views the wild Scene with firm and fleady brow, 
 And cleaves in fport the madding Waves below ; 
 Thus when at firft from Virtue's path we ftray, 
 How (hrinks the feeble heart with fad difmay ! 
 More bold at length, by pow'rful habit led, 
 Callous and fear'd the dreary Wilds we tread, 
 Behold the gaping Gulph of fin with fcorn, 
 And plunging deep to endlefs death are born. 
 O fad eftate, defilement bafe and foul, 
 When Vice lethargic fpreads o'er all the Soul $ 
 When Confcience, that impartial judge alfign'd 
 By Heav'n to check, approve, condemn the mind, 
 Like BUFO lleeps, and leaves poor Virtue's caufe 
 To a brib'd Jury, and to tyrant laws, 
 To lufts corrupt and vile, that wrong to right 
 Prefer, and, blind with rage, call darknefs light. 
 
 How bleft are they, my Friend, whofe Hearts are free 
 From Vice, and Paffion's grofs Impurity ! 
 Whofe mental Eyes ideal truths behold ; 
 And purg'd from films and tinctures of earth's mold 
 Pervade with lightning-force that bleft abode, 
 Where veil'd in brightnefs reigns th' eternal GOD. 
 So * LOWTHER lives No taint of modifh fin 
 Defiles the Image of his God within j 
 
 * Sir WILLIAM LOWTHER, of Swillington, in Yorkftire, Bart. 
 
 M 2 Far
 
 164 PURITY OF HEART. 
 
 Far from the ipotlefs temple of his mind 1 
 
 Each bafe affection flies, and leaves behind ^ 
 
 Religion, and a love for all mankind : J 
 
 Of manners gentle and of truth fevere, 
 
 Tho' plain not ruftic, courtly yet iincere ; 
 
 Benevolent like heav'n, when all around 
 
 It drops down fatnefs on the weary ground : 
 
 No coftly dainties on his board are {pread, 
 
 'Tis luxury to him the poor to feed ; 
 
 Superior far to all the pomp of drefs, 
 
 He cloaths the fhiv'ring Beggar's nakednefs ! 
 
 A friend to every want, and every Woe, 
 
 Nor fcarce to Vice when in diftrefs a foe ; 
 
 So LOWTHER lives Oh may he long remain 
 
 The pleafmg fubject of my moral Strain ! 
 
 And when at length he quits the well trod flage, 
 
 Retire the joy, and glory of his age ; 
 
 As. Come fam'd Aftor from the Scene withdraws. 
 
 While crouds tumultuous thunder out applaufe, 
 
 Or Grecian Vi&or, when the race was done, 
 
 The Crown of glory claim'd, by Virtue won. 
 
 Oh could I live like him, and thus depart, 
 What fober home-felt joy would fvvell my heart I 
 No love of fame mould then difturb my breaft, 
 Nor this, nor that Man's cenfures break my reft : 
 
 Malice
 
 PURITY OF HEART. 165 
 
 Malice in vain a cloud of duft fhould raife, 
 And Envy nip the tender buds of praife : 
 Pleas'd would I view the placid Scene within, 
 (Thro' a clear Medium, undifturb'd by fin) 
 Where all the Virtues to perfection *ife, 
 And bear their blufliing glories to the ikies : 
 Bleft in Oblivion leave the World behind, 
 And till with care the garden of my mind, 
 
 M 3 AN
 
 AN 
 
 HYMN 
 
 TO 
 
 REPENTANCE. 
 
 BT 
 J. SCOTT, M. A. 
 
 tav u _ ; K _^ 
 
 $ 
 
 TJJS T Ji 
 
 . FRAGM. PYTH. 
 
 M DCC LXII. 
 
 AN
 
 I 169 ] 
 
 A N 
 
 HYMN TQ REPENTANCE. 
 
 B 
 
 ASE World, begone ! Thy falfe delufive Joys 
 No more frail lead my feet aftray 
 Hence to the young, the vain, the gay, 
 
 And proudly deck them with thy tinfel toys ! 
 Nor flatt'ring Hope, nor flavifh Fear, 
 * Thofe Nails that to this mortal Frame 
 Fix the fond Soul, my Breaft mall tear ; 
 No thirft for Pleafure, Wealth, or Fame, 
 
 Tempt me to quaff thy charmed Cup, whofe tafte 
 pnmolds the Form divine, and turns the Man to beail, 
 
 Bafe World, begone ! Caft on a friendly Shore 
 No more I dread thy defart deep, 
 Where fvvift the ruftiing Tempefts fweep, 
 
 And mad Winds rave, and boiling Billows roar : 
 
 * O yet.? r/db^r? * a 
 PLUT,
 
 J7 REPENTANCE. 
 
 Behold no more, with wild Affright, 
 The Rocks clofe-lurking for their prey, 
 The black Clouds burfting on my Sight, 
 While round the livid Lightnings play ; 
 
 fave us, fave us ! Hark the doleful Cry, 
 
 All mortal Strength is vain, they faint, they fink, they die ! 
 
 Betimes efcap'd, while yet breathe Summer-gales, 
 While yet on Ocean's tranquil breaft 
 The little Halcyon builds her neft, 
 
 1 fhorten all my Oars, and furl my Sails ; 
 
 O Wretch profane, fure triple Brafs 
 Girds thy proud heart, O Wretch profane, 
 To let the doubtful Autumn pafs, 
 Yet tempt the Dangers of the Main ; 
 Carelefs of Home the blifsful Port defpife, 
 Tho' fcowl the low'ring Heav'ns, & Storms of Winter rife \ 
 
 For me, I hang the votive Tablet high, 
 
 And to this lone fequefter'd Vale, 
 
 With Care, and weary Watches pale, 
 Retire, and mufe upon Eternity. - 
 
 Come, Goddefs of the tearful Eye, 
 
 With fblemn Step, demure, and flow, 
 
 Thy full heart heaving many a Sigh, 
 
 And Clouds of Sadnefs on thy brow j 
 
 ps
 
 R E P E H T A N C f. t5?J 
 
 Oh come with Afhes fprent, in Sackcloth dreft, 
 And wring thy piteous hands, and beat thy plaintive 
 breaft. 
 
 Such was thy form, O heav'n-defcended Maid, 
 When at her deareft Saviour's feet, 
 Bedew'd with tears, and Odours f\veet, 
 
 Poor Magdalene repentant wept, and pray'd : 
 She wept, and fvviftly to the Sky 
 The Steam like hallowtd Incenfe rofe ; 
 When lo her Sins of Scarlet dye 
 Grew white as Wool, or Moantain-fnows : 
 
 The Morning Stars with Joy triumphant rang, 
 And all the Sons of God their loud Hofannas fang \ 
 
 Come then, my Magdalene, thy Aid impart, 
 O'er all my Soul thy balm diftufe, 
 And foften with the fleecy dews 
 
 Of penitential Tears my ilubborn heart : 
 Teach me to fearch with honeft fkill 
 The Wounds that rankle in my breaft, 
 To curb my Lulls, correft my Will, 
 And chufe, and cleave to what is be ft ; 
 
 Teach me to urge, with never-ceafmg care, 
 The force of holy Vows, and Violence of Prnv'r. 
 
 Ok
 
 172 HKPENTANCI. 
 
 v Oh come, my Magdalene, but leave behind, 
 Leave far behind thy frightful Train j 
 Grim Penance, with an iron chain 
 
 Wont his gall'd Legs at ftated hours to bind : 
 A barefoot Monk the fiend appears, 
 With Scourge in hand, and beads, and book, 
 His Cheeks are furrow-worn with tears, 
 Sunk are his Eyes, and lean his Look : 
 
 O wretched Fools, beguiling and beguil'd, 
 Can God be pleas'd to fee his Image thus defil'd ? 
 
 Drive too away that wild diflrafted (prite 
 
 Enthufiafra, and that foul fiend 
 
 Remorie, that loves his Heart to rend, 
 And fting himfelf to Death with fcorpion fpite : 
 
 But chief that Tyrant of the Soul, 
 
 That curfed Man of Hell, Defpair 5 
 
 See, fee his livid Eye-balls roll ! 
 
 What canker'd Teeth, what grifly Hair ! 
 Anguifh, and trembling Fear his Confcience quail, 
 Ami all Hell's damned Ghofls the fhrieking Wretch aiTail 5 
 
 O fly with fiich terrific Forms as thefe, 
 
 And feek the weary wakeful Bed, 
 
 Where the pale Murderer is laid 
 A ghaftly Prey to Horror and Difeafe : 
 
 Or
 
 ttEPENTANCE. 173 
 
 Or where th' Oppreflbr voids his breath, 
 Deaf to the Widow's bleeding Cries ; 
 Or from a bofom black as Death, 
 The Plunderer of his Country fighs ; 
 Where Libertines expire, and Atheifts lie 
 Harrow'd with doubts and fears, and curfe their God, and die ! 
 
 See worn with Pain LORENZO, once fo gay ! 
 
 The Pow'rs of Nature are at ftrife, 
 
 And the dim walled Lamp of Life 
 Juft feebly lifts an intermittent ray. 
 
 Oh mad, oh worfe than mad to leave 
 
 To the fhort Mercies of an hour 
 
 Eternal Joys ! What would he give, 
 
 What thoufand Worlds, if in his pow'r, 
 For time mifpent, to watch, to fait, to pray, 
 And wafh with contrite tears his ihameful Sins away? > 
 
 Poor Wretch, in vain ! Before his frantic Eyes 
 
 Th' inexorable Tyrant ftands, 
 
 And arm'd with Scorpions in their Hands, 
 The fury-Terrours of his confcience rife ! 
 
 What agonizing Pangs he feels ! 
 
 What Tortures ! What convulfive Throes ! 
 
 O fall, ye Mountains, fall, ye Hills, 
 
 Preferve and hide him from his Woes ! 
 
 ' Have
 
 l?4 REPENTANCE. 
 
 Have Mercy, Heav'n ! Thy Succours, JESU, bring, 
 Retriumph o'er the Grave, and draw Death's poignant 
 fling. 
 
 Save me, what Shrieks ! And is there no faint Ray, 
 No glimm'ring from that light ferene, 
 That gilds Death's melancholy fcene, 
 
 And guides the Soul on her eternal Way ? 
 Hark the laft Pang ! He faints ! He dies ! 
 His Spirit burfts forth, and fhiv'ring pale 
 To fome black horrible Manfion flies, 
 There to defpond, and howl, and wail, 
 
 Till Nature's wreck, till from the mrivel'd Skies 
 The laft dread Trump lhall call, " Ye Dead, awake, 
 " arifei" 
 
 O come betimes> fweet Penitential Pow'r, 
 
 And from fuch Soul-diftrafting care, 
 
 Such chilling Horrours of Defpair, 
 Preferve me, fhield me, at Death's trying Hour ! 
 
 From Guilt of black enormous Dye 
 
 My breaft is free ; I ne'er betray'd 
 
 A Virgin's eafy Faith ; no murd'rous Lie 
 
 In fecret Whifpers have convey'd, 
 Nor with the Mufe's everliving ftore 
 Embalm'd the carrion corpfe of Wealth, or Pride, or Pow'r. 
 
 From
 
 REPENTANCE. 175 
 
 From Truth's ftraight Path, and Virtue's thorny Way, 
 Have wandring Meteors falfe, and vain, 
 The Glare of Honour or of Gain, 
 
 Thro' Dirt, and Danger drawn my fteps aftray ? 
 Have I rejected Reafon's Aid, 
 And giv'n to headlong Lufts the Rein ? 
 Or prone beneath the myrtle Shade 
 Of Indolence and Pleafure lain ? 
 
 Have I the tribute of a Tear deny'd, 
 When Want unheard hath wept, and injur'd Orphans cry'd ? 
 
 Good Heav'h forbid ! Yet ftill within my Soul 
 
 Some leprous Spots of Guilt remain : 
 
 Oh could I cleanfe each groffer Stain 
 In Jordan's Tide, or Siloa's healing Pool ! 
 
 Fond Thought ! More falutary Pow'rs 
 
 In Sorrow's fwelling ftream refide, 
 
 Than Siloa's Pool at Hated Hours 
 
 Could boaft, or Jordan's cleanfing Tide ; 
 This from the Soul marp Humours can repelj 
 Cure ev'ry feftring Wound, and Death's dread Torments 
 quell. 
 
 Here many a beauteous Pearl of coftly Pricej 
 
 And many a Gem of purer ray 
 
 Than all Golconda's Pvlines difplay, 
 Lie hid in Darknefs far from vulgar Eyes : 
 
 For
 
 .76* REPENTANCE. 
 
 For Thefe the cloifter'd Virgin pines, 
 Torn from each pleafing tender care ; 
 For Thefe her placid Breaft refigns 
 To midnight Grief, and midnight Pray'r j 
 Poor, haplefs Maid ! May Heav'n her Vows regard, 
 And all her wakeful Pains with endlefs blifs reward !, 
 
 -*y.<vj <- k -. T.4 9,- 
 
 Go fly, ye filken fons of Pleafure, fly t 
 
 And barter for fantaftic Joys, 
 
 Spurn'd by the Great, the Good, the Wife, 
 What Afia's Monarchs have not Worth to buy I 
 
 Chace ev'ry cloudy Thought away, 
 
 Whofe ferious Gloom o'ercafts the Soul j 
 
 To Rapture give Life's little day, 
 
 And bid full Tides of Pleafure roll ; 
 Go where the loofe-rob'd Forms of wild De/Ire 
 Expand their Wanton Charms, and prefs the buxom Choir ! 
 
 ? Tis Madnefs all ! Be mine unknown to Sin* 
 And Paffions bafe, fome lone Retreat, 
 Some hoary Hermit's mofs-grown Seat, 
 
 Far from the guilty World's tumultuous Din* 
 Whether in HAGLEY'S facred Shades, 
 Where Infpiration breathes around, 
 And by the much-lov'd Thefpian Maids 
 Their LVCY'S plaintive Bard is crown 'd; 
 
 Or
 
 REPENTANCE. 177 
 
 Or HA CKF ALL'S Bow'rs, and woodland Walks invite, 
 Where Nature's various Charms, all rude of Art, delight. 
 
 O Lawns ! O Hills ! And O thou pleafant Vale, 
 
 Where URE'S meandring Waters roll ! 
 
 What penfive Pleafures foothe my Soul, 
 What tender melancholy Thoughts prevail 
 
 At thy Approach ? While am'rous Jove 
 
 On Flora's bofom deigns to play, 
 
 Still let me haunt thy blifsful Grove, 
 
 Where all the rural Graces ftray ; 
 There bid the folly-fetter'd World adieu, 
 And Wifdom's filent Steps with holy Zeal purfue. 
 
 
 
 There Contemplation dwells, that hoary Sire, 
 And points the way that leadeth right 
 To thofe moft glorious Manfions, bright 
 
 With burning Stars, and everliving fire : 
 There, on her filver Anchor ftaid, 
 Sweet Hope to Heav'n direfls her Eyes ; 
 
 While Faith, that eagle-fighted Maid, 
 Her far forefeeing Tube applies, 
 
 Whofe mighty pow'r reveals the bleft Abode, 
 Jn beatific Trance, where Saints enjoy their God, 
 
 N THE
 
 THE 
 
 REDEMPTION. 
 
 BY 
 
 JOHN HEY, M. A- 
 M SCC LX1II, 
 
 N 2 CONTENTS.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 J 
 
 N order to form a well- grounded judgment concerning any 
 tnyjhrious do firing 'which is faid to have been reveafd by 
 God, the firft natural jiep feems to be, to examine whether 
 the Body of Laws and Dofirines of which it is a part, is 
 really of divine original-, or only of human invention ; if 
 the concurrence of external and internal testimony makes it 
 more probable that it is the former than the latter, the next 
 ftep is to examine c joith all pojfible caution and candour : , e what 
 is clearly faid in the books Jo reveal 1 d concerning fuch doflrine. 
 This being done, ths only neceffary enquiry which no<w re- 
 mains is, whether any objections can be offer d of fuch 
 jirength as to invalidate the former tejlimony : if not, ths 
 ivhole is to be received for truth. This then is the general 
 plan of the following exe> cife ; and in purfuance of it ', the 
 Author, after hinting at the modejly, plainnejs, moderation 
 and opennrfs to ccnviclion with which fubjefts of this nature 
 ought to be contemplated and difcujs^d, (line 20 29) by 'way 
 of introduction, firjl points out the external evidence of Re- 
 velation (30), then the internal (43), with the improbabi- 
 lity of its coming only from intelligent creatures fuperior to 
 
 Man (8;)- The prejudice from its appearing Jlrange is 
 
 next Jbeivn to Ite a groundlefi one (97) and the conjtjlency 
 of the whole flory both with iff elf and the known circum- 
 Jiances of Mankind, aprefumption in its favour (105). 
 
 The rejl of the Contents are as follow. *The Hi_ftory of 
 the. Fall (115), its conftquences \ natural evil (i o), 
 tncral (200), the reajonable fla>s conftquent upon the 
 lat,er (213), the gradual preparation of the world for 
 the coming of the Mejfiah (z2^}, kis life, fujferings^ 
 N 3 , exultation,
 
 exaltation, nvith the benefits of them to men (235), tilt 
 ejfiftance of tbe Holy Spirit (5 i-o). 
 
 Reflexions naturally following from ike perufal of this 
 hijiory of Mankind gratitude and obedience due to Gtfd 
 (326 347) Indifference (whether mm look for Happinefs 
 in conference of the Redemption or not, prefumptuous (343)-. 
 and dangerous (353) *'W relations cannot be reveal' d 
 ivithout impojing new obligation* (361) Repentance and 
 care fubfequent to an offence infujficient to take avoay its 
 guilt or punijhment (372) ; two inftances (377). Our 
 ignorance concerning the method how the Juferings of Chrift 
 redeem us from our fins r no objection to the divine original of 
 the Go/pel HiJJory (386) ; on the contrary fuch ignorance 
 rather to be expected. \~ Because our knowing how they 
 effefted thaf end does not feem likely to ftnfwer any purpcft 
 to beings in a Jlate of trial r or to open any new practical 
 duties (390). 2. Becaufe there are other general Laws 
 of Providence, bejldes thofe by tuhich our Redemption is 
 effefted, which ive are ignorant of i and nuhicb at the 
 fame time it is more likely ive JhouU under/land than thofe 
 (399)* 3* Becaufe our Redemption is a Syftem, and 
 therefore^ as we fee it only in part, <we can fee none of it 
 
 completely (417) J fivo inftances (429). In Syflems i<.e 
 
 can judge of the connexion between means and end only by 
 experience an inftance (446). The uni--verf / prevalence 
 of facrifces over the world a prefumption in favour of tie 
 propriety and efficacy of the Chrijiian facrifce (464). The . 
 way to lejjfcn the ignorance complain d of i-s to finely tie 
 fcriptures ; the probability of this ignorance continuing till 
 nue come to kno<vu more of the mifery <vuhicb ivg efcafe ly 
 the Death of Chrift, and of the happiness 'which we are 
 to obtain {475)- ift Objeii<on, concerning the pre- 
 vention of the Fall, of no Force to prove the Hiftory of 
 the Redemption an human contrivance (488). zdOb- 
 
 jefiicn,
 
 jeflion, concerning the length of time taken up in efftfling 
 the Redemption^ and the number of injlruments employ'd > 
 equally weak (535).' as a!fo the ^d and lajt Objection* 
 concerning the injujlice of the innocent Jujf'ering for the 
 guilty (556). 
 
 Conclufmn. At the day of judgment all irregularities 'will 
 le corrected, and moreover will appear to befo y to every one 
 concern d (598}. 
 
 N4 THE
 
 ( 18$ ) 
 
 THE 
 
 REDEMPTION. 
 
 W H O M (hall the bard that dares of themes to fmg 
 
 Such as th' Angelic Choir in wonder mute 
 
 Vainly * revolve, whom fhall the bard invoke ? 
 
 He trembles while he dare*. Eternal Spirit ! 
 
 Whom fhall he call but thee ? Thou think'ft not fcorn 
 
 To make thyfelf a lowly habitant 
 
 In the mean cottage of the human breafi, 
 
 When Purity has been thy Harbinger : 
 
 Come then, and lead the Virtues in thy train ; 
 
 Aljot to each her office ; ceafelefs guard 
 
 Still let them hold around this earth-born heart, 
 
 And watch with clofelt glance its languid pulfe* 
 
 And purge the burfling humors as they flow, 
 
 Left Vice or Ignorance ihould prompt a lay 
 
 To ftain with foul difgrace the ways of Heav'n, 
 
 But
 
 1 86 R E D M P T I O K, 
 
 But above all do thou, Humility, 
 
 Come from thy chofen place remote ; thine eyef 
 
 Downcaft advance, quicken thy loit'ring ftep,- 
 
 And myftic dew cf Caution fprinkle round : 
 
 The empty word myfterious erafe ; 20 
 
 The curious pride that ruflies with bold Hep 
 
 Into the awful counfels of Heav'n's King, 
 
 Check ; nor allow the gairim paint cf Art. 
 
 O may the ftrains glide even, uniform, 
 
 Far diff'rent courfe from Fancy's light cafcade ; 
 
 Unruffled by the ftorms of Cruelty 
 
 Gender'd in Perfecution's gloomy cave : 
 
 Free may they flow, tranfparent, uncongeal'd 
 
 By th' icy breeze of Infidelity. 29 
 
 Heard ye that voice ? Sure 'twas the voice of Heav'n : 
 In mild, majeftic ftrains it pierc'd my ear, 
 While Nature trembled at th' exalted found 
 Ev'n from her inmoft frame ; what ailed thee 
 That thou didft tremble ? That ev'n thou, proud Sea, 
 Retiredft back with flight precipitate, 
 Heap'd into monflrous mountains Chaos-like ? 
 Why from the thirfty breaft of flinty rock 
 Gum'd the refrefhing Stream ? Why, fell Difeafe, 
 Thy dreary habitations didft thou quit ? 
 Andvthou, O Grave, ope thy voracious Jaw, 
 
 Yielding
 
 REDEMPTION l8-7 
 
 Yielding thy firm-feiz'd prey (unwonted gift) 
 
 At the dread found ? 'Twos fure die voice t>f Heav'n. 
 
 And now on adamantine tablet fee 45 
 
 Engrav'd in characters indelible 
 Th' important embafly ; ye Learned, read r 
 And tell us did the vaft, ftupendous chain, 
 Deliver'd by the great Creator erfl 
 Into the hands of Nature, and fince held 
 By her with grafp unfhaken, burft its hold 
 Obedient to fome noxious Spirit of air, 
 (If true, how paffing ftrange !) only to cail 
 Still thicker darknefs round our filmy eyes ? 
 Or is the meflage of a kindlier fort ? 
 Difplays it fcenes fuch as from human eye 
 Malice would hkle for ever ? Say, ye Learn'd^ 
 Its Laws how frarn'd ? Steal tliey with wily art 
 Fair-promifmg into th' unwary breaft, 
 And there diffufe their pois'nous juices round, 
 Firft pleating, then deftroying ? Or proclaim they 
 Firil trial, then reward ? Tend they to blefs 
 The brutal appetite, or purer mind ? 
 Whom do they claim their Author ? Him who mads 
 And will'd us happy ? Speak, O ye that gaze 
 latent upon the dazzling adamant ! 
 Behold they fmile propitious ! and lo, now 
 
 With
 
 "aftS <* E t M P T i o tf. y 
 
 With nod benign they prompt our timid fteps 
 To-jom their labours, and with ftudious eye, 
 Trace out the treafures of the facred page* 
 
 Here may I ftand infix'd ! in rapt'rous awe 
 Collecting the bright rays of truth that beam 
 From ev'ry -point refiillefs : narrow orb ! 
 O that thou didft avail thyfelf t' expand, 
 And catch the blaze of each illuftrious beam ! 
 That thy refracting. powers could quench this glare, 
 And give to ev'ry image that thou form'ft, 
 Grace of diftinclnefs ! But it may not be. 
 
 Yet much is clear : yes, num'rous are the rays 
 
 That dart inftrudion on this weakly fight, 
 
 And mark the truths to Man of chief import, 
 
 And light him on to human happinefs. 
 
 Here may I ftand infix'd ! until this mind 
 
 Is fatiate with pure wifdom from above ; 
 
 And till this heart imbibes the gen'rous warmth 
 
 That brooks no limit of benevolence. 
 
 'Tis Heav'nly all.! no fpirit of human mould, 8c 
 
 Grofs and impure, could dare fuch lofty flights 
 Ev'n on Imagination's waxen wings. 
 Come then fuch tidings from the fpirits of air f 
 Vain thought ! the g?od obey their Maker's will ; 
 
 Far
 
 REDEMPTION. iSj 
 
 Far diff'rent tafk from fp reading to the eye 
 Of wa 'id 'ring mortals, meteors of deceit ; 
 And never did malignant Daemon joy 
 To fhew all worlds the fount of human blifs, 
 And wave the enfigrss of his own defeat. 
 Ah no ! 'tis Heav'nly all 1 
 
 Here read we then the flory of our race : 
 Strange wond'rous tale ! yet is it therefore falfe ? 97 
 Surmife of narrow mind ! ev'n truth is flrange 
 If now it firft appear to human view, 
 Or if 'tis but illumin'd partially, 
 Here bright and there obfcure ; did now this hand 
 Flrft move, the Sun firft rife, that plant firft grow, 
 Wou'd not all view them with aftonifhment ? 
 But is the fignet of Heav'n's gracious King 
 Imprefs'd on error ? Truth and Falfehood's dregs io 
 Can they Incorporate in one friendly mafs ? 
 Ah no ! fcarce ere can Falfehood with itfelf 
 Form a confidence ; and 'twixt that and truth 
 There is a ftrong repulfive faculty, 
 That fpurns th' attempt of mixture fo impure, 
 Here read we then the Story of our Race : 
 But read with cautious fear ; left Falfehood fly 
 Cloath'd in Conjecture's captivating guub, 
 Win us unwary to her foul embrace. 
 
 Form'd
 
 I^O REDEMPTION. 
 
 Form'd from the dufl. the Parent of mankind 1 1 5 
 
 Poffefs'd each faculty by Heav'n decreed 
 For ufe or ornament of Ma a : no want 
 He knew ; no imperfection he perceiv'd -, 
 Save what all things endued with confcious fcnfe . 
 Muft ever feel ; dependence on their Lord, 
 The firft eternal Being : wholefome food 
 Was his repaft ; not chos'n, as by his Sons, 
 After experiment where Danger lurks 
 And frequent Death ; but vegetating free 
 Within that fpace wh.ere his unarmed foot 
 Trod with fecurity the harmlefs turf, 
 And gather'd as the voice of Heav'n enjoin'd. 
 Far, fure, muft be Difeafe from this bleft fcene. 
 And Wearinefs and wan Infirmity ; 
 Yet was the human body moulded erft 
 Of Matter, ftiil divifible ; whofe parts, 
 Knowing nor fenfe nor felf-conne&ing pow'r, 
 Time foon had moulder'd into native duft, 
 Had not the word of the Creator bid 
 That Tree arife, whofe falutary fruit 
 Convey'd Refreihment with perfe&ion big, 
 Preferving pow'rs obnoxious to decay, 
 In the full vigour of immortal youth. 
 Difference of good and ill for man to know 
 Was needlefs fure, while with the fearlefs eye 
 
 Of
 
 REDEMPTION, 191 
 
 Of an obedient fon, he might look up 
 
 To the Almighty Father of his race, 
 
 And claim his guidance ; to that Heav'nly Friend 
 
 He might appeal, whofe all-perceiving ken 
 
 Diftance deceiv'd not, number ne'er confus'd, 
 Who faw all qualities of all things : Whence 
 
 To Man fo favour'd, cou'd there e'er arife 
 
 Temptation to do evil ? Whence a caufe 
 
 Why one fenfation he fhou'd e'er conceal, 
 
 Why caution or protection he fnou'd ufe ? 
 
 No ; 'twas in naked purity he rov'd, 
 
 Needing nor Art's concealment nor defence. 
 
 Led by the filken cords of Heav'nly Love, 
 
 He trod the paths of Safety ; yet not bound 
 
 In iron chain of dire Neceffity ; 
 
 For confcious Liberty ftill fmil'd within, 
 
 And rais'd the heart-felt glow of felf-applaufe 
 
 At each obedient aft : 'twas Liberty, 
 
 Not as of late time, harraffing the foul 
 
 With everlafting doubt ; impelling oft 
 
 In various paths ; paths terminating all 
 
 In thickeft clouds of drear obfcurity ; 
 But to one only doubt 'twas all conjin'd ; 
 Whether the rank of mortals new-create 
 To God their guide Ihou'd conftantly appeal, 
 Or Man himfelf ihou'd be the guide of Man. 
 
 O fatal
 
 jg2. REDEMPTION. 
 
 O fatal Curiolity and Pride, 
 
 (Fatal tho' rais'd by fuch bewitching arts 
 
 That Candour pities, while ftern Juftice blames,) 
 
 Ye made the hazardous, th' important Choice ! 
 
 Yet had the ear of Man imbib'd this threat 
 
 In unfufpeded force : (for knows the heart 
 
 Sufpicion, unexperienc'd in deceit ?) 
 
 < The fruit of Life mall ne'er bedew thy lips 
 
 If fuch thy choice" 'twas Mercy, gracious Heav'n, 
 
 Pronounc'd this fentence 'gainft Man's firft revolt : 
 
 Mild was the Law that will'd but to' recall 
 
 A voluntary gift ; no other ill 
 
 Enfuing, fave what from the choice itfelf 1 80 
 
 Flow'd of neceflity. -Yet, O juft God ! 
 
 In what o'erwhelming torrents does it flow ! 
 
 The beams of Heav'nly light ftrike not his eye ; 
 
 He wanders loft in Danger's thickeft maze, 
 
 His only guide a faint and glimmering lamp : 
 
 At ev'ry turn fee Mifchief fudden ftart, 
 
 While oft her Remedy in deepeft made 
 
 Shuns ev'n th' exploring eye of Diligence. 
 
 How frequent are his falls ! th' unnotic'd ftep 
 
 Scarce ever fafe ; th' experience ev'n of Age 
 
 Of weak avail, to tread the maze unhurt. 
 
 Jow fee this Lord of earth proteft his head 
 
 From elements created for his good ; 
 
 And
 
 REDEMPTION. 193 
 
 And now the impulfe of his nature check, 
 
 Till Time informs him, whether, on the whole, 
 
 It tends to Mis'ry or to Happinefs. 
 
 Behold him, or envelop'd in Diftruft, 
 
 Or running into ever-prefent ill, 
 
 Productive foon of endlefs diffidence. 
 
 But the grand fource of Mis'ry ftill remains 200 
 
 Unnctic'd : When the all-creative Pow'r 
 Into exiftence call'd the race of Man, 
 Relations beautiful were form'd 'twixt him 
 And certain modes of action ; proper, meet 
 To make him happy, and to be the teft 
 Of his obedience ; confonant to thefe 
 He ftill had afted under God his guide ; 
 But fince Ambition fnatch'a the dang'rous rein, 
 Eager to drive o'er arduous paths unknown, 
 What Sun has feen thefe Laws inviolate ? 
 What Man can ftrike the pure unconfcious breaft ? 
 
 And yet, prefumptuous reas'ner, wilt thou fay 213 
 No ill mail follow ? Wherefore then thefe Laws ? 
 Or can that ill be adequately paid 
 To men yet fubjedl to perpetual falls ? 
 Incredible ! Hence fee a length of woe 
 To which no bounds appear ; ftretch ere fo far 
 
 Q The
 
 194 REDEMPTION. 
 
 The aking eye of Fancy, ftill there frowns 
 The threat'ning florm of mifery beyond ; 
 Its gloom ftill heighten'd by the awful truth, 
 Th' indifputable truth, that God isjujl. 
 But read again the Story of our race. 
 
 Scarce had this revolution of our fate 224. 
 
 Left us in horror of the thickeft night, 
 When Mercy 'gan to dart a twilight beam, 
 And gave to Man a faint and diftant hope, 
 That the bright Sun of righteoufnefs would rife, 
 And diffipate this gloom of black Defpair. 
 And now the rays of confolation glance 
 With growing luflre through th' illumin'd air ; 
 Till ev'ry eye, caught by the orient beams, 
 Expectant turns towards the refplendent Eaft, 
 To view the glorious brightnefs of his riling. 
 
 The Son of God is born ; in form of Man 235 
 
 He paffes through the changes of our life, 
 And fpotlefs, bears th' infirmities of guilt ; 
 Republifhes that ancient law of Heav'n 
 Which Man was firft ordained to obey j 
 And though difguis'd, impair'd, disfigur'd, clog'd, 
 Difplays it in its genuine purity, 
 And all its native comelinefs of form. 
 
 His
 
 REDEMPTION. !$$ 
 
 His fteps are prompted by Benevolence, 
 His glare of greatnefs foften'd by the made 
 Of mild deportment ; from his modeft lips 
 Expires th' incenfe bland of Heav'nly Truth. 
 But, O great Lord of all ! what piercing fcenes 
 Now fnatch my eye impetuous o'er the page ! 
 Mis'ry at ev'ry glance ! O quicker far 
 Than cold Expreffion's pace it darts along : 
 O Treachery ! Ingratitude ! blind Scorn ! 
 What havock do ye make ! Bleft innocence ! 
 How doft thou groan beneath thofe dreadful pangs 
 Which Guilt that only caus'd, mould only feel ! 
 But foft ! ev'n Mis'ry, fo eventful, wills 
 To be recorded, nay, and ponder'd o'er 
 With thought deliberate. Shall Aftonimment, 
 Or Gratitude or Pity fway the breafc, 
 While we again perufe the tragic tale > 
 
 The Son of God, a voluntary Viftim, 
 Spotlefs himfelf, to buy devoted Man, 
 To reinftate him in his loft domain, 
 To give for prefent, future pow'r o'er Death, 
 To ope the friendly portal of Repentance, 
 And guide the tott'ring ftep of Piety 
 Through her long pilgrimage, to certain blifs, 
 Dies ! In confuficn fhrink each tow'ring thought 
 
 2 Each
 
 196 REDEMPTION. 
 
 Each luftful appetite, each wild defire ! 
 Affliction, tliou may'ft raife thy drooping head, 
 Thou, Mis'ry, fmile ! unmoving is your moan 
 While Man's Redeemer hangs upon the Crofs. 
 
 But let not grief, though from the tender heart 
 It burft refiftlefs, flop th' important taflc ; 
 Perufe we ftiil the ftory of our race. 
 Such are the virtues of this Victim flam : 
 Yet virtues not promifcuoufly beftow'd ; 
 On thofe alone deriv'd in full extent 
 Whofe fteady truft can fpurn the prefent good, 
 And wait the meed of dim Futurity ; 
 Whofe humble mind, carelefs of felf-defert, 
 On him can fix its perfevering hopes : 
 Hopes, not vain Fancy's fabric, light as air, 
 Burfting, like bubbles, on a near approach j 
 But founded on firm Reafon's folid rock : 
 For lo, the fon of Man from the cold grave 
 Triumphant rifes ; haft thou now a doubt 
 Whether this great, ftupendous facrifice 
 Avails to draw the pois'nous fting of Death ? 
 He rifes ; not to drag a tedious life 
 'Midft mortal frailties, but ere long to fpring 
 From this grofs earth, and claim a purer air : 
 At the right hand of Majefty on high
 
 fcEDBMPTION. 197 
 
 To Tit, with never-fading glory crown 'd ; 
 
 His name, throughout Creation's ample range, 
 
 Far above ev'ry othef name extoll'd, 
 
 Of Being that exifts on Earth's domain, 
 
 Or through the fathomlefs abyfs of Heav'n. 
 
 Touch'd with a feeling of infirmities, 
 
 Such as deprav'd Humanity laments, 
 
 With ceafelefs interceffion there he pleads ; 
 
 Perfects our wretched facrifice of pray'r 
 
 And frail obedience ; 'fore the throne of God 
 
 OiPring them up with the accepted claim 
 
 Of his prevailing Merits : gives our tears 
 
 The wond'rous efficacy to blot out 
 
 The ftains of Guilt, indelible before ; 
 
 And waits the round of Time to judge the World, 
 
 And introduce the honeft Penitent 
 
 Into the ceafelefs glory of his Lord. 
 
 " But fure in Eden's grove God was the guide 3 10 
 ' Of wand'ring Man ; and mall th' anointed Son 
 " Only in part reftore the charter loft 
 *' By difobedient choice of our firft Sire ?" 
 
 To ftrike thee dumb, read here the Spirit of God 
 From Heav'n defcending, dwells in dome of clay; 
 In mode far paffing human thought, he guides, 
 
 O 3 Impells,
 
 198 REDEMPTION. 
 
 Impells, inftru&s : intenfe purfuit of Good 
 
 And cautious flight of Evil he fuggefts, 
 
 But in fuch gentle murmurs, that to know 
 
 His Heav'nly voice, we muft have done his will ; 
 
 Such dictates only Liberty obeys ; 
 
 Th' undoubted voice of Heav'n a guide unapt 
 
 For beings now experienc'd in ill, 
 
 And doom'd to walk the wild, perplexing paths 
 
 Of conftant Trial and Uncertainty. 
 
 -: i;>-^ 
 
 Such is the wond'rous ftory of our Race i $26 
 
 -Proftrate thyfelf, O Man ! With lowly heart . 
 And wonder-clofed lips paufe think revolve I 
 Think what thou a.rt, and that the great Supreme 
 Has deign'd to viiit thine infirmities. 
 Think of that tie which binds thy Nature's laws ; 
 What facred magic muft pervade each link, 
 When. all the pow'rs of Heav'n and Earth are mov'd 
 At its difunion ! O with horror think 
 Of each rebellious action or intent : 
 For now thou know'ft how evil unforefeen, 
 May flow in changelefs tenor, ev'n from Laws 
 Promulg'd by Wifdom and Benevolence. 
 But thanks be to the Father of mankind, 
 Who op'd this avenue to real blifs, 
 Remov'd each gloomy made of nat'ral fear, 
 
 And
 
 REDEMPTION. J 99 
 
 And on a folid bafe eftabliflvd Hope, 
 
 Pointing the way to Immortality ! 343 
 
 Is there the Man , who heiitates to join 
 
 This fong of gratitude ? Exifts there one, 
 
 Blindly prefumptuous, who dares to claim 
 
 From Juflice his deferred happinefs ? 347 
 
 Is there, that with a fenfelefs difregard 
 
 Cafts the cold eye of Indolence along 
 
 This facred Tablet ? carelefs if he draw 
 
 The living water from this purer fource, 
 
 Or from the troubled wells of his Forefathers ? 
 
 If thou, my friend, art fuch, O hear the voice 353 
 
 That fhouts to wake thee from thy fatal dream : 
 
 Think with what cries the partner of thy Soul 
 
 Would rend the air, if on the narrow brink 
 
 Of yon tremendous rock, he. faw thee dance 
 
 With heedlefs mirth : O think thou hear'ft them now ! 
 
 Would it reflore thy matter 'd limbs to plead 
 
 Thy difregard of danger ? But from whence 
 
 This carelefs eafe ? Does the great Lord of Keav'n 361 
 
 Reveal the nice Relations of thy State, 
 
 Regardlefs of the Duties which enfue ? 
 
 Are thy Redeemer and thy Heav'nly Guide 
 
 Made known, to be neglc&ed or defpis'd ? 
 
 Sooner (hall Sophiftry pervert my mind 
 
 To think that harden'd wretch of Heav'n approv'd, 
 
 O 4 Who
 
 2OO REDEMPTION. 
 
 Who leaves his Parent, aged and infirm, 
 
 To crawl through life in unfupported woe ; 
 
 Or yields the helplefs Orphan, or the Poof 
 
 To the Oppreffor's unrelenting fangs. 
 
 Thou fay 'ft that forrow will draw down the eye 372 
 
 Of Mercy from above : that future care 
 
 Will foon extenuate the paft offence : 
 
 But from what region do the magic pow'rs 
 
 Of Fancy conjure up this airy Hope ? 
 
 Go to the Senfual ; do his bittereft tears 3 7 7 
 
 Avail to bring back Plenty to his board ? 
 
 Or can they from his wafting limbs remove 
 
 The peftilential gnawing of Difeafe ? 
 
 Go to the dread tribunal of the Law, 
 
 And hear the Murd'rer plead the num'rous Suns 
 
 That faw no repetition of his crime : 
 
 Say, does he thus ward off the blow ? 
 
 Juftice is deaf to the unmeaning plea. 
 
 But ftill methinks the frown of Difcontent 386 
 
 Sits low'ring on thy brow : thou would'ft be taught, 
 " What Virtue is in voluntary Death 
 < To reconcile offenders to their Judge." 
 But fay, mould filence give thy needlefs doubts 390 
 
 To fpend themfelves in air j dar'ft thou conclude 
 The voice we heard was not the voice of Heav'n ? 
 
 What
 
 RSDEMPTIOK. ZO1 
 
 What province in the guidance of the world 
 
 Doft thou uphold, that all the fecret fprings 
 
 Of Government muft be difplay'd to thee ? 
 
 Prefumptuoirj reptile ! it is thine to know 
 
 What it is thine to praftife : all the reft, 
 
 To thee obfcure, to God is clear as Day. 
 
 Remember too " the Univerfal Caufe 399 
 
 " Afts not by partial, but by gen'ral Laws :" 
 
 Remember that of thefe, tho' fome thou fee'ft, 
 
 Myriads are hid from thine all-curious eye j 
 
 While Nature's prodigies before thee move, 
 
 Convincing thee of ignorance profound. 
 
 Tell me the Law whereby the Earthquake's rage 
 
 Inftant o'erwhelms in ruin unforefeen 
 
 The boafted monuments of human pride : 
 
 Why the Volcano pours his liquid fire ; 
 
 Why Peflilence and Famine ftalk the earth, 
 
 And ravage uncontroll'd : th' unnumber'd laws 
 
 Unfold to which thou giv'ft one empty name 
 
 Of Chance. Shall thefe, vain man ! elude thy fearch, 
 
 Enacted for the ordinary ccurfe 
 
 Of Nature's operations ; and malt thou 
 
 Murmur at the obfcurity of thdfe 
 
 Deriv'd from Exigency's latent fprings ? 
 
 Once more that Adamantine Tablet view j 417 
 
 The grand Redemption of degen'rate Man
 
 1OZ, REDEMPTION. 
 
 Is not a fmgle, independent aft, 
 
 But one great Syftem ; that perchance involv'd 
 
 In the one only greater, God's high Law 
 
 Pervading and fupporting ev'ry part 
 
 Of the ftupendous Univerfe : to thee 
 
 Dark are this Syftem's limits ; nay, the whole 
 
 To thee unknown, fave fome minuter fpots 
 
 Bifplay'd to (hew the part thou haft to aft 
 
 In the alarming Scene. But know that he 
 
 Who of a Syftem fees but part, fees none. 
 
 Behold yon ftately Edifice ; where Art 429 
 
 And Nature lavim all their richeft fcores, 
 
 To charm thine eye with Majefty and Grace : 
 
 Let all, fave that fmall fragment, now be veil'd : 
 
 Say, do it's beauties ftrike without impair ? 
 
 Where is the Symmetry that fmil'd around, 
 
 The Greatnefs that fo dazzled ? Where the Ufa 
 
 That warm'd the Judgment into Admiration ? 
 
 Alas, the veil was drawn, and they are fled. 
 
 Think'ft thou the Indian, tho' be.'ore the Sun 
 
 lie bend the knee of worihip, can conceive 
 
 Aught of thofe Glories which ev'n thou conceiv'ft, - 
 
 Who fee'ft him roll around his ponderous Mafs, 
 
 Enliv'ning ev'ry Planet in his train ; 
 
 And in their rapid courfcs while they fing, 
 
 With godlike firmnefs curbing their bold flight, 
 
 And poizing them in heav'nly harmony ? He
 
 REDEMPTION. ZOJ 
 
 He who on Syftems oft with ferious care 446 
 
 Has fix'd Attention's eye, muft oft have feen 
 The tendency of parts to work their ends, 
 DiiPring from his opinion preconceiv'd. 
 Who of ye all, that murmur at the means 
 By the Supreme for Man's Redemption chofe, 
 (Forgetting all that fage Experience taught,) 
 Shall fee yon Peafant hide within the ground, 
 Far from his anxious view, the precious grain, 
 His great fupport and friend, in ftedfaft hope 
 Soon to behold it yield a glad increafe ; 
 And fhall not flrait put forth the friendly hand 
 To check the progrefs of his wild defign ? 
 Afk we, in fhort, where 'tis ye find the chain, 
 Which here ye want, connecting -me arts with end? 
 Shall ye not fay, " Experience is our guide ?" 
 Where then your guide is blind, how weak the hope 
 To find the latent objeft of your fearch ! 
 
 But tell me, can thy mem'ry range thro' time, 464 
 Ev'n from the firft Creation of our Race, 
 And fee the fcatter'd tribes of varying men 
 Recurring to the feeble victim's aid 
 To expiate the guilt of paft ofTence ; 
 Both where the light of Revelation frone, 
 And where dim R.eafon fhed a fainter ray ; 
 
 Can'ft
 
 104 REDEMPTION* 
 
 Can'ft thou fuch Uniformity behold, 
 
 Nor yet prefume there is a Law of God, 
 
 Whereby the facrifice of his dread Son 
 
 Avails to purchafe immortality ? 
 
 If ftill Impatience or Sufpicion haunt 475 
 
 Thy mind, where Knowledge will not deign to dwell j 
 
 Ponder that holy Tablet's precious lore ; 
 
 Perchance, to recompence thy modeft fearch, 
 
 New light may beam from the great Fount of light, 
 
 And pathways, hitherto untrod, appear. 
 
 But fure we may with confidence unblam'd 
 
 Dare to pronounce, that while the low'ring mifls 
 
 Of human ignorance fo deep involve 
 
 The mis'ry we efcape, and blifs we gain j 
 
 No eye fo clearly mall perceive the means 
 
 Of gaining or efcaping, as to judge, 
 
 With Reafon's fuffrage, ho~M they work their end* 
 
 ** Ign 'ranee the narrow mind of man may brook : 488 
 " But fhall Infenfibility's cold hand 
 " Allay all ferment betwixt Right and Wrongj 
 " Wife and Unwife ? That were to leave no praife - 
 Due ev'n to God. Perfift we then to fay, 
 ' That to prevent more fuits the Good and Wife, 
 ** Than to permit, what muft anon be heal'd,"
 
 REDEMPTION. JO.J 
 
 Be not deceiv'd : we feek not fare to find 
 A felf-exiftent Being good and wife ; 
 Or fuch thou own'lt, or groi ndieis all debate 
 Of the unfolding his myftcrious will : 
 This wou'd we know ; whether the fame great Lord, 
 Who over Nature's powers fublime preiides, 
 Did doubtlefs utter this alarming Voice, 
 And bid this holy Tablet be engrav'd. 
 
 Arife then, thou that wou'd'ft prevent our Fall, 
 Arife, and let us fee thee rule the world 
 After thy darling principle : from thence 
 Judge we, if to the fame one point converge 
 Thy fchemes, and the decrees of Nature's God. 
 -^Behol<i yon circle of domeftic friends, 
 Each to his nightly couch ferene retire, 
 Unconfcious of the fatal Spark which, fhed 
 From Indifcretion's brandifh'd torch, now pants 
 And labours to diffufe it's baleful pow'rs. 
 Heav'ns ! with what horror do the burfting flames 
 DifTolve the feal of Sleep ! Amazement Harts, 
 And wild Confuficn bounds with frantic ftep 
 Throughout the tott'ring maniion : How to fly, 
 The fir ft, great care. O defperate refource ! 
 Behold that tender Youth fpring from on high 
 And trufl himfelf to Air : Alas ! too fure 
 
 Some
 
 2C REDE MPTION, 
 
 Some feeble Limb is fhatter'd by the fall : 
 But fee Compaffion's friendly hand flretch'd out 
 To mitigate the anguifh of his Soul; 
 And Med'cine's balm foothing the Body's pain, 
 Able, erelong, Health's firmnefs to reftore. 
 
 Had thy fuperior wifdom govern'd here, 
 This fcene had been prevented', then what need 
 To clog the mind with dull Difcretion's bonds, 
 Or goad it with Compaffion's pungent fpur, 
 Or give to nat'ral bodies healing pow'rs ? 
 Thy fcheme no doubt is wife : but yet methmks 
 Boafts not a freedom from thefe flight defects ; 
 Man firft of human nature it defpoils ; 
 Then bids the Lord of Heav'n reverfe that plan 
 His Wifdom form'd before the birth of Time. 
 
 * Be then this 111 permitted ; and it's cure 535 
 
 " Referv'd in Mercy's inexhaufted ftores ; 
 " But can that remedy proceed from Heav'n 
 ' Which wills us to conceive th' Almighty Pow'r 
 " Lab'ring thro' years, with cumb'rous inftruments, 
 " Imploring too a Mediator's aid, 
 " Ere he his gracious purpofe can effeft ? 
 Better befits his pow'r to fpeak the word 
 ' And heal." But fay, doft thou expeft a change 
 
 Suddeij
 
 REDEMPTION'. ZOJ 
 
 S:.:Jc:i and felf-efTecled to arife 
 
 From the great God of Nature ? Shew us then 
 
 Some upilart being perfect at it's birth, 
 
 Or inftant perifhing without decay. 
 
 Shew us the hand of Providence unarm 'd 
 
 With inftrument, or foifelefs, or inform'd : 
 
 How did thy mind, thy body, all thy pow'rs 
 
 Attain that fuhiefs of Maturity ? 
 
 And whence the Good and Evil of thy ftate, 
 
 But from the creatures of thy Sov'reign Lord ? 
 
 His Scourge the Tyrant, his Reward the Friend, 
 
 His Gift the Fruits of earth, his MefTengers 
 
 The Winds, his Minifter the flaming Fire. 
 
 " Grant then that thus to remedy is wife ; 55$ 
 
 " Yet does the God of JulUce difregard 
 " If Guilt or Innocence be doom'd to pain ?" 
 Hence with the impious thought ! But doft thou deem 
 That voice was not the voice of Nature's God, 
 Becaufe it publiih'd our deliv'rance wrought 
 By fufPrance meek of voluntary woe ? 
 Alas ! full little doH: thou mark the fcenes 
 Of Providence, which flit before thine eve. 
 How oft in them is wretchednefs of Guilt 
 Alleviated by fufPring Innocence ! 
 Mark that impetuous Youth : the fev'rifh fire 
 
 Of
 
 2O8 REDEMPTION. 
 
 Of Paffion feizes all his nobler povv'rs : 
 The Phantom Pleafure trips with airy fwim 
 Before his dazzled eye : mark the purfuit 
 How eager, how intenfe ? and now he hopes 
 To grafp her in his arms and now Ihv flies 
 Ever at diflance, feeming ever near. 
 At length behold her vanifli from his view, 
 When lo, a griily band of pallid Fiends, 
 The meager train of Want, furround and feize 
 Him languid with purfuit ; now fee him bound 
 In fqualid fetters by Profufion knit, 
 Stranger to Liberty, and the pure breath 
 Of wholeibme air. Defpair mean while aloof, 
 Hovers expedlant of her deftin'd prey. 
 But whence that hoary fage who enters there, 
 The meek tears ftealing down his furrow'd cheeks, 
 And Virtue's footfteps printed on his brow ? 
 His ftaffa weak fupport for Age and Grief! 
 Sure 'tis Paternal Love : mark with what care 
 He gazes on the guilty Youth ! how mild 
 Are his reproaches, and his Soul how bent 
 To refcue him from Slavery and Woe, 
 Regardlefs of the ill himfelf muft bear ! 
 Can'ft thou fee this, nor own thy Nature's Law 
 Decrees fuch friendly interchange of pain, 
 While we are paffing thro' this vale of tears ? 
 
 And.
 
 REDEMPTION. 2Qg 
 
 And from whence is it, that the Son of God 
 Shall not, if fuchhis gracious will, affift 
 In the grand progrefs tow'rds eternal blifs, 
 And fuffer for the guilty race of Men ? 
 
 But let Contention ceafe : wait we the Hour, $98 
 When all things ihall arrive to that one point 
 Whereto they have converg'd ere fince the World 
 Was firft awak'd from Chaos into Life. 
 When all the parts of this unfinifh'd Scheme 
 Shall be compa&ed in one perfect Whole ; 
 And what was deem'd unfit, mall flrike the eye 
 With all it's genuine Symmetry and Grace ; 
 Then ihall the Juftice and Benevolence 
 Of our Eternal Lord unclouded mine ; 
 Seen by Reflection's broken rays no more ; 
 Themfelves the naked objefts of our view : 
 Then (hall the great Redeemer of Mankind, 
 Nay ev'ry meaner Sufferer, receive 
 The meed, tho' long-referv'd, of ten-fold Blifs : 
 And Mercy hide in her maternal Breaft 
 The fhame of him, who trembles to look up 
 To the Tribunal of the Righteous Judge. 
 
 THE
 
 CONVERSION 
 
 O F 
 
 ST. PAUL. 
 
 B Y 
 JOHN LETTICE, M. A. 
 
 MDCCLXIV.
 
 CONVERSION 
 
 O F 
 
 ST. PAUL. 
 
 Y. 
 
 ES gentle Shade (Heav'n on thy bounty ftnile !), 
 The lib'ral purpofe of thy glowing Heart 
 Breaths nought fave Peace, Religion, and the Love 
 Of facred Verfe. Thou woo'ft the mylHc Pow'rs 
 That frame fweet Numbers to the golden Lyre, 
 To fly thofe turbid Regions, where, contemn'd 
 The charter Honours of poetic Lore, 
 Loft all the Dignity of antient Song, 
 Long have they chanted to the frantic Voice 
 Of civil Difcord, and fraternal Rage 
 Refponfive. May thy gen'rous urgent Call 
 Allure the Wand'rers to CAM'S hallow'd Groves, 
 Once more to fill thefe much-neglecled fhadcs 
 With fweeteft Minftrelfy of magic Sound:." 
 
 P 3 Such
 
 214 CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL. 
 
 Such Anfwer from the Voice of Fancy flow'd, 
 As late, methought, fome Vifion's airy Charm 
 CalPd to my View the venerable Shade 
 Of SEATON, much lamenting that the Mufe 
 Regardlefs of th' exalted Province, erft 
 Aflerted with fuch jealous Care, mould yield 
 Her Lyre divine, her high-enchanting Strains 
 To Spleen, Revenge and unrelenting Hate, 
 The baleful Offspring of difaftrous Times. 
 
 Come then, fweet Charitrefs of celefiial Airs ! 
 Infpire thy fuppliant Vot'ry, whilft he fmgs 
 The Man of Tarfus, from Gamaliel's Feet 
 Rais'd to the Converfe of the living God. 
 
 How thick that Cloud ! that Darknefs how profound ! 
 Which o'er the mental Sight blind Prejudice 
 Sufpends, impervious to the brighteft Rays 
 Of moral Evidence. Ah zealous Saint ! 
 Had Heav'n to Thee vouchfaf 'd no ftronger Light 
 To guide thy devious Foot-fteps through the Gloom 
 Of Error's Maze, long as the vital Stream 
 Had warm'd thy dauntlefs Heart, the fwelling Pride 
 That Nature gave, th' unconquerable Rage 
 Of Jewifh Bigotry, the callous Senfe 
 Deaf to the Charmer Reafon's Call, fo long 
 
 Had
 
 CONVERSION OF ST. PAtit. 215 
 
 Had chahi'd to Earth thy captivated Soul. 
 
 But Gracious Pow'rs ! what Burft of blazing Light ! 
 
 Lo ! wliere th' efl'ulgent Streams of purer Day, 
 
 Surpaffing far the Radiance of the Morn 
 
 Firft rifing o'er the Bow'rs of Paradife, 
 
 Spring from Heav'n's azure Canopy ! And hark ! 
 
 Some Voice tremendous, like the fearful Roar 
 
 Of ruming Cataracls, pervades the Air 
 
 " Saul ! Saul ! what Madnefs lifts thine impious Arm 
 
 ** To brave th' Omnipotence of Heav'n? Forbear, 
 
 " Ram Mortal ! Check thine unavailing Rage, 
 
 *' Nor longer with eternal Adamant * 
 
 " Wage fruitlefs War. What ? Can an Infeft's Sting 
 
 " Rift the firm Oak ? Or lhall the Lion fall 
 
 " A recreant Victim to the timid Lamb? 
 
 " With Rev'fence wait the high Behefts of Heav'n ; 
 
 *' And know, proud Reptile ! 'tis that Sov'reign Pow'r, 
 
 *' Th' immortal God thy Fury braves, whofe Voice 
 
 " Arrefts thine Ear." Soon as the firft Alarm, 
 
 That lock'd each Senfe in dumb Aftonimment, 
 
 Had ceasM, the proftrate Seer, with trembling Tongue, 
 
 The heav'nly Vifion fearfully addrefs'd 
 
 * ' A&apavra, TTMUV carried with it, among the Antients, the 
 
 fame proverbial Import as TTCOJ T x/vrp Tvaxri^Eij'. 
 
 P 4 O \
 
 tl6 CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL. 
 
 " O ! Source divine of Love and Goodnefs ! loft 
 
 " In the wild Tranfports of th' impaffion'd Soul, 
 
 *' Terror, Remorfe, Hope, Gratitude and joy 
 
 " By turns triumphant o'er each captive Thought, 
 
 " What fhall I fpeak, or how be filent ? Deign, 
 
 " Eternal Spirit ! to declare thy Will : 
 
 " Say, why vouchfaf'd thy Prefence, why difplay'd 
 
 " Thy Glories to a Reptile of the Duft ?" 
 
 He ceas'd. The Voice celeilial thus reply'd 
 
 * Arife ! to fair Damafcus' Walls purfue 
 
 '* Thy deftin'd Courfe ; there fhall the deep Decrees 
 
 " Of Heav'n, ere long, to thine illumin'd Senfe 
 
 ' Unclouded fhine." Obedient rofe the Seer 
 
 Of God high-favour'd ; but behold ! his Eyes 
 
 Plung'd in the Torrent of th' empyreal Blaze 
 
 To dreary Night confign'd. Th' obfequious Train, 
 
 The Partners of his fell vindidive Zeal, 
 
 Speechlefs with Horror, guide his painful Steps 
 
 To the fam'd City. Three long tedious Days 
 
 An Exile from the chearful Sun, no Food, 
 
 No Draught refrefhing to his Wants fupply'd, 
 
 There did he ponder, in his chearlefs Breaft, 
 
 The Mazes of th' Almighty's Will. Three Days 
 
 Expir'd, by HeavVs propitious Guidance led, 
 
 Arriv'd the Minifter of Light. He fpoke 
 
 The magic Word of Faith ; and inftant fell 
 
 The
 
 CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL, Zlf 
 
 The Veil of Darknefs from the Zealot's Eye. 
 
 Once more the vivid Splendor of the Sun 
 
 He faw, and thus pour'd forth th' extatic Joy : 
 
 " Hail, blefled Orb ! xtherial Brightnefs, hail ! 
 
 " Welcome ! the genial Luxury of Light ; 
 
 < Thrice welcome it's Return ! But Oh ! what words 
 
 *' Shall hail the Day-fpring of immortal Truth ! 
 
 " What Words can paint the Radiance of her Beams 
 
 " Firft darting on the Soul ! Purg'd the thick Film 
 
 " Of Jewifh Ignorance from Reafon's Eye, 
 
 " Now Hand reveal'd the wife, the wond'rous Schemes 
 
 ' Of Providence. I fee, confefs, adore 
 
 " The Miracle of Mercy, Grace and Love, 
 
 " Vouchfaf'd Man's guilty Race, vouchfafd e'en Me ! 
 
 Th' enraptur'd Convert ceas'd. The facred Lymph, 
 Mylterious Prelude of regenerate Life ! 
 Confirm'd th' aufpicious Change. Faith, Fortitude, 
 Light-winged Hope, and the cherubic Throng, 
 That with the duftile Spirit of the Soul 
 Congenial, ftill attend on Virtue's Paths, 
 Hov'ring around Heav'n's fav'rite Profelyte, 
 Fix on his Breail their adamantine Seal. 
 
 Each holy Rite perform'd, the zealous Saint 
 Pour'd from his Tongue fpontaneous the Stream 
 
 Of
 
 l8 CONVERSION OF ST. PAUfc. 
 
 Of Eloquence and Infpiration. Lo ! 
 
 The gazing Synagogue, in wonder wrapt, 
 
 Devour his pregnant Speech. Th' inftruftive Sage 
 
 With fimple Stile, deliberate Addrefs 
 
 And nervous Argument, now vindicates 
 
 The great Mefliah. Now with Words that live, 
 
 With Thoughts that burn, the laft tremendous Day, 
 
 Expiring Nature and the Doom of Man, 
 
 He thunders on the Soul. Sin's ghaftly Front, 
 
 Her Shape deform'd, the Poifon of her Touch, 
 
 Behind Her Vengeance with eternal Fire, 
 
 He next defcribes. Affrighted Confcience 'wakes ; 
 
 The Murd'rer ftarts aghaft ! th' OpprefTor groans j 
 
 Th' Adulterer trembles, and the Harlot weeps. 
 
 What Heart fo pure, fo innocent of Vice, 
 
 "But fhudder'd there ? Now with mellifluous Tongue, 
 
 He fooths the Scorpion-fling of confcious Guilt. 
 
 Behold ! each faded Countenance relum'd 
 
 With Hope and Gladnefs, whilft the chofen Saint 
 
 Unfolds the Myft'ries of redeeming Love, 
 
 Of Grace and Mercy infinite, displays 
 
 The high Rewards of Penitence and Life 
 
 Reform'd, the Freedom of the Chriftian Yoke 
 
 Avers, and teftifies th' eternal League 
 
 'Twixt Happinefs and Virtue. Now to crown 
 
 The Preacher's Taik, with fweet perfuafive Phrafe, 
 
 He
 
 CONVERSION OF ST. PAUi. 2 19 
 
 He wins th' enchanted Auditors to Peace) 
 Long-fuff'ring, Gentlenefs and focial Love, 
 The godlike Spirit of his Matter's Laws ! 
 
 Was this the hot vindictive Pharifee ? 
 O ftrange Converfion ! This th' impetuous Saul, 
 That late dire Menaces and Slaughter breath'd ? 
 Was this, fage * Prieft, the Minifter of 'Wrath 
 Fix'd by the dreaded Sanction of thy Power 
 To hurl Perdition on the rifmg Church ? 
 What ? Were thofe Hands, now lifted up to Heav'n 
 To blefs Man's great Redeemer, once imbrued f 
 In the pure Blood of his devoted Saints, 
 And confecrated Martyrs ? Wondrous Change ! 
 But what can check that all-controuling Power, 
 Who turns the Courfe of Nature at his Will ; 
 Whofe Word was Med'cine to the Sick, whofe Call 
 Awoke the Grave's cold Tenants, whofe firm Step 
 Trod the foft Surface of the Ocean, whilft 
 His potent Voice bad the curl'd Waves fubfide, 
 And hulh'd the Wind's wild Uproar into Peace ? 
 
 Behold ! th' illuftrious Convert now invades 
 The Reign of Gentile Darknefs. See ! appali'd 
 
 * The high i'rieft of Jerusalem. 
 f "Of ruvrw Tr,s o; i^ifc'|a ^pt QatzTW, &c. Ab xxii. v. 4, 
 
 Black
 
 22O CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL, 
 
 Black Superftition, with her baleful Throng 
 
 Of felf-bred Fears, and unembodied Forms 
 
 That haunt Defpair ; the foul unholy Train 
 
 Of molten Idols and fantaftic Gods 
 
 Shrink at his Prefence, like the fleeting Shades 
 
 Of fullen Night, when firft Hyperion's Orb 
 
 Scatters it's purple Radiance o'er the Skies. 
 
 Nor long the Majefty of Jove fupreme 
 
 Withftood the Thunder of the Preacher's Tongue . 
 
 Totter'd his Throne, his golden Sceptre fell ; 
 
 Nor more Olympus trembled at his Nod. 
 
 No longer fmoak'd his odoriferous Shrines 
 
 With Frankincenfe and Myrrh, the fragrant Breath 
 
 Of Araby ; nor bleeding Hecatomb 
 
 Diftain'd his bhilhing Altars. Solemn Praile 
 
 And Pray'rs devoutly breath'd, the Tears, the Sighs- 
 
 Of penitential Grief, the broken Heart 
 
 Now form'd the Gentile's purer Sacrifice 
 
 To the true God, The philofophic Lore 
 
 Of learned Athens funk e'er long, eclips'd 
 
 By Truth's refiftlefs Blaze. The vain Parade 
 
 Of empty Jargon and unmeaning Forms 
 
 No longer won the proftituted Praife 
 
 Of wond'ring Greece. The Stoic's fond Pretence 
 
 Was urg'd no more ; the boailed Apathift 
 
 Confefs'd the Strength of Nature, own'd the Power, 
 
 The
 
 CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL. 221 
 
 The Ufe of Paffion, deign'd to feel himfelf, 
 
 And fympathi'ze the Mifcries of Man. 
 
 Nor long the Dilates of thy fenfual Mind 
 
 Allur'd th' unwary Step of Youth to Sin, 
 
 Lafcivious * Sophift ! Thy Difciple erft 
 
 That quafPd the lafcious Sweets of Circe's Cup, 
 
 Hung on the Siren's fafcinating Tongue, 
 
 A nd thrill'd with Tranfport at the Harlot's Smile, 
 
 Now fighs for Pleafures which no Eye hath feen, 
 
 No Ear hath heard, nor mortal Heart conceiv'd. 
 
 No more he babbles of thy foolifh Dreams 
 
 Of felf-concurring Atoms, and blind Chance 
 
 Omnipotent : where'er he turns his Eyes, 
 
 Amaz'd he traces, thro' each wondrous Scene, 
 
 The Hand of Providence. Each Attribute 
 
 That points th' Almighty Parent of the World 
 
 To Man's Conceptions, legibly portray'd 
 
 On Nature's Page, th' enlighten 'd Convert fees ; 
 
 And as he views, his elevated Breaft, 
 
 With inextinguifhable Ardor, burns 
 
 For .Truth, for Life and Immortality. 
 
 Where'er the Preacher roll'd the powerful Tide 
 
 Of Infpiration, from each fabled Haunt 
 
 Foul Error fled, whether the Roman School, 
 
 Or Attic Portico her Prefence held ; 
 
 * Epicurus. 
 
 Or
 
 222 CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL, 
 
 Or the dark Inmate of the Pagan Shrine, 
 
 She heap'd vain Incenfe to fbme Idol- God. 
 
 O ! may thofe living Oracles of Light, 
 
 That boaft the Sanftion of thine hallow'd Pen, 
 
 Illuftrious Convert ! o'er each gloomy Land, 
 
 Where ftill pale Fear and Superftition reign, 
 
 Spread the rich Treafures of immortal Truth. 
 
 May the lewd Prophet's Brothel-Paradife, 
 
 Bale Hope of wretched Ignorance and Luft, 
 
 Allure no more the Pilgrim's weary Step 
 
 To Mecca's Walls : no longer FOHI'S Name 
 
 Ufurp the profirate Adoration, due 
 
 To God alone : nor more th' unconfcious Sun 
 
 Provoke the trembling Indian's fruitlefs Vow. 
 
 But may one Mind, one Faith, one Hope, one God 
 
 Unite the Icatter'd Progeny of Man. 
 
 THE
 
 THE 
 
 CRUCIFIXION. 
 
 BY 
 
 THOMAS ZOUCH, M. A, 
 M DCC LXV. 
 
 THE
 
 THE 
 
 CRUCIFIXION. 
 
 JG/NQUGH has fiftion's fairy fcene deceiv'd 
 
 My dreaming hours of youth : with penfive ftep 
 
 JMufing along the cloyfter's filent gloom 
 
 Thee, Holy Truth, I woo : thy graceful charms 
 
 Far lovelier than the damalk rofe that glows 
 
 On beauty's cheek, the poet's moral ftrain 
 
 Excite. Ye fabled fongs, adieu ! adieu, 
 
 Imagination, to the dazzled eye 
 
 Shooting thy gorgeous phantoms ! hence, ye dreams 
 
 Of fublunary glare, the gem of wealth, 
 
 The plume of honour ! To her awful ftirine 
 
 Devotion wafts me, where the white-rob'd prieft 
 
 With heart-felt tranfport on the wing of prayer 
 
 Extatic rifes, or with waving hand 
 
 And all the decent elegance of eafe 
 
 Myfterious truth unfolds, whilft on his tongue 
 
 Attention hangs enraptur'd. At that ahar 
 
 Q, Peace
 
 Peace fheds her balmy influence,, far from Guilt 
 And all his hideous offspring : Envy wan 
 With jaundic'd eye : Ambition's bluftering voice 
 Brawling for titles : hollow-hearted fmile 
 Of cringing Adulation : dog-ey'd Luft 
 Rifling the bofom, of chafte innocence. 
 
 For fay, can fancy, fond to weave the tale 
 Of blifs ideal,; feign more genuine joy 
 Than thine, PHILANDER,, when the Man of Go4 
 Gives to thy hand the confecrated cup, 
 Blefled memorial of a Saviour's love ! 
 Glowing with zeal the humble Penitent 
 Approacheth ; Faith her foftering radiance points 
 Full on his contrite heart : Hope cheers his fteps. 
 And Charity, the faireft in the train 
 Of chriftian virtues, fwells his heaving breaft 
 With love unbounded. Feaft of blifs fupreme 
 To eat the bread of life, to drink the cup 
 Of benedi&ion ! Memory bids the fcene, 
 Th' important fcene, arife, when dread difmay 
 Alarm'd the nations. Melt, thou heart of brafs : 
 Death triumph'd o'er its vidor. Wild amaze 
 Seiz'd all the hoft of heaven, moaning their God 
 In agony transfixt, his every fenfe 
 A window to affliction : forrow fill'd 
 
 Their
 
 CRUCIFIXION. 
 
 Their tiie of tragic woe> and chang'd the note 
 From fervent rapture to the gloomy ftrain 
 Of deepeft lamentation. O how pure 
 Th' effulgence of his bounty, that completes 
 Redemption's mighty work, the fource of joy ) 
 
 Hail heavenly Love, that with eternal fway 
 Pervades creation's ampleft bounds ! 'Twas Love 
 That bade exiftence fpring to life j the fun, 
 Infpher'd in radiancy, began his courfe, 
 And vegetation from the earth's warm lap 
 Call'd forth her genial powers. 'Twas Love that 
 Redemption's glorious plan. Ye white-wing'd holts, 
 Cherubs and feraphs, that enrob'd in light 
 Drink the pure ftream of ever-during day. 
 In hallelujahs chaunt the grateful hymn 
 Of adoration : from your fapphire feats 
 Hail the glad tidings, that to Man is giv'n 
 A Saviour merciful. But chiefly ye, 
 Daughters and fons of Adam, raife ths fong 
 Of gratulation meet. Ye young, ye gay, 
 Liflea with patient ear the drains of truth \ 
 Ye who in diffipation wafte your days, 
 From Pleafure's giddy train O Iteal an hour> 
 With fage reflexion nor difdain to gaze 
 The folemn fcens on CAJLV'RY'S guilty mount,
 
 2*5 CKvcirtxtvtf. 
 
 Where frighted nature fhakes her trembling" frame, 
 
 And fhudders at the complicated crime 
 
 Of deicide. -The thorn-encircled head 
 
 All pale and languid on the bleeding crofs, 
 
 The nail-ernpierced band, the mangled feet, 
 
 The perforated fide, the heaving figh 
 
 Of gufhing anguifh, the deep groan of death, 
 
 The day of darknefs, terror and diftrefs : 
 
 Ah I ftvali not thefe awake one ferious thought ? 
 
 Sin, I deleft thee : murd'rous child of night, 
 Hence to thy native hell ! in Eden's vale 
 Rov'd our fir ft parents, bofom'd in content, 
 Gay as the fpring, and innocent as gay. 
 Thou dam'd their draught of blifs, their fweets of joy 
 Mingling with gall. Misfortune'* haggard crew 
 Hence o'er the wide creation ruthlefs prowl'd, 
 And rioted on man. Can aught arreft 
 Th' Almighty's anger ? Yes : the viaim bleeds, 
 His own dear Son, from bondage to exalt 
 A ranfom'd world* to blarft the damning power 
 Of Satan, Sin, and Death. How chang'd from him, 
 Whofe Majefty in native luftre Ihone 
 Sevenfold, when on th' eternal throne he fmil'd, 
 Long ere yon planets in their meafar'd Orbs 
 Revolv'd : or walking on the whirl-wind's wing 
 
 He
 
 C-RUCIFIXION. 329 
 
 He rais'd his arm, and drove the rebel brood 
 Down to their black abyfs : beneath his feet 
 The flames flafh'd horrible : before him fled 
 The ghaftly train of peftilence and woe. 
 
 On R-evelation's facred page intent 
 The eye of faith furveys the mighty deed 
 Shadow'd in myftic type, when Abram urg'd 
 By heaven's all-wife beheft, witli eager zeal 
 Snatth'd from a mother's weeping care * the child 
 Of laughter, on Moriah's fecret top 
 Binding the fpotlefs hands of innocence. 
 
 How vain the breath, how empty all tLe boaft 
 Of popular applaufe ? To day we foar 
 The fons of fortune, favour'd by the croud, 
 Their idol and their God. The morrow blights 
 Our bud of fame. The rabble change their notes 
 From hoarfeft acclamation to the hifs 
 Of harm contempt : the many-headed beafl 
 Hark how he ihouts for blood and impious carnage 5 
 See IfraePs humble King, mild as the Iamb 
 Beneath the murdering knife, amidft the fneer 
 The taunt of mad reproach, led to the crofs, 
 
 * pfT:?* Ifaac a rilii dilus eft. Gen. xxi. 3. Buxtdtf. 
 
 0.3 To
 
 530 CfcVCIFlXIOW, 
 
 To ihame and bitter death. Him late they rais'd 
 To fame's bright fummit, when they fung his name 
 With loud hofennas, or with filent ardor 
 Dwelt on his tongue, lift'ning the happy lore 
 Of evangelic joy. Ye ruffian tribe, 
 Ah ! check the ruthlefs Rage, that drowns the voice* 
 The faithful voice of reafon, to your God 
 Prefers fedition's fon, whom foul with crimes 
 Ripe vengeance .waits, and awful juftice calls. 
 
 Ye men of Judah, let one languid fpark 
 Of fbft compaffion melt your iron hearts ! 
 O ftay the cruel ftroke, the bloodrftain'd fcourge 
 Forbear : O fpare, for pity fpare that wound : 
 Support his falt'ring fteps : he faints, he dies : 
 Your King, your meek Meffiah faints : he finks 
 Beneath th' oppreflive load ; up the ftcep mount 
 He toik panting, and harrafe'd with fatigue. 
 
 But fhall oblivion's raven wing o'erftiade 
 The ever-blooming fame of Salem's daughters ? 
 Then weep, ye fair, and with prophetic tears 
 Swell the full ftream of Grief, fincere as erft 
 When Herod's vengeful arm in infant blood 
 Drench'd his wide-wafting fword : with rueful fhriek 
 The childlefs parent wander'd Rama's ftreets, 
 
 Vojjf
 
 CRUCITIX1ON. 2 
 
 Your gentler breafts to fympathetic ftghs 
 Indulgent nature melts. Remorfelefs Man 
 With heart of rougheft mold fheds not one tear, 
 Nor wails a Saviour's death. To you the Mufe 
 Shall twine her wreath of praife : ye felt his pangs, 
 Ye moan'd his agonizing grief of Soul. 
 
 How calm the Sufferer! not one.rageful word 
 Of wild impatience : no refentmeat makes 
 His harrow'd breaft. Chearful and mild he meets 
 The favage king of terrors. Lo ! to Heaven 
 On mental wing his zealous prayer afcends. 
 But ah ! for whom ? For you, ye fons of pride 
 That led him to th' accurfed tree of Ihame. 
 " Father, forgive them." Hence, far hence tke fiuy 
 Of wrath and vengeful hatred ! Chriilian Love, 
 With universal Charity infpire 
 My breaft : extinguish every latent fpark 
 Of low revenge. Give me to breathe the flame 
 Of tendereft affe&ion, to fuftain 
 Unruffled and ferene the mean attacks 
 Of enmity and flander- Thus to tread 
 A Matter's heavenly Heps, like him, to bear 
 With patient mind infult and rafh abufe, 
 Be this my boailed glory, this my pride ! 
 
 0.4
 
 23* CRuciyixioM. 
 
 Great God of Truth, mall equal terrors fall 
 On innocence and guilt ? The noon-tide ray 
 Mix with the midnight gloom ? The Son of Man, 
 The great High Prieft, harmlefs and undefil'd, 
 With impious ruffians numb'red, dies the death 
 Of unrelenting juftice ? Fierce as Hell 
 Yon harden'd murd'rcr breathes out his angry foul 
 In blafphemous defiance. Foul reproach 
 Flows from his venom tongue : avenging death 
 With tenfold darknefs brooding, opes to view 
 Scenes of eternal pangs, where penal wrath 
 With unextinguifhable fury burns. 
 Some chearful beam of Hope, fome gleam of Heaven, 
 Bunts on the brother of his crimes. He weeps : 
 Repentance darts into his convict heart 
 A ray of Peace. The rifing arm of wrath 
 Drops the impending Thunder : mercy fnules 
 Benign. E'en tho' the blaze of guilt outglare 
 The fcarlet's crimfon hue, fair mercy fheds 
 Her hoard of joy, and whitens every {lain. 
 
 Come then, Repentance, with thy piercing ken * 
 The dark receTes of my heart pervade : 
 Fill me with real forrow : nought avails 
 The fable fackcloth, or the vain grimace 
 Of hypocritic pomp. When ghaftly death 
 
 Hover*
 
 CRUCIFIXION. 2.J3 
 
 Hovers around my couch, it nought avails 
 
 To break the curtain 'd flumber of the night 
 
 Counting the figur'd beads, to wear the hour 
 
 With repetition's empty Hymn, to grafp 
 
 The gilded Crucifix. - Fantaitic rites 
 
 Of papal ignorance ! All wrapt in grief, 
 
 Whilfc youth with manhood's vigor nerves my limbs. 
 
 The young blood circling in it's channel'd path, 
 
 I bend the fuppliant knee : "Father of Heaven, 
 
 *' Father of mercies, fnatch from ruin's gulph, 
 
 " Snatch me from im."-r~Temptation fpreads Jier lure 
 
 With meretricious art. Wanton defire, 
 
 Fierce as the waken'd fury of the deep, 
 
 Riots : O for a faithful friendly hand 
 
 With pious art to guide the light-wing'd fkiJT 
 
 And waft it f;:om the temper's b.oiit'rous rage \ 
 
 See 'midft the croud, that thronging round the hili 
 With mad difcordant roar of barb'rous joy 
 Gape on the Grafs, a felf-convided wretch 
 Shivering. Damp horror fills his guilty bread 
 With pungent throes. On his wide-rolling eye 
 PiftraSion frantic fits and black defpair. 
 Accurfecl lull of gain, that fteejs the heart 
 'GainU pity's foft emotions, breaks the tye 
 Of dear affection, plunges all the foul
 
 *34 t R U C I F 1 X I O K. 
 
 In fin and woe ! What for fo poor a price, 
 
 Th' Aflaffin's hireling wages, to betray 
 
 A Saviour and a God ! and with the kifs 
 
 Of friendfhip too ! Thou fpecious Man of blood. 
 
 Fly from thyfelf, thy bittereft deadlieft foe. 
 
 Confcience with never-dying worm corrodes 
 
 Thy tortur'd bofom. 'Tis the Lamb of God, 
 
 The bleffed Jefus, whom thy treach'rous hand 
 
 Configns to death : Heard'ft thou that figh of grief 
 
 That Ihook earth's tottering bafe ? Saw' ft thou thofe Limb* 
 
 Writhed with pain ? 'Twas he that taught the word 
 
 Of Peace and Love, that ftopp'd the horrid rage 
 
 Of dire difeafe, and from their gloomy cell 
 
 Call'd out "the filent dead. Th' expiring figh 
 
 Again he heaves. Heard'ft thou that cutting pang, 
 
 Jfcariot ! Go, whilft dumb amazement holds 
 
 The frozen multitude : cavern thy pelf, 
 
 Perfidious traitor. Vengeance, clad in blood, 
 
 Burning with rage, unfheathes her wafteful fword, 
 
 Purfues thy fteps, and hunts thee down to death, 
 
 Whilft ruin burfts the Temple's inmoft veil, 
 And 'midft farroundjng fcenes of horror roam 
 The grifly fpeftres, as at midnight hour ; 
 Far from the pomp and pageantry of pride 
 Pilate fequefter'd fits the venal judge, 
 
 Cor-
 
 CRUCIFIXION. 2J 
 
 Corruption's flave, that gloated on the fpoils 
 Of innocence opprefled. What avails 
 Or trophy'd blaxe of power or glofs of wealth 
 To footh the fever' d phreiizy of his foul ? 
 He burns, as with a raging calenture, 
 Tortur'd by jarring paffions. Why that Look ? 
 Thofe broken accents ? Thou dark, dufky Man,. 
 Say can his fpotted fkin the leopard change ? 
 In vain them feek'ft the pillow of repofe. 
 The noon-tide fun, velop'd in darknefs dim, 
 His golden glory ihrouds : But ah ! what night 
 With darknefs dim mall ftiroud thee from the eye, 
 The piercing eye of guilt ? With impious hand 
 Profane not thus the limpid fiream : not all 
 The ocean's wave can wafh off that foul fpot 
 Of murder. Heaven's vin Jiclive juftice reigns 
 Unbrib'd by wealth. E'en now thy anxioue mind 
 Anticipates its fate. Deftru&ion waits 
 Thy fteps : the tyrant of imperial Rome 
 Drives thee to exile : in the defart Ifle 
 Breathe to the taunting air thy doleful plaints* 
 Engender'd erft on pride and coward fliame, 
 The monfter Suicide his influence dire 
 Sheds o'er thy melancholy-tindlur'd foul 
 Baleful. "Go dafli thee down the rocky fteep, 
 Or plunge into thy breaft the thirfty fword 
 
 That
 
 2 CRUCIFIXION. 
 
 That pants for blood. But lo ! a different fcene! 
 What tho' th' autumnal ficknefs folks around, 
 What tho' the rage of noon-day peftilence 
 Slays her ten thoufands ; yet beneath the made 
 Of Providence the good Man fmiles fecure 
 And undifmay'd. As refolution firm 
 Thelov'd Difciple Hands, in manly grief 
 Silent. Illuftrious Saint ! endear'd to him 
 Who knows the hidden fecret thoughts of Man, 
 Friend fhip on thee her choiceit treafures pour'd. 
 What heavenly tranfport to mix foul with foul 
 In liberal converfe j to imbibe the words 
 Of blefled truth, from wifdom's mouth to catch 
 Inftru&km's fweeteft leflbns ! See thy King, 
 Thy Friend from his triumphant infamy 
 Looks down with condefcenfion ; deigns to crown 
 Thy holy fortitude. With filial care 
 His tender pledges guard : When age with fnow 
 Shall fow thy temples, then mall vifions blefs 
 Thy nights ; nor mall the envied wreath thy brow 
 Entwine, ere ruin raze thefe haughty walls j 
 Ere the proud Roman eagle clap her wing 
 Hovering o'er Salem's defolated towers. 
 
 What pencil's glowing colours know to paint 
 A mother's deep diilrefs ? Faft by die crofs 
 
 With
 
 CRUCIFIXION. *37 
 
 With eyes and hands uplifted, -wrap'd in woe 
 
 All motionlefs and mute, {he views her Son, 
 
 Her God beneath the weight of others fins 
 
 Bow his affli&ed head. Thus Eve, abforpt 
 
 In forrovv's trance, her darling offspring ey'd 
 
 Welt'ring in blood : .expreffive filence fpoke 
 
 Her pangs of agony : the big-fwoln tear 
 
 Burft down her cheek : around her beauteous form 
 
 The golden treffes flow'd in rude diforder, 
 
 Whilft Adam at her fide in vain aflay'd 
 
 Eland confolation. Secret grief o'erwhelms 
 
 MARIA'S throbbing brealh Now languor wan 
 
 Unnerves each fenfe : tender remembrance foon 
 
 Wakes in her foften'd heart the fond, fond fcenes, 
 
 When fweet domeftic peace confirm'd her blifs, 
 
 Shelter'd beneath a hufband's faithful arm 
 
 From humbling infamy. Thrice happy pair ! 
 
 They gently trod the flowery path of Life : 
 
 They ate the bread of temperance, round their board 
 
 Contentment laugh'd, blithe as a blooming bride. 
 
 Lull'd on her lap the infant God-head oft 
 
 Repos'd him weary. Tho' no trumpet's found, 
 
 No hoft of cherubim his praife attun'd, 
 
 Maternal rapture on his lovely name 
 
 With fondnefs dwelt : pondered each pleafing fign 
 
 Of future fplendor. Oh ! what an awful change ! 
 
 The
 
 CRUCIFIXION. 
 
 The rude wind tempefts the bright dawn of hope. 
 
 Mute is the tongue of eloquence that aw*d 
 
 A lift'ning multitude : languid the lips 
 
 That fmil'd complacence round, and every grace 
 
 Gently diffus'd. Dim in its ghaftly orb 
 
 The beaming eye of Majefty is funk. 
 
 But tho' with advcrfe wind the gray ftorm lours, 
 Shall fullen difcontent awake the voice 
 Of querulous defpair I Thou lecond Eve, 
 O Hop the falling tear : the figh reftrain. 
 And ye, felected flock, that fcatter'd late 
 Fled from your Shepherd, from defpondence raife 
 Your drooping hearts : refume die fmile of joy, 
 Burft are the gates of Death : blunted the fting 
 Of Sin : Meffiah mounts th' exalted car 
 Of triumph. As Elijah rapt of old 
 To Heaven, victorious o'er the murky grave, 
 He rifes to the realms of endlefs day. 
 
 Thus when the infant Moon her circling fphere 
 Wheels o'er the Sun's broad difo ; her fhadow falls - 
 On Earth's fair bofom : darknefs chills the fields, 
 And dreary night inverts the face of Heaven. 
 Reflected from the lake full many a ftar 
 Glimmers with feeble languor, India's fons 
 
 Affrighted
 
 CRUCIFIXION. 2J 
 
 Affrighted in wild tumult rend the air. 
 Before his idol god with barb'rous mriek 
 The Brachman falls : when foon the eye of day 
 Darts his all-cheering radiance, from the gloom 
 Emerging. Joy invades the wondering croud, 
 And acclamation rufhes from the tongue 
 Of thoufands that around their blazing pile 
 Riot in antic dance and diflbnant fong. 
 
 Far from this earthly ball th' advent'rous Mufs 
 Uplifted, dares to foar her aery way 
 To where in immortality enthron'd 
 The great Redeemer fits at God's right hand. 
 No fond illufion cheats me ; from this fhell 
 Of clay, the foul to brighter climes afpires, 
 Nor feeks imagination's waxen wings 
 To fpeed her courfe. Almighty, infinite 
 The filial Godhead reigns : old Ocean flies 
 Affrighted at his awful nod, whilft Heaven 
 Bows trembling. Mercy's gentle attribute 
 Tempers his juftice : he protects the poor 
 In needful hour of dearth, and from the dial 
 Raifes the weeping penitent : his wrath 
 The blood of goats averts not, or the fat 
 Of coftly hecatombs, or altar wreath'd 
 V/idi clouds of iacer.fe, tho' in Phrygian mood 
 
 The
 
 The laurel-nurtur'd priefts their Pythic hymn 
 Attemper to the virgin choir, that chant 
 Their Doric harmony. Nor deigns he not 
 With pity's eye the contrite heart to view 
 And troubled fpirit : pureft facrifice 
 By him accepted. O emblazon wide 
 His Name, ye creatures that in Heaven, in Earth 
 Or in the wide fea breathe. 
 
 " Dread Judge of alii 
 * Anointed King ! Saviour of fallen Man ! 
 ' All praife to Thee be given ! ere time begart 
 " Thou art, in thy unfathom'd efTence vail'd 
 4 Immenfe. But ftill Perfection deign'd to bear 
 '* Th' infirmities of Man : th' Eternal dyed, 
 Th' Almighty fuffer'd woe. All Heaven beheld, 
 cf And hymn'd in admiration's loudeft notes 
 < Thee crucify'd. Can aught of mortal fong 
 ' Equal thy glory whilft on Earth ? What tongue 
 *' The congregated wonders of thy life 
 " Can fpeak ? To Thee mall Wifdom yield her palm 
 Of fame : in vain fhe boafts the letter 'd art, 
 And all the mazy folly of the fchools^ 
 " Soa'atic knowledge, or the Stag'rite's pomp 
 Of idle {peculation. King of kings, 
 O let thy bright example roufe the foul 
 " To meek humility ! great Interceffor, 
 
 " Pour
 
 CRUCIFIXION. 24 
 
 Pour on thy meanefi: fupplicant the boon 
 
 Of pardon and remiffion. Wean his mind 
 
 From earth-bred care. When the grim hand of Death 
 
 Shall fnatch me weary to the darkibme grave, 
 
 When the laft trumpet's found fhall (hake this globe, 
 
 And defolation urn yon diforb'd worlds, 
 
 Oh fmile forgivenefs. At that awful hour 
 
 Propitious chafe away the fears that fright 
 
 The fluttering foul, nor let thy blood in vain 
 
 Drop from the crofs ! the while may reafon guide 
 
 My every wifti ! may true religion ftrew 
 
 Life's varied path ! 'Tis her's to wipe the tear 
 
 From forrow's eye, to light the lamp of Hope, 
 
 From Revelation's copious fount to pour 
 
 The flreams of Comfort, Peace, and holy Love." 
 
 R THE
 
 THE 
 
 GIFT OF TONGUES. 
 
 BY 
 
 CHARLES JENNER, M; A. 
 M DCC LXVII, 
 
 R? THE
 
 ( 245 ) 
 
 THE 
 
 GIFT OF TONGUES. 
 
 G 
 
 OD's wond'rous pow'r, on That great day reveal'd 
 When from on high the Sacred Influence fell 
 Knowledge and light furpaffing human lore 
 Diffufing in its courfe, vent'rous I fing. 
 O for one tranfient gleam from that pure fount 
 Of light celeftial, whofe all-pow'rful rays 
 Inftant difpell'd the mifts of Ignorance^ 
 Inform'd the mind, and urg'd the willing tongue ! 
 O for one fpark of that tranfcendant Fire^ 
 Which (hed its rapid influence through the Soul, 
 Kindling at once in the aftonifh'd mind 
 The facred flame of heav'n-direfted Zeal^ 
 In ftrains pour'd forth of Wifdom heaven-taught, 
 Which in conception > to perfection fprang, 
 Mocking the tedious fteps of human Wit ! 
 Too vain that wifh. But thou O Spirit pure 
 Who deign'ft to guide the wayward heart of man, 
 
 R 3 When
 
 246 GIFT p F TONGUfiS.' 
 
 When confcious weaknefs claims thy aid 
 Thou from whofe eyes the palpable obfcure 
 Nought hides, who mark'ft my inmott Soul, 
 And check'ft with care paternal ev'ry ill, 
 Suggefting kindly pure and holy thoughts, 
 Frame thou my mind ; Difpofe my humble heart 
 To feel thy goodnefs and adore thy might ; 
 Grant me, with faith to read thy wohd'rous works $ 
 To hear with joy, to tell with gratitude ; 
 Grant me, at humble diftance> to revere 
 Thofe adts of pow'rV I knoSv not how to fcan ; 
 Grant me, with fcorn to view the Sceptic's pride 
 Who dares to tread the dark, meand'ring maze, 
 And ftrive with mortal ken, (how fhort ! how dim !) 
 To trace the fteps of dread Omnipotence j 
 Grant trie, with humble yet exulting mind, 
 In all thy wond'rous works to mark the end, 
 Nor rafhly ftrive to comprehend the means ; 
 To view, with rev'rent awe, the mighty Caufe, 
 And feel with- gratitude the bleft Effedi ; 
 Grant me, in this meek, fobef frame of mind, 
 To view thy goodnefs, and to fing thy praife ; 
 So mail my lays, though rude, attention claim, 
 Nor ufelefs fink in cold oblivion's wave ; 
 Warm from the heart they bear intrinfic worth, 
 And confcience mall bear witnefs to their truth.- 
 
 'Twss
 
 GIFT OF TONGUES. ^47 
 
 5 Twas on that day, that memorable day 
 When erft the Prophet of the favour'd feed 
 From Ifrael fprung, high-honour'd Mofes held 
 With trembling awe, converfe with God himfelf j 
 'Twas on that day, when round the facred mount 
 The rapid lightnings mot their livid glance, 
 Flaming a larger and a larger curve, 
 Whilft the dread Thunder, mutt'ring from afar, 
 With fallen murmur deep'ning in its courfe, 
 Burft ratt'ling all around in difcord wild, 
 When, 'midft the horror of the awful fcene, 
 The holy Prophet learn'd thofe high behefts 
 By which to lead his facred flock, and mew 
 Types of a purer plan in days to come ; 
 On that fame day, the ftill more facred flock 
 Of Chrift, who only mourn'd his recent lofs, 
 Stol'n from die clamours of the impious croud 
 In thought purfu'd his fteps to Heav'n, and cheer'd 
 Each other's griefs with thoughts of blifs to come. 
 
 Not hopelefs did they grieve ; for o'er the Soul 
 His laft bcquelt had fhed a gleam of Joy j 
 *' A comforter to corne" reftrain'd their tears, 
 A ftedfaft faith fupprefs'd the riiing tfgh, 
 And Expectation rais'd their downcaft Eyes. 
 Nor vain their hope j for now with fudden burft 
 
 R 4 A rufhing
 
 34 G 1 y T Of TONGUES, 
 
 A rufhing Noife through all the facred Band 
 Silence profound and fix'd attention claim'd, 
 A chilling terror crept through ev'ry heart, 
 Mute was each tongue, and pale was ev'ry face : 
 The rough roar ceasM ; when, borne on fiery wings, 
 The dazzling Emanation from above 
 In brighten: vifion round each facred head 
 Diffus'd its vivid beams ; myfterious light ! 
 That ru-fh'd impetuous through th' awaking mind, 
 Whilft new Ideas fill'd the paffive Soul, A -*' - 
 Faft crouding in with fweeteft violence. 
 *Twas then amaz'd they caught the glorious flame^ 
 Spontaneous flow'd their all-perfuafive words, 
 Warm from the heart, and to the heart addrefs'd 
 Deep funk their force in ev'ry captiv'd ear. 
 
 O fee the crowd, preffing with eager fteps 
 To catch the flowing periods as they fall ; 
 See how, with wond'ring rapture, they devour 
 The pleafing accents of their native tongue ; 
 See how, with eyes uplifted, they advance, 
 With out-ftretch'd hands and fmiles of focial love 
 To greet the partners of their native Soil ; 
 O catch the varying tranfports in their looks, 
 In awful wonder fee each paflion loft, 
 When ev'ry Nation urg'd an equal claim. 
 
 Fond
 
 GIFT OF TONGUES. 24 9 
 
 Fond men, forbear ; and know, the voice of Truth 
 
 By weak reftraints of Language unconfin'd 
 
 Flows, independent, from that radiant fhrine 
 
 From whence the day-fpring draws her glitt'ring ftore 
 
 To fhine on all with undiftinguifh'd ray, 
 
 And fcatter dazzling light on ev'ry clime. 
 
 Immortal Truth ! by Infpiration taught, 
 Thou fpurn'fl the fervile chains of human art ; 
 In native majefty array'd, thou fhed'ft 
 Thy radiant beams through all this vale below ; 
 Thy piercing voice refounds through diftant climes, 
 By all diftinguifh'd, and by all adorM. 
 Thou fat'ft enthron'd above yon azure vault, 
 And-mock'ft the tedious toil of human wit, 
 What time at Babel's haplefs tow'r they flrove 
 To refcue meaning from the load of founds, 
 And give precifion to the voice confus'd, 
 Reftoring Heav'n's moft pleafing gift to Man. 
 
 Thee neither wind nor wave can circumfcribo, 
 Wide o'er where Ocean fpreads his ample bed 
 Thou flieft at large, to vifit ev'ry more, 
 And pour thy facred voice in ev'ry heart 
 In language universal. What avail 
 To thy all-piercing eye, and tongue heav'n-taught, 
 
 The
 
 25 SIFT OF TONGUE Si 
 
 The nice diftindions of the critic art, 
 
 The foolifh pride of letter'd pedantry, 
 
 Riling, by flow degrees and labour'd care, 
 
 From the firft lifp, which on the infant tongue 
 
 Hangs with uncertain cadence* to the height 
 
 Of Learning's utmoft pow'r ? With fcorn thou view'ft 
 
 The erring paths of Science, falfly call'd ; 
 
 Tracing her flow fteps from her Eaflern home 
 
 Whence firft, in clouded majefty, ihe beam'd 
 
 A tranfient glance, and tempted the purfuit, 
 
 Thou mark'ft .her progrefs from the rapid Nile, 
 
 Where Thebes receiv'd her at her hundred gates; 
 
 And feeft her roll her ever-wand'ring way 
 
 To milder climes, when Greece with open arms 
 
 Receiv'd her credulous ; Old Orpheus then 
 
 And Linus fung their fabled lays, and fpread 
 
 A lengthen'd train of philofophic lies. 
 
 Mocking thou view'ft the pride of human witj 
 
 Whilil Athens felf, fair Science, fav'rite feat, 
 
 And Rome Imperial, vers'd in eV'ry lore, 
 
 Succefslefs toil to bring thee forth to view. 
 
 Thou feelt unnumber'd Syftems rife and fallj 
 
 And ev'ry learned ag6 bring new deceits j 
 
 Whilft tovv'ring Pride ftill lifts her ready harid 
 
 To ciulh the fond delufion of the day$ 
 
 And inftant rear a ftrorigef hi it's place* 
 
 ,,,!.. .
 
 GIFT OF TONGUES. 2^1 
 
 But O ! this blindnefs may not ever be, 
 And vagse Opinion, with ufurping hand, 
 Bright Wifdom's fceptre may not ever wield ; 
 Thou fpeak'ft Immortal Truth ! beneath each pole 
 The trembling Earth acknowledges thy voice ; 
 Pride catches quick the mortifying found, 
 Far, far aloof flies ev'ry golden dream, 
 And all is blindfold Error and diftrete. 
 O ! 'twas That potent voice, whofe magic pow'r 
 Burft through the organs of the facred Band, 
 What time O Salem midft thy hallovv'd walls 
 The mingled crowd from many a diftant realm 
 In fix'd attention hung upon their words, 
 Which, with conviction fraught, flow'd unreftram'd, 
 Though, fkill'd alone in Virtue's facred lore, 
 They never had employ'd life's precious hours 
 In learning's paths ; without proud Science wife, 
 
 By weakeft miriifters th? Almighty thus 
 Makes known his facred will, and mews his pow'r : 
 By Him infpir'd they fpeak with urgent tongue 
 Authoritative, whilil th' illumin'd breail 
 Heaves with unwonted ftrength ; High as their theme 
 Their great conceptions rife in rapt'rous flow, 
 As quick the ready organs catch the thought, 
 And, in fuch itraifts as Science could not teach, 
 
 Bear
 
 252 GIFT OF TONGUES. 
 
 Bear it, in all it's radiance, to the Heart ; 
 The lift'ning throng there feel it's blefs'd effeft, 
 And deep conviction glows in ev'ry breaft. 
 
 See ev'ry crime which flains the human mind 
 At their ftrong bidding take it's rapid flight : 
 Delufion's dreams no more infedl the Soul, 
 High-boafting Pride, fierce Wrath, impetuous Luft, 
 And Avarice fwelling with hydropic thirft, 
 Fade, like unwholefome dews before the Sun : 
 They fade to rife no more ; for fee a band 
 Of radiant Virtues feize their late abode, 
 And ftamp the manfion with the feal of Truth. 
 There heav'nly Knowledge fhines in glitt'ring pride, 
 And Patience fits, with meek fubmiflive fmile 
 Pifarming flern Oppreffion ; Jultice there 
 E reels her rigid teft of right and wrong ; 
 And there, with God's own armour all-begirt, 
 Stands Fortitude, erecl in Chriftian ftrength ; 
 There Temp'rance Hands, with ever-watchful Eye, 
 To curb the Paffions with a Heady rein ; 
 And Candour there her golden rule diiplays 
 To ad by others as thy heart muft wifti 
 They, in like circumftance, (hould aft by thee ; 
 But chiefly there, in ever-fixed feat, 
 Sits heav'-bom Charity j her eagle Eye 
 
 Thrown
 
 GIFT Of T O N G TT E S. 2J3 
 
 Thrown o'er the wide expanfe of Nature's works, 
 
 Where, nobly fcorning ev'ry meaner tye, 
 
 She deems all human ills her own, and fighs 
 
 If aught of mis'ry dwell beneath the Sun. 
 
 With fuch bright guefts the Chriltian mind is ftor'd, 
 
 Pledges of trueft Knowledge, Joy, and Peace : 
 
 Thefe to make known became the facred tafk 
 
 By Heav'n impos'd upon the chofen band ; 
 
 Thrice happy they to fuch high office call'd, 
 
 The blefied minifters of God's high will ! 
 
 For them the fulnefs of his might is fhewn, 
 
 O'erleaping the llrong bounds of Nature's law ; 
 
 Grim Death for them contracts his hafty ftride, 
 
 And checks his Dart ev'n in the al to ftrike ; 
 
 His horrid mefTengers Difeafe and Pain 
 
 Loofe their remorfelefs grafp unwillingly, 
 
 And leave their prey to eafe and thankfulnefs ; 
 
 For them bright Wifdom opens all her itores, 
 
 Her golden treafures fpreading to their view, 
 
 Whilft Infpiration's all-enliv'ning light 
 
 Hangs hov'ring o'er their heads in glitt'ring blaze ; 
 
 Warm'd by the ray they pour the facred ftrain 
 
 In Eloquence feraphic ; Truths divine, 
 
 For ever regifter'd iu Heav'n's high page, 
 
 Flow from their lips, and glow within their breafls j 
 
 Amaz'd they feel the facred extacy, 
 
 With
 
 2(54 GI'FT OF TONGUES, 
 
 With heay'nly rapture, thrill in ev'ry nerve ; 
 Whilft in their flowing words, with Wifdom fraught 
 Celeftial, fhines the heav'nly Spirit pure. 
 This is no fancy'd pow'r, no idle dream, 
 No flatt'ring fcheme by heated Fancy form'd, 
 The genuine Influence fills each raptur'd Soul, , 
 And beams in ev'ry eye confpicuous. 
 
 Far other flame the vain Enthufiaft feels 
 When, Reafon by delufive Fancy led 
 In fad captivity, the Thoughts confus'd 
 Rulh on hi? mind in dark and doubtful fenfe, 
 His mind a chaos of blind zeal, that fpurns 
 Th' unerring clue which mild Difcretion lends. 
 Perchance the clafhing images ftrike out 
 Some languid ray of cafual light ; how foon 
 The weak ai&d momentary glance is loft 
 Beneath a load of wild obfcurity. 
 Much does he labour with fome weighty thought, 
 Of Faith, of Grace, of Heav'n, perchance of Hell f 
 But alljn vain he draws the thread confus'd 
 To tedious length, the end eludes his fearch. 
 And leaves him wr<ipt in wild perplexity 
 Recoiling ftill on the fame beaten track. 
 Thus wayward Fancy with her vagrant blaze 
 the eye of Ignorance j mean while 
 
 ft
 
 GIFT OF TONGUES, 
 
 In vain the fteady lamp of Reafon burns, 
 
 The fure and fober guide to Truth's retreat, 
 
 But ah ! confider well ye felf-infpir'd, 
 
 Ere Fancy, drooping on the bed of Death ? 
 
 Leaves ye forlorn to leek for Reafon's aid, 
 
 Confider well, arc thefe the genuine marks 
 
 Of heav'nly Inipiration ? Was it thus 
 
 In wild extatic rants and dubious phrafe, 
 
 In doctrines intricate and terms perplex'd 
 
 The fimple meflengers of Jefus fpake ? 
 
 O fearch and fee, were not their doSrines pure, 
 
 And in fuch plain and modeft phrafe exprels ' d 
 
 As belt befits Inftrudtion's wholefome plan ? 
 
 Mighty to fave, they fought no other pow'r, 
 
 No meed, but that which confcious Virtue feels 
 
 When me conducts Come haplefs wand'rer back 
 
 To paths, without her aid, for ever loft. 
 
 If fuch your heav'nly aim, your lives unblam'd 
 
 Will give, like theirs, an earneft of your truth ; 
 
 If, daily train'd to ev'ry virtuous aft, 
 
 You tread the fteps the blefled Jefus trod 
 
 Through the ftreight path, the way of holinefs. 
 
 Then may ye lead your flocks to his abode ; 
 
 But O beware ! think not the heav'nly guefl 
 
 Can fix his refidence with aught impure ; 
 
 Think not the heart which Pride or Int'reft guides
 
 2j GIFT OF TONGUES. 
 
 Can ever be the feat of heav'nly grace ; 
 
 If yet the holy Spirit deigns to dwell 
 
 In earthly domes, 'tis not in thofe defil'd 
 
 With Pride, with Fraud, with Rapine, or with Lufl ; 
 
 Midft the rough foliage of the thorny brake 
 
 The cluft'ring Grape not blufhes, and the Fig 
 
 Decks not the prickly Thiftle's barren ftalk, 
 
 Ev'n thus fhall all be meafur'd by their fruits j 
 
 So fpake the living Oracle of truth : 
 
 O never, never lofe this facred guide, 
 
 By ev'ry blaft of doclrine borne away, 
 
 But gazing ever on the Gofpel light, 
 
 That endlefs fource of evidence and truth, 
 
 Prove ev'ry do&rine by that golden rule, 
 
 And " try the Spirits if they be of God," 
 
 THE
 
 r H 
 
 DESTRUCTION 
 
 O F 
 
 N I N I V E H. 
 
 B Y 
 
 CHARLES JENNER, M, A, 
 M DCC .LXVIJI. 
 
 THE
 
 ( 259 ) 
 
 THE 
 
 DESTRUCTION 
 
 O F 
 
 N I N I V E H. 
 
 V_jOD's mercy long abus'd, and heav'nly wrath 
 Succeeding flow with firm and dreadful ftep 
 And arm uplifted high, be now my Theme. 
 Horror ! be thou my Mufe. And lift ye proud, 
 Ye rich, ye vain, for 'tis to you I fing, 
 Lift from your downy beds of Tyrian dye 
 Where funk in carelefs eafe and wortMefs floth, 
 In dreams of pleafures paft or joys to come 
 Batt'ning ye lie ; Lift from your marble Halls 
 Whence, drowning ev'ry wife and ferious thought, 
 The wanton voice of Luxury refounds, 
 Whilft Mirth, uncheck'd by fair Difcretion's law, 
 Pours from the golden goblet's ample round 
 The lufcious poifon of mifufed wine, 
 
 S 2 And
 
 36O DESTRUCTION OF NlNIVEU, 
 
 And hid beneath the garb of Happinefs 
 Steals to your eafy hearts with pkafing guile. 
 With fweet, but certain death. O turn awhile 
 The eye too long on Pleafure's fmiles intent, 
 On your own breafts turn once it's wand'ring fight 
 See ye God's image there ? O rather fay, 
 See ye not there, what erft the Posts feign'd 
 The dire effecl of Circe's mad'ning draught, 
 God's holy image all defac'd, and chang'd 
 To the loath'd form of filthy goats or fwirre, 
 The vital fpark from Heav'n extinct, and funk 
 By bafe contagion to the abject flate 
 Of that blind inftinft which informs the brute : 
 Whilft ye, fo perfect in your mifeiy, 
 Feel not the mortifying change, but boaft 
 Your manly fenfe and reafon unimpair'd. 
 
 True, ye are rich and great : The orient fun 
 Which gilds your ftately turrets with his rays 
 Sees not a clime but whence your riches {peed ; 
 No wind that blows but o'er the oozy flood 
 Wafts your rich barks from fome far diftant more : 
 True, ye have rule o'er all the fea-girt Ifles 
 Which people the vaft bofom of the deep, 
 Whilft at your nod their tributary Lords 
 Wield but your fceptres and difpenfe your laws :
 
 DESTRUCTION OF NINIVEH. 26l 
 
 In ftrength well tried that mocks the pow'r of war 
 
 Aloft in threat'ning pride your city ftands, 
 
 Scoffing the boafted works of Memphian Kings 
 
 When Egypt with the proud AfTyria ftrove 
 
 In wealth and luxury ; Far off 'tis known 
 
 By many a tow'ring ftrufture high, which lifts 
 
 It's proud head to the fky, glitt'ring with gold ; 
 
 Within Eafe, Pomp, and Luxury contend 
 
 Throughout each fpacious ftreet for mattery, 
 
 Whilft midnight revels and gay noontide feafts 
 
 Speak joy and mirth and full fecurity. 
 
 Are ye fo fafe ? Such once was Niniveh ! 
 
 As yours her pow'r and wealth, as yours her crimes : 
 
 Where lies file now ? Go fend your wifemen forth, 
 
 And let them fearch where rapid Tigris rolls 
 
 If there her place be found ; or let them try 
 
 If chance die banks by fair Euphrates wafh'd * 
 
 Boaft not the poor remains of fo much pride ; 
 
 They faultcr long nor fix the truth at length. 
 
 She who ia thraldom led God's chofen flock 
 
 And wav'd her banners o'er the fubjecl Eaft, 
 
 She who for ages fix'd her (lately height 
 
 Jn fuch proud fort as brav'd the frowns of Fats, 
 
 * Though moft authors are of opinion that Niniveh was fituated on 
 the river Tigris, yet no lefs pcrfons than Ctefias and Diodorus Siculus 
 reprefent it as fituatcd on the Euphrates. Vids note f , p. 271. 
 
 s 3 Shone
 
 Zz DESTRUCTION OF NINlVEH, 
 
 Shone but a meteor for a moment's gaze 
 To fall at once nor leave one fpark behind, 
 Not one faint glhnpfe to fay 'twas here, 'twas therev 
 Hear then her doom, and tremble for your own. 
 
 Now had th' Almighty Judge of Heav'n and Earth, 
 Within whofe hand the proud Afiyria ferv'd 
 But as a fcourge to punifii Ifrael's fin, 
 With indignation view'd the Victor's pride, 
 Who flufh'd with conqueft and debauch'd by wealth 
 Spurn'd at high Heav'n, and midft their gorgeous feafU 
 Gave honour to themfelves, nor thought on God, 
 Save to blafpheme his name, who impious trod 
 Beneath irrev'rent feet his high beheits 
 Indulging ev'ry fenfe ; th' impetuous youth 
 Following with eager fteps and dauntlefs front 
 Wherever paffion or lewd rapine call'd, 
 Whilft aged Sires, on tott'ring crutches prop'd r 
 Look'd fmiling on, and with a guilty iigh 
 Envied their fons the joys they could not mare. 
 
 He faw, and turn'd him loth to his revenge ; 
 Nor ftruck at once, but with a parent's care 
 Whofe arms are ever open to receive 
 The humbled prodigal who turns, though late, 
 To feek his face, fent forth his holy word 
 
 Of
 
 DESTRUCTION OF NINIVEM. 263 
 
 Of his moft juft though moft fevere intent 
 Warning to give The word to Jonah came ; 
 Who all unus'd to bear fuch high commands 
 Save to God's own eleft, * with doubtful mind 
 Paus'd wond'ring. Ill, full ill fuch paufe becam* 
 Him who ere then had heard that mighty voice, 
 Who knew that found to thofe who difobey 
 Terrific as the thunder's cram, but mild 
 As the foft wind which fann'd Eve's rofeate bow'r 
 Ere Sin had footing there, to thofe who hear 
 And fly with duteous heart to execute. 
 Why did he paufe ? Ah why ! unlefs to (hew 
 To after times that he whofe fault'ring mind 
 But one fhort moment wavers in fufpence 
 When Duty calls, gives the Arch-tempter time 
 To gain firm footing in his Soul, and urge 
 Some well-devifed plea to ftop his courfe. 
 Why did he hefitate, why inly mew 
 Reluctance againft God, or by a thought 
 Diftruft his firmnefs, or fufpecl; his truth ! 
 Sv>,ift to betray and ever on the watch, 
 The fubtle Tempter that fliort moment feiz'd 
 
 * Jonas ne fut fas feulement appelle comme les autres Prophetes, a 
 reprendre les dix tribus de leur Idolatries, Dieu lui donna aujjl la com- 
 miflion d' aller denoncer aux Ninivites la ruine da leu* Ville et leur 
 tale, L'Hiftoirc de la Bible par Martinj pi<*. 254. 
 
 s 4 T
 
 264 DESTRUCTION OF NINIVEHV 
 
 .To raife a mift before the Prophet's fight, 
 Which fhew'd it poffible to flee from God. 
 
 O where was that all-iacred fpirit flown 
 Which ertt had glow'd within his fervent breaft, 
 That fire prophetic, fitted and impell'd 
 To nobleft purpofes by God's own hand r 
 Which unappall'd by guilt, unchecked by fear, 
 Should fcatter terror through an impious world. 
 And tell the dreadful tale of wrath to come ! 
 'Twas gone, and in it's place wild frantic feat 
 And bafe diftruft and impious doubt fprang up 
 Sinking the Prophet in the Man. He flies,, 
 O miferable change ! the vidlirn now 
 No longer the dread harbinger alone 
 Of heav'nly wrath : he flies, nor turns to think; 
 'Till fcenes of horror ftrike his confcious heart, 
 And quick deflru&ion thunders to his foul. 
 Wide o'er the raging billows of the deep 
 Wild Horror ftalks with afped terrible, 
 Whilft plunging deep full many a fathom down 
 He learns by fad experience to declare 
 How heavy 'tis to feel the wrath of Heav'n, 
 And bear the vengeance of an angry God. 
 Nor yet untried he tells the happier tale 
 Of mercy, when with pitying hand outftretch'd 
 
 "' TO
 
 PESTRUCTION OF NIN1VEH. 265. 
 
 To refcue from the very grafp of Death, 
 
 That Pow'/ fupreme by whom the ftorm is rais'd, 
 
 Provides unhop'd-for fafety in die deep. 
 
 In vain the lightnings {hoot their ghailly gleam, 
 
 Wild thunders roar, and Ocean groaning deep 
 
 Lifts it's o'erwhelming billows to the fky, 
 
 Unhurt he iffues from his living tomb, 
 
 His glad eye op'ning on the light of heav'n, 
 
 And wrapt in wonder, joy and gratitude, 
 
 With eager Hep purfues his deftin'd. way, 
 
 Type of that plan fupreme not yet fulfill'd *, 
 
 Which reconcil'd the vengeance due to guilt 
 
 With " that dear might" which loos'd the bands of Death. 
 
 'Twas morn, and o'er the glitt'ririg tow'rs the Sun 
 Shed wide his kindling beams ; illum'd with gold 
 Aloft the fpiry turrets fhone, and wav'd 
 Their filken banners ftreaming in the wind 
 With gay difplay ; bedeck'd with martial fpoils, 
 From haplefs Ifrael won, rich trophies rofe, 
 And frequent grac'd the walls. With confcious pride 
 His wide domain the victor Monarch view'd, 
 Whilft, fitting high amid a gaudy herd 
 Of Sycophants, he gave a loofe to joy, 
 
 * There fhall no fign be given it but the Cgn of the prophet Jonas. 
 S. Matt. xvi. 4, 
 
 Rais'd
 
 Z66 RESTRICTION OF NINIVEH* 
 
 Rais'd a whole nation's voice in feftive fongs, 
 And taught his ready flaves, too prone to learn r 
 That luxury alone is happinefs. 
 
 Slow and unnotic'd through the fpacious ftreets 
 The holy prophet walk'd and mark'd their pride. 
 He mark'd their pow'r, he mark'd their wealth, and now 
 A heaving figh he ftole, whilft all around 
 The growing multitudes he view'd, who throng' d 
 Thick as the infect race which quiv'ring float 
 With hurn incefTant on the evening breeze. 
 Sorrowing he mark'd the jocund air which fhone 
 la ev'ry face and brighten'd ev'ry eye, 
 Whilft all was joy and mirth and carelefs eafe j 
 Sad contrail to the profpeft in his foul ! 
 He figh'd, and one mild look of pity caft, 
 " Jufl Heav'n but forty days ! thy will be done !** 
 Then op'ning flow the book of Fate, he turn'd 
 And " O" he cried " Vain, heedlefs race attend, 
 " Ye who with giant pride a courfe full long 
 " Of old, unfeeling vice have run, and ye 
 " Whom Luxury with foft feducing fmile 
 " Allures, and binds^in filken chains, attend ; 
 " Leave, leave, for ever leave your gay delights, 
 " Your wonted triumphs and your ceafelefs mirth, 
 " For O fad change ! a long long train of woes, 
 
 Like
 
 DESTRUCTION OF NINIVEH. 267 
 
 * { Like a fwart fiorm which gathers in the wind, 
 
 " Hangs hov'ring o'er your <'e!Hn'd heads, and waits 
 
 But the fcant hour appointed ere it burfts 
 
 " And crumbles you to duft. Unhappy ftate ! 
 
 " Quick quick the moment comes when all thy ftrength 
 
 " Which triumph'd far and wide with greedy pow'r 
 
 " Shall fink to lefs than woman's weaknefs, fall'n 
 
 " Beneath the hopelefs abjecl ftate of thofe 
 
 " Who felt the keen edge of thy Tyranny* 
 
 " I fee thy ftrong tow'rs nod, thy bulwarks rock, 
 
 " Thy ftately fabricks from their center heave, 
 
 " Whilft Defolation like a whirlwind flies 
 
 " In one fad ruin overwhelming a!!. 
 
 ' Go feek your King amid ft his pageant ftate, 
 
 .' Nor tremble at his look, but bid him fear ; 
 
 " And boldly tell him one unwelcome truth, 
 
 " That now, ev'n now the hand of Heav'n is rear'd, 
 
 '* Or ere the fortieth Sun mall rife and fet, 
 
 " To Mail the blooming laurels on his brow, 
 
 " And hurl him from his car of triumph down, 
 
 " No more to rife, but with his meaneic Haves 
 
 " To lie confounded in one gen'ral doom." 
 
 All pow'rful is the voice of -Truth : Aghaft 
 The trembling people ftand, nor doubt his words, 
 Whilil coward Confcience whifpers to their foul 
 
 How
 
 Z63 DESTRUCTION OF NINIVEH. 
 
 How lefs than nothing is the aid which wealth 
 Or povv'r can lend againft the wrath of Heav'n. 
 By fenfe of danger roua'd, they bow the knee 
 And proftrate turn to God, rcmember'd fcarce 
 Nor ever fought in moments happier deem'd : 
 Themfelves fuificient to themfelves, they fcorn'd 
 To court his fmile, but dar'd not brave his frown. 
 Fear taught them firft to kneel and firft to pray, 
 Whilft memory officious to their view 
 Held the black regifler of their mifdeeds. 
 Defpair firft taught their harden'd hearts to melt, 
 And turn'd the fiint-ftone to a fpringing-well, 
 Whence flovv'd in copious ftreams thpfe contrite tears 
 Which fail not in the eye of Heav'n to purge 
 The foul from guilt, and wafh out ev'ry ftain. 
 
 Nor vain their pray'rs, their tears ; for Heav'n who 
 
 form'd 
 
 Knows well the frailty of the fbns of earth, 
 Nor feeks perfection there, but kindly deigns 
 To raife the humbled fuiner from the duft, 
 And give to penitence the promis'd meed 
 Of virtue undefil'd. A nation's tears 
 Abfolv'd a nation's guilt ; and gracious Heav'n 
 With mild relenting eye and arm reilrain'd 
 jReceiv'd their proffer'd vows. JBut ah ! how vain, 
 
 How
 
 BESTRTJCTION OF NINIVEH. 269 
 
 How weak is Man ! how frail his beft refolves ! 
 But fraileft thofe which owe their hafty birth 
 To fear ; how fliort, ho\tf tranfient is their life. 
 Hardly obtain'd, they Ihine but like the fparks 
 Struck from the flint, which fcarce outlive the blow. 
 Ev'n thus, or ere the fortieth Sun had fat, 
 The dreaded fen fence feem'd an idle dream, 
 And the full tide of Sin, awhile reflrain'd, 
 Rufh'd madly forward with redoubled force, 
 Precluding ev'ry hope of future grace. 
 That Heav'n mould find it eafier to forgive 
 Than wayward man alas to be forgiv'n ! 
 But O unhappy flate ! O defp'rate race ! 
 A fterner prophet, ISRAEL'S COMFORTER*, 
 Hath dipp'd his pen in blood 'to write thy doom. 
 Too deep the reeking fword mall ftrike, too near 
 To trifle with its edge ; again 'tis drawn, 
 And never never fliall be fheath'd, 'till wide 
 It fpreads deftruftion o'er thy plains, nor leaves 
 A hand to bury or an eye to weep. 
 
 * Naum qui interpretatur Confolator. Jam enim decem tribus ab 
 Afiyriis deduftae fuerant in captivitatem fub Ezechia Rege Juda, fub 
 quo etiam nunc in confolationem populi tranfmigrati, adverfum Nini- 
 yzn vifio cernitur. Hieron. in Naum, 
 
 Hark
 
 2JO DESTRUCTION OF NIN1VEH. 
 
 Hark where the conqu'ring Mede with furious voice 
 Calls loud for help ; Stern Babylon replies * j 
 Together roll their rattling chariots on, 
 Their blended Armies gather as they run, 
 And brandilhing their eager faulchions high 
 Impetuous rufh like Lions on their prey. 
 They come, they come, lo where thy weak hofts fly, 
 Nor fly in fafety ; fee they fink, they fall, 
 Fall like ripe fruit, or yellow autumn leaves, 
 And ftrew the vidor's path. Loft in amaze 
 Thy haruy vet'rans ftand to fee fuch feats 
 As turn their bloodieft wars to childifh frays ; 
 And ever and anon with anguilh pierc'd 
 " Stand, ftand," they faintly cry, but none regards f, 
 ' Turn, daftard flaves," but no one will look back. 
 Frantic with fear they lofe the pow'r to raife 
 One warding fhield to break the Victor's ftroke : 
 Th' enfanguin'd field alone with carnage ftrew'd 
 Awhile impedes their eager way : But now, 
 Through icenes of Horror buriling, at thy walls 
 
 * This point, I think, is generally agreed upon, That Niniveh 
 was taken and deftroyed by the Medes and Babylonians 5 thefe two re- 
 belling and uniting together, fubverted the Aflyrian empire. Bp. 
 Newton on the Prophecies, vol. III. pag. 261. 
 
 f Nahum ii. g. 
 
 A thou-
 
 DESTRUCTION OF NINIVEH. t"]\ 
 
 A thoufand banners wave, and purple {pears 
 Unnumber'd prefs ; vainly thy ports are barr'd, 
 Thy firong tow'rs man'd with many a hardy chief, 
 Vain thy ilrong holds, vain all thy ancient might, 
 For lo the rapid flood impetuous fwells *, 
 And Deflation borne upon its waves 
 In dreadful pomp, invades thy tott'ring wall, 
 And rides in horrid triumph through the breach. 
 Remembrance now calls forth the fiatt'ring tale 
 Prophetic, which thy fage Forefathers told f, 
 Your wife men fighing make their hoary heads, 
 Foreboding now th' unlook'd-for time is come 
 When the proud ftream mall lift her rebel waves 
 Again ft thofe facred walls which grace her ihore. 
 
 And now thy bulwarks nod, they bow, they fall, 
 Low, low on earth thy proftrate glory lies. 
 
 * Nahum i. 8. 
 
 f- This alludes to the following paiTage in Diodorus Siculus. H 
 S'&vliii XoyKjy, &c. Atqui vaticiaium a majoribus trauitum habebat, 
 a nullo capi Ninum pofTe nifi fluvius urbi prius hoftis evaderet. Ter- 
 tio demum anno accidit, ut Euphrates continuis imbrium graviffimorum 
 tempeftatibus excrefceus, urbis partem inundaret et mnrum ad ftadia 
 \iginti dejiceret. Turn vero finem habere oraculum, amnemque ma- 
 nifefte urbi hoftem efle Rex judican 1 ;, fpem falutie abjecit. Dioderus 
 Siculus, lib. 2. 
 
 No*
 
 47* DESTRUCTION OF NINIVEH. 
 
 Now rooted from their bafe the fculptur'd dome, 
 
 The ftately column and the floried arch, 
 
 In awful ruin lie : Whilft ruthlefs War, 
 
 The keen Scythe fnatching from the hand of Time 
 
 With fpeedier rage to deal definition round, 
 
 Levels the work of ages at a blow ; 
 
 Nor one proud track of ancient glory leaves, 
 
 Save what the rolls of mem'ry may fupply 
 
 Uncertain, or the eye inquifitive 
 
 Trace from the mould'ring heaps of fcatter'd pride, 
 
 As through thy grafs-grovvn ftreets with fearful tread 
 
 The trav'ler ftrays, cafting a wary look, 
 
 Left bafking in the fculptur'd cornice lurk 
 
 The flimy adder or the mottled fnake, 
 
 And ftarting hears the horrid night-bird's fcream 
 
 From off the gilded chapiter refound 
 
 With lonely eccho through the mofs-grown walls. 
 
 Thus blafted in its very noon of pride 
 Falls the weak State whofe tott'ring bafe is laid 
 Unftable in the fand of human pow'r. 
 And mark her fall, ye gen'rous band, who claim 
 The honour'd name of Patriot, mark it well, 
 And let it grave this lefTon on your heart, 
 ' They raife a Nation's ftrength alone, who raife 
 P. A Nation's virtue ;" think how weak, how vain 
 
 Proves
 
 ESTRX7CTION OF NINIVEH. 
 
 Proves ev'ry State which boafls not her fupport, 
 Like the myfterious Gourd, beneath whofe (hade 
 The Prophet fat, it bloflbms for a day ; 
 But deep within its canker'd root conceal'd 
 The worm of Sin with ever rankling tooth 
 Preys on its vital part : unmark'd, unfeen 
 The inbred venom works, 'till drooping fait, 
 Its blufhing honours finking to the duft, 
 It fades forgot, nor leaves to after times 
 The precious odour of a good report. 
 
 THE

 
 T H B 
 
 DEDICATION 
 
 OF T H 5 
 
 TEMPLE OF SOLOMON* 
 
 HODS OK, M A 
 M DCC LXX t 
 
 Ta 
 
 THE
 
 DEDICATION 
 
 O fr THE 
 
 TEMPLE OF SOLOMON, 
 
 J[ HE pious ad of IfraePs peaceful King, 
 Whofe praife re-eccho'd by the trump of Fame 
 Beyond the confines of remoteft, lands, 
 From Sheba, and from Araby the bleft, 
 From Afric's dcfcrts, and the Eaftern mores 
 Where rapid Indus rolls his golden waves, 
 To Solyata allur'd unnumber'd crowds, 
 To hear the wifdom falling from, his tongue, 
 And catch the honey'd accents of his mouth, 
 J fing. From that refplendent .throne, where rob'd 
 In majefty nreffable. thou fitt'ft, 
 Defcend, celeftial Mufe ! Urania ! Thee 
 I call ; dcfcend, and breathe into my verfe 
 Thy folemn founds, thy foul-commanding pow'r, 
 Until it pour its thund'ring tide along, 
 In numbers equal to its fwelling theme.; 
 
 T 3 Fell
 
 278 DEDICATION Of THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON. 
 
 Fell Difcord now, her robes befmear'd with blood, 
 Her breath more fatal than the deadly plague, 
 Whofe humid wings, furcharg'd with foul difeafe, 
 Deftroy the blufhes of the rofy fpring, 
 And blaft fair Nature's pride ; no more laid wafle 
 The verdant beauty of Judea's plains. 
 No more the trumpet's fhrill-ton'd clangor pierc'd 
 The wide-extended vault of Heav'n, and call'd 
 The Warrior forth, where louder than the burft, 
 When mingled thunders make the lab'ring pole, 
 The din of battle roar'd. The matron now 
 And hoary fire, no more, their cheeks bedew'd 
 With tears, their hands uplifted to the throne 
 Of Heav'n, befought their fathers God to clofe 
 Their aged eyes, and give their forrows reft. 
 For War's deflroying fword had ceas'd to fpread 
 Its horrors thro' the land, and meek-ey'd Peace, 
 With Plenty in her train, from her full lap 
 Shower'd down rich bleffings on the famifli'd earth, 
 'Till hill and valley fmil'd, and every fcene 
 Was chang'd from woe, to extafy and joy. 
 
 Thrice happy nation ! favorites of Heaven ! 
 Selefted from the kingdoms of the earth 
 To be his chofen race, ordain'd to fpread 
 His glory thro' remoteft realms, and teach 
 
 The
 
 BEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON. 279 
 
 The gentile world Jehovah's awful name. 
 Oh had ye known the bleffings ye enjoy'd ! 
 Ye could not have indulg'd that impious rage, 
 Which fcrupled not to leave your God, and bow 
 The knee to Moloch, horrid king ! which dar'd 
 Defile his holy place, with impious carnage, 
 And fear'd not to infult his Majefty, 
 Whofe awful word could crumble into duft 
 Your idol gods, and you. At whofe command 
 Th' affrighted waves retir'd, and flood on heaps 
 As tho* an adamantine mound had ftopt 
 Their rapid courfe, and to the fun, (a fight, 
 Whate'er the bards of old fabling relate, 
 Unkown before ;) the chambers of the deep 
 Difclos'd. But when his chofen race had pafs'd, 
 At his dread call with mighty noife they rufh'd, 
 More furious than the rolling blaft of night, 
 Which inftant from its knotted center tears 
 The mountain oak, whofe tow'ring head, unmov'd 
 For ages brav'd the winds of heaven ; or than 
 The horrid burft which (hakes the cavern'd earth, 
 When ./Etna vomits forth her livid fires ; 
 And 'mid the fwelling torrent overwhelm'd 
 The haughty tyrant, and his wretched crew, 
 Who dur-i prefume to tread that path, which God 
 H.id made for Ifrael alone. Oh more 
 
 T 4 Than
 
 2$O DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLK 0? SOLOMOlfi 
 
 Than mortal blindnefs ! to reje&his kind 
 
 Paternal care, whofe bounteous hand, amid 
 
 The barren wildernefs for forty years, 
 
 Had fed your fathers with the bread of heaven 5 
 
 Who made you ride upon the vanquiih'd neck* 
 
 Of mighty kings, and rais'd you up a prince 
 
 To blefs Judea's happy land ; a prince 
 
 With ev'ry gift adorn'd, and fram'd alike 
 
 To dare the horrors of the tented field 
 
 While battle roll'd againfl his fide, or grace 
 
 The gentle arts of peace. But who, great King ! 
 
 Can worthily exprefs thy praife ? Thy lyre, 
 
 Thy living lyre alone, whofe dulcet founds 
 
 In gentleft murmurs floating on the air, 
 
 Could calm the fury of the woe-ftruck king, 
 
 And footh the agony which pierc'd his heart ; 
 
 Or when thou fwept'ft the matter firings and roll'dft 
 
 The deep impetuous tide along, with more 
 
 Than mortal found, could'ft raife his raptur'd foul 
 
 To extafy ; or from the tortur'd firings 
 
 Harfh diicord making, fink him in the gulph 
 
 Of dire dcfpair, while horror chill'd his blood, 
 
 And from each pore the agonizing fweat 
 
 Diftill'd ; that deep-ton'd lyre alone, can fing 
 
 Thy fervent piety, thy glowing zeal, 
 
 Whofe righteous foul, aggriev'J to fee the ark, 
 
 That
 
 DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON. 28 
 
 That holy fan&uary which contain'd 
 
 The facred tranfcript of the will of God, 
 
 From place, to place, by hands prophane conduced, 
 
 And oft, oh facrilege ! become the prey 
 
 Of impious Philiftines, refolv'd to build 
 
 An holy temple to the God of Holts, 
 
 An habitation to contain this pledge 
 
 Of heav'nly love, thofe laws, which from Mount Sinai 
 
 Jehovah cloath'd with terrors, while thick clouds, 
 
 And darknefs wrapt him round, pronounc'd in founds 
 
 Which chill'd the hearts of thofe who heard, and froze 
 
 Their vital blood. Beneath whofe awful feet 
 
 Earth trembled, and the lofty mountain fhook, 
 
 Hoarfe thunder growl'd, and livid lightnings flafh'd. 
 
 While founds of horror and diilrefs, amid 
 
 The howling wildernefs were heard. Approach, 
 
 Ye boaftcd fages of proud Greece ! and Rome ! 
 
 Approach this facred fcene I and blufh. Attend, 
 
 Oh vain Philofophy ! thou wand'ring light ! 
 
 Which haft fo oft milled our fteps, attend ! 
 
 And proftrate at this heav'nly fhrine, lament 
 
 Thy blindnefs, and forego thy pride ; here call 
 
 Thy trophies down, uudeck thyfelf of all 
 
 Thy borrow'd plumes, and own the fountain whence 
 
 Thy hoary fons receiv'd the living fire, 
 
 Which animates the glowing page they penn'd. 
 
 Oh
 
 48i DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON. 
 
 Oh happy David ! whofe exalted foul 
 Such heav'nly ardour breath'd ; thrice happy thou ! 
 To frame the blefs'd defign, aitho' deny'd 
 The full completion of thy fervent wifh. 
 That holy care the God of peace referv'd 
 For thy lov'd Son, whofe hands the bloody fword 
 Of ruthlefs war had ne'er Jefil'd, whom Heav'n 
 Had crovvn'd with every gift his heart could frame, 
 
 His fond ideas paint. Yes, favour'd prince 1 
 
 That envied happinefs was thine ; 'twas thee 
 
 Th' Almighty chofe among the fons of men, 
 
 To dedicate a temple to his name, 
 
 Where he, whofe awful prefence fills the vaft 
 
 Immenfity of fpace, who makes the clouds 
 
 His chariot, rides fublime the whirlwind's wing, 
 
 And guides the raging ftorm, would deign to dwell, 
 
 And make his prefence known. Th' exalted talk 
 
 Thy princely vvifdom worthily perform 'd j 
 The pride of every region, every clime, 
 Thy pious care felefted for the work, 
 And brought to Solyma ; whofe magazines 
 Th' united produce of the world contain'd. 
 Here might be feen the treafures of the Eaft, 
 The boafted wealth of Taprobana's * mores, 
 With varied fplendour ftruck the dazzled eye, 
 
 * Bochart's Chanaan, B. I. Ch. 46. 
 
 And
 
 DEDICATION OF THE TEMFtE OP SOLOMON. 283 
 
 And fham'd thy radiant light, oh Sun ! Beneath 
 
 Thy foft'ring hand, the glorious flructure rofe, 
 Whofe haughty front on mafly pillars built, 
 Contemn'd the earth, and menaced the ftars* 
 Whofe roofs, and walls, for which old Lebanon 
 Gave up the pride of years, with precious gems, 
 And gold were overlaid ; whofe lofty gates 
 On golden hinges hung, unfolding wide 
 With folemn found, which thro' the fretted vaults 
 In pealing ecchoes ran, difplay'd the vaft 
 Magnificence which llruck th' aftonifh'd view, 
 Where every grace, and beauty, art could frame, 
 
 Or human Ikill invent, blaz'd on the fight. 
 
 But chief the inner houfe, the holy feat 
 
 Defign'd to guard the bleffed covenant 
 
 Which Heav'n with man had made, employ'd thy care. 
 
 The em'rald's vivid hue, the diamond's glow, 
 
 Whofe lucid rays the ab fence of the fun 
 
 Supplied, compos'd its facred walls. Here flood 
 
 The confecrated veflels, highly wrought 
 
 Of bright Parvaim gold, where branching palms, 
 
 And Cherubs myftic forms, the fculptor's pow'r 
 
 And wondrous art difplay'd. Here too was plac'd 
 
 The holy altar, where the great high Prieft 
 
 Each year prefented to the throne of Heav'n 
 
 The blood of victims, and invok'd the God 
 
 Of
 
 84 DEDICATION 'OF -THX 'TEMPLE OT SOEOMOtf. 
 
 Of facrifice, to hear a nation's pray'r. 
 
 Two lofty Cherubins with wings of .gold, 
 
 Of gold from Ophir brought, extended wide 
 
 The entrance kept, and fpread a folemn fliadei 
 
 And left unhallow'd hands inould dare defile 
 
 The facred utenfils, or curious pry 
 
 Into the holy myfteries, a'veil 
 
 Conceal'd them from the view, through which the Priefl 
 
 Alone prefum'd to pafs. But flop, my Mufe ! 
 
 Where is the adamantine pen, whofe courfe 
 
 Unwearied as the Sun, has ftrength to paint 
 
 Thofe endlefs wonders, where the raviflrd eye. 
 
 From beauty, ra^g'd to beauty, without end. 
 
 Oh glorious Temple ! worthy of the God 
 
 Whofe fplendid fhrine thou waft ! what can compart 
 
 With Thee ? -Ye wonders of the Heathen world I 
 
 Ye boafted wonders ! where is now your pride ? 
 
 Ye pyramids ! whofe tow'ring heads arofe 
 
 Into the Iky, and darkned Egypt'.' land j 
 
 Ye walls of Babylon ! the far-fam'd work 
 
 Of her, who with a woman's form pofftfs'd 
 
 The noble firmnefs of a manly foul ; 
 
 Where is your grandeur now ? Your honour's loft, 
 
 Your glory is eclips'd. Ye works of vanity ! 
 
 Unworthy incenfe to the pride of Man ! 
 
 Ye trophies of deftroying Time ! Your fame 
 
 One
 
 JJEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON. 2 
 
 One day Jhall fail \vithout a veftige left 
 
 To fnew you, once have been.. Not fo {halt Thou, 
 
 Thrice hallow 'a Pile ! whofe Heav'n-infpir'd defign 
 
 Seraphic love, and pious ardour breath'd. 
 
 For tho' an impious Tyrant's daring hand, 
 
 Shall call thy bulwarks to the ground, and tread 
 
 Thy glory in the duft, thy memory 
 
 Shall laft, pure as th' unfuliied light of Heav'n, 
 
 Recorded in that hallow'd page, whofe truths, 
 
 Whofe facred truths fhall live, when years {hall roll 
 
 No more, and every period which has mark'd 
 
 The furrow'd cheek of Time, amid the vaft, 
 
 Unf athom'd ocean of Eternity 
 
 Be loft. 
 
 * The golden feafon of the year 
 Now haft'ned on, when yellow-haired Autumn, 
 His head with ("welling {heaves, and purple fruits 
 Encircled, pours his choiceft treasures forth, 
 Fair Nature's glowing pencil, dipt amid 
 The blufhing tints which deck the bow of Heav'n, 
 With rip'ntd beauty paints the waving fcene. 
 The Sun now darts no more that burning rage, 
 Whofe fierce effulgence drives the fainting world, 
 To feek the cooling ftream, or fliady bow'r ; 
 His fweeteft beams he ftieds, attemper'd foft 
 
 * It was in the month Ethanim that the people were afTembled. 
 
 Thro'-
 
 286 DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMOW. 
 
 Thro' fleecy clouds, whofe animating warmth 
 With wild luxuriance ftrews the lap of earth, 
 And crowns the fmiling fields with gen'rous plenty. 
 'Twas then Judea's pious King, beneath 
 Whofe foft'ring care the coftly edifice, 
 The labour'd work of many a year, receiv'd 
 That folemn grandeur which became the pride, 
 And wonder of fucceeding times ; proclaim'4 
 A folemn feaft, and calPd to Salem's tow'rs 
 The fons of Judah, fcatter'd wide around 
 Her diflant hills, from Hermon, to the mount 
 Of Horebj down whofe rock-encumber'd fide, 
 In plenteous torrents roll'd the chryftal ftream, 
 Struck by that potent Rod, which once ftretch'd forth 
 Upon the {edgy waters of old Nile, 
 To putrid gore his circling waves congeal'd. 
 As when the fountains of the roaring deep, 
 No longer burflirtg o'er their cavern'd bed, 
 Had ceas'd to pour their fwelling billows forth, 
 Nor one unbounded fea this earthly ball 
 O'erwhelm'd ; th' unnumber'd fpecies who efcap'4 
 The wild uproar, and univerfal wreck, 
 . Defcended from the cloud-envellop'd top 
 Of Ararat, to plant the defart wafte, 
 .And animate the lifelefs globe ; fo ru{b/d 
 The num'rous race of Jacob, to behold 
 
 The
 
 DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON. 287 
 
 The facred pomp, and join the general joy. 
 Scarce could her ample palaces contain 
 The countlefs hoft, which crowded to her gates. 
 No clouded bro.v was fieri, but pleafure fiil'd 
 Each bounding heart, and fparkled in each eye. 
 Pale Melancholy, with her murky train, 
 And Envy's haggard cheek, accuriod brood 
 Of Sin and Death, far from the happy fcene 
 Where decent Mirth, and pious Gladnefs blefs'd 
 The circling hours, amid the dreary realms 
 Of fable-hooded Night, their native clime, 
 Where black-brow'd Darknefs flaps his raven wings, 
 Their horrid fliapes, and fqualid looks conceal'd. 
 The bounteous King each care fupplied, and grac'd 
 The feftive board, where joyous Plenty fmiPd, 
 And generous goblets crown'd the rich repaft. ... .. 
 
 At length the morn which brought the hallow'd day, 
 
 Deiign'd to folemnize the myfteries, 
 
 And confecrate to Heav'n's eternal King 
 
 The glorious fabric to his honour rais'd, 
 
 With rofy fteps advanc'd, purpling the Eaft. 
 
 Soon as the flaming car of light had left 
 
 Old Ocean's bed, and bounding up Heav'n's vault 
 
 Upon the gloomy world had pour'd the flood 
 
 Of day ; the trumpet's lofty found the rites 
 
 Proclaim'd, and to the royal palace call'd 
 
 The
 
 288 DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON. 
 
 The Priefts, the Elders, and th' unnumber'd crowd, 
 Which fill'd the walls of Solyma. The grand 
 Proceffion thence began. Firft march'd the guards 
 In burnifh'd arms refplcndent to. the fun. 
 The vidlims next, more num'rous than the flocks^ 
 And lowing herds, upon a thoufand hills, 
 An offering of peace approach'd. To thefe 
 The great high Prieft, in facred .veflments rob'dj 
 Succeeded, holding in his aged hand* 
 The knife of Sacrifice. His filver locks 
 A mitre, rich inlaid with pearls, adorn'd, 
 Upon whofe front thefe characters were grav'd 
 In words of gold, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. 
 Around his trembling limbs, which bent beneatli 
 The weight, was wrapt a purple ephod deck'd 
 With coftly gems, and gold ; and on his breaft 
 The myftic Urim, and the Thummim fhone. 
 Behind were feen the Priefts, and Levites, cloath'4 
 In linen garments white as mountain fnow, 
 Bearing the holy ark, with reverence, 
 And awe. Around in order march'd the fingers. 
 Hymning Jehovah's name in fongs of praife. 
 With every ftrain the filver trumpets breath'd 
 Their fwelling notes, and pierc'd the ambient air ; 
 At which th' attendant throng enraptur'd join'd 
 The num'rous choir ia fhouts of heart-felt joy, 
 
 And
 
 DEDICATION OF THE TEMfLE OF SOLOMON. 2$C) 
 
 And fang Hofafmahs to the King of Kings, 
 
 Who was, and is, and is to come, 'till HeavVs 
 
 Capacious dome re-eccho'd to the found. 
 
 Next came the king array'd in crimfon robes, 
 
 And feated on a car of folid goldv 
 
 Around him walk'd the nobles of his court, 
 
 In purple cloath'd of richeft hue, the work 
 
 Of Tyre, for fkill, and cunning fam'd, Behind 
 
 Appear'd the guard?, who clos'd the pompous fcene ; 
 
 Which round the city's wide-ltretch'd circuit march'd 
 
 With flow and folemn pace, until they reach'd 
 
 The Temple's lofty gates, whofe ample round 
 
 The num'rous train admitted ; where arriv'd, 
 
 Within the fan&uary's hallow'd fpace 
 
 They plac'd the Ark, and while the great High Prieft 
 
 With due luftrations fan&ify'd the courts, 
 
 And folemniz'd the myfteries, again 
 
 They ftruck the chorded fhell, and caroll'd fweet 
 
 Th' impaffion'd hymn of praife.- The deftin'd vi&ima 
 
 Upon the altar bound, he now approach'd, 
 
 To plunge into their breafts the facred knife, 
 
 When Solomon defcending from his feat, 
 
 Where underneath a canopy of gold 
 
 Sublime he fat, and bending low, addrefs'd 
 
 The throne of Heav'n. No more the choral long 
 
 Was heard, their golden lyres no mor* breath'd forth 
 
 U The
 
 2<JO DE3ICATIO-N OF THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMOW* 
 
 The melting rapture, every Voice was hufhM, 
 A death-like filence reign'd around, and mute 
 Attention dwelt upon each tongue. Oh Thou 
 Who erft didft open Zacharias' lips, 
 Eternal Spirit ! fearcher of all hearts ! 
 Breathe thro* my inmofl foul that light divine, 
 Whofe pure unclouded fountains once infpir'd 
 Thy prophets myftic pens ; that I may catch 
 Th' extatic fervour which inflam'd his breaft, 
 While raptur'd at the altar's hallow'd foot LM&I 
 Thefe facred accents glow'd upon his tongue : 
 
 " FATHER omnipotent ! Eternal God ! 
 " Thrice holy ! felf-exiftent ! Pow'r fupreme ! 
 " Whofe mighty word yon mafly fpheres attun'd, 
 " And call'd the wonders of creation forth. 
 ** Thou whom the fun in his eternal courfe, 
 " And morning ftars infpher'd, together quire j 
 " Jehovah, incommunicable name I 
 ' Before whofe awful prefence, angels veiPd, 
 With mighty Seraphim, inceffant hymn 
 Their God, in extafy of ceafelefs praife. 
 " Shalt Thou, unchangeable, eternal King ! 
 ' Before whofe ever burning throne, in chains 
 Of adamant, Eternity, and Fate 
 Lie bound. Who with the lightning's beam, in words 
 
 " Of
 
 BEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON. 29 1 
 
 * Of fire, engrav'ft thy everlafting laws, 
 
 '' Upon the front of Heav'n's unbounded fphere. 
 
 '*' Beneath whofe mighty nod, when Thou art wroth, 
 
 ' The folid mountain from its center makes, 
 
 *' And Earth's ingulph'd foundations ftand reveal'd ; 
 
 *' While Vengeance rifing from his bed of woe, 
 
 ' To crufh a guilty world* his crefted fnakes 
 
 " Erefts, and lances from his red right arm 
 
 *' The flaming thunderbolt. Shalt Thou refide 
 
 *< In houfes hands have famion'd ? No ; beyond 
 
 Creation's ample circuit, where the car 
 
 " Of day, pure fount of empyreal light ! 
 
 " Ne'er ihed his all-enliv'ning beam, thy pow'r 
 
 ' Pervades, and fills th' unfathomable void 
 
 " Of Chaos, and of Night Yet deign t' accept 
 
 " This Temple facred to thy holy name, 
 
 '" And tho' thou dwell' ft on high, receive our pray'rs. 
 
 " Forgive our pafl backflidings, may we grieve 
 
 v< No more that holy Spirit, which has work'd 
 
 ** Unnumber'd miracles for IfraePs fons. 
 
 ** Protect thy chofcn race from murd'rous fnare^ 
 
 ** Of proud deceitful men, who hunt for blood, 
 
 11 ' As roams the famim'd lion for his prey; 
 
 % Arife, oh King of Kings ! and difappoint 
 
 '" Their malicej who unmindful of their God, 
 
 Thy a-A-ful Majeftv, thy pow'r defy, 
 
 U 2 And
 
 2$Z DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMOW, 
 
 ' And bow the knee to Dagon. Who amid 
 
 " Their nightly orgies, chant in mad'ning choirs 
 
 " His might divine, and give to fculptur'd ftones 
 
 " Thy glory, and thy name. Turn from thefe walls 
 
 " Their facrilegious hands, whofe impious rage 
 
 " Burns to defile thefe hallow'd inftruments, 
 
 " Thefe vefTels to thy fervice confecrate. 
 
 *' Oh let no blood to idols offer'd ftain 
 
 ** This holy altar, nor within thefe roofs, 
 
 " To other Gods than thee, let incenfe fmoke. 
 
 " Defcend celeftial fpirits ! Ye who wait 
 
 " Around the throne of God ! defcend, and guard 
 
 " This heav'n-devoted fhrine. Come, holy Love ! 
 
 " Meek angel ! daughter mild of Innocence, 
 
 " And Truth 1 leave, leave thy bright enthron'd abode 
 
 " On high, and with Religion, fainted maid ! 
 
 " Propitious guide amid life's darkfome vale 
 
 " Our wand'ring fteps. Oh fend thy cherub, Hope, 
 
 " To chafe from eVery contrite heart, the fiend 
 
 " Defpair; and let thy mercy's gentleft ray, 
 
 " Refreming as the filver dew of heav'n 
 
 Upon the drooping flow'rs, defcend to (both 
 
 " The weeping penitent. Breathe thro' our fouls 
 
 " Thy heav'nly ardour, teach us to implore 
 
 " His tender mercies, whofe paternal love 
 
 " Forgave our di (obedience. May our heart*
 
 EDICATION OF THE TEMPI E OF SOLOMON. 293 
 
 " In duty firm, obfequious to his will 
 
 " His laws obey, and to his name alone 
 
 " Our adorations give, 'till wrapt beyond 
 
 " That ftarry canopy, where Seraphs fweep 
 
 " Their living lyres, and fing in notes divine 
 
 " The endlefs wonders of creative pow'r, 
 
 ' We join th' immortal choir, and tune our harps 
 
 *' To endlefs raptures, and eternal praife." . _ 
 
 He ceas'd. When lo ! a mighty noife was heard 
 Of rufhing winds, and fire from heav'n confum'd 
 The facrifice. Upon the holy feat 
 The Shechinah defcended, and illum'd 
 The temple's fpacious walls with radiant glory. 
 A burning cloud it feem'd, like that which eril 
 Attended Judah's fons, when to avoid 
 The galling load of Pharaoh's iron fway, 
 From Egypt's land they fled. The unnumber'd Hofl 
 Amazed at the fight, with holy awe 
 Their faces veil'd, and proftrate on the ground 
 In hallelujahs hymn'd Jehovah's name, 
 To him alone afcribing majefty, 
 And pow'r. Jehovah's name the vaulted roofs 
 Rebound ; their acclamations pierce the fkies, 
 And with the fmoke of facrifice afcend 
 A grateful incenfe to the throne of God. 
 
 U 3 THE
 
 THE 
 
 DAY OF JUDGMENT. 
 
 GEORGE BALLY, M. A. 
 
 WR 
 
 ITTEN FO* MR. SEATON's PRIZE, BUT KEJIC 
 
 M DCC 
 
 U 4 
 
 THE
 
 THE 
 
 DAY OF JUDGMENT. 
 
 -F OE to each ftrain, which fooths th' unhallow'd ear. 
 
 And violates the dignity of fong, 
 
 The ChrifUan Mufe exults to catch her flame 
 
 From altars of the living God, to drink 
 
 Her infpiration from the fount of Truth. 
 
 Glorious her theme and folemn ! fit to fwell 
 
 The raptures of a Seraph, when with hymn 
 
 Ecftatic, to his golden harp attun'd, 
 
 He makes the throne of Deity refound. 
 
 Deign, Holy Spirit, in thy SIBYL'S breaft. 
 If pure the flirine, and for th' illapfe prepar'd, 
 To plant a ray of thy celeflial light, 
 That fo the vifionary maid, enlarg'd 
 Her tone and feature, may with awful found 
 Utter immortal myfteries, may fmg 
 The glories of thy kingdom : how, transfixt 
 
 With
 
 298 DAY OF JUDGMENT. 
 
 With his own arrows, Death mall yield his prey, 
 
 And groan in fallen agonies his laft : 
 
 How Time fhall join Eternity's abyfs, 
 
 And mingling fink ingulf 'd : how Earth mail tremble 
 
 With fruitful throes, and heave with quicken'd duft, 
 
 Man burfting from the prifon of his tomb 
 
 (By {hocks without, by fears within appail'd) 
 
 To meet the dread award ; to fee his God, 
 
 In all the fplendors of judkial pomp 
 
 Array'd, defcending from the empyreal fkies. 
 
 When firen Pleafure fpreads her guilty charms, 
 And fummons all her blandifhments to melt 
 Thy manhood into foftnefs, and debafe 
 The Heav'n- ftamp'd image to a grov'ling brute ; 
 Or when Ambition waves her plumy creft, 
 And with the gaudy pageant fires thy blood ; 
 Prompts to break moral ties, as chains that bind 
 Heroic worth, and check fair Fame's career j 
 Heir of eternal life, reflect, O Man, 
 What to thyfelf thou ow'ft, whofe endlefs doom 
 Hangs on this fquander'd moment, or the next. 
 To fpecious phantoms, by thy paflions dreft 
 In pleaiing glofs, let Fancy's magic glance 
 Oppofe the final and tremendous fcene : 
 Think that thou fbe'ft the veil etherial rent 
 
 Th' 0:n-
 
 DAY OF JUDGMENT. 399 
 
 Th' Omnifcient Judge difclos'd, begirt with pow'r 
 
 Paternal : ihudder at th' imagin'd found 
 
 Of the loud-pealing trump, which Nature hears 
 
 Shook from her priftin fundHons, and convuls'd : 
 
 Rapt in fad trance behold the teeming graves 
 
 Yawn and unhoufe their tenants, trooping all 
 
 Where the bright ftandard of th' enfanguin'd Crofs 
 
 Waves o'er the throne imperial, in mid air : 
 
 Image thyfelf from fubterranean cell 
 
 Thruft into light, and fummon'd to the bar, 
 
 Pallid, aghaft, and trembling for thy doom, 
 
 Heav'n op'ning all her joys, her torments Hell. 
 
 If to thy mind this pifture were difplay'd 
 
 In all its heighten'd colourings of awe, 
 
 Deep wou'd th' impreffion fink : no worldly lure 
 
 Wou'd tempt the rifque of an immortal foul. 
 
 Superior to the glitter of a crown, 
 
 To INDIA'S wealth, or Beauty's rofeate fmile, 
 
 Touch'd by Religion's ray, thy kindling fpirit 
 
 Wou'd foar on Adoration's eagle wing 
 
 To the Triune all-glorious Sun : there drink 
 
 Large draughts infatiate from the blifsful fount, 
 
 In ecftafies ineffable diflblv'd. 
 
 In that portentous hour, when ev'ry heart 
 Sfyall groan, and fympathize with Nature's pang, 
 
 When
 
 300 DAY OF JUDGMENT. 
 
 When the world, unfubftantial as its joys, 
 
 Shall like a fleeting fhadow melt away, 
 
 What ihall Main the foul ? What fhoot a beam 
 
 Of confolation thro' die folid gloom ? 
 
 What ? but a retrofpeclion of the paft, 
 
 If, brighten'd with good deeds, the profped mew 
 
 No darker fpots than errors of furprize,: 
 
 If, lifted in the fervice of thy God, 
 
 Tenacious of thine oath thou ftood'ft the fiege 
 
 Of Satan, unfubdu'd, tho' all his wiles 
 
 Combin'd with direful enginery aflail'd 
 
 The more than ftoic fortrefs of thy heart : 
 
 Or if, feduc'd, and yielding to his fnares, 
 
 Thy foul, with deep contrition fmit, bewail'd 
 
 Her bafe defe&ion, and with fervent pray'r, 
 
 And vow'd amendment to the throne of grace 
 
 Suppliant return'd, and ftruggled for the boon. 
 
 Then Confcience, flame implanted from above 
 
 To guide thro' life's dark wild our devious fteps, 
 
 (That fmiles an angel, or a daemon frowns) 
 
 Will fing her foothing requiem to thy breaft. 
 
 Much will it chear thee, if amidft the crowd 
 
 An orphan or a widow meet thine eye, 
 
 Whofe lighten'd woes confefs'd thy foft'ring hand : 
 
 If mild forgivenefs in thy bofom glow'd, 
 
 Thy friends embracing, nor excluding foes. 
 
 This
 
 DAY OF JUDGMENT. 
 
 This thy bleft Saviour, unexhaufted fource 
 
 Of love and mercy ! when He deign'd to fhroud 
 
 The Godhead in Mortality's frail robe, 
 
 Enjoin'd and pra&is'd. Heaven is bound to pay 
 
 What man's benevolence expends on man. 
 
 Than Charity no fairer fweeter flow'r 
 
 The Chriftian chaplet weaves. All other virtues 
 
 Their end attain'd mail ceafe for ever. Hope 
 
 Shall in Fruition's ocean be abforpt, 
 
 And Faith in Certainty's meridian blaze. 
 
 But this fweet bud, tranfplanted from the bleak 
 
 Ungenial nurfery below, mall bloom 
 
 Immortal in ambrofial EDEN'S bow'rs, 
 
 And with diffufive odours glad all heaven. 
 
 Thus taught to Hum the perils of that florm, 
 Which mail the Wicked wreck, but waft the Good, 
 Propitious, to calm ports of endlefs joy ; 
 The Mufe embolden'd will her talk purfue, 
 And all the dread amazing fcene unfold : 
 Recklefs, tho' man condemn her frigid ftrain, 
 If Heav'n her modulated life applaud, 
 The better fong ! and in that folemn day, 
 Which trembling now me meditates to fmg, 
 Deign to beftow the bright un with 'ring wreath* 
 
 Time'*
 
 .JQ2 OAT OF JUDGMENT. 
 
 Time's mofl ftupendous birth, by glaring types 
 Prefigur'd, by the dark myfterious voice 
 Of holy feers announc'd, by God himfelf 
 (Empty'd of glory, and in flefh reveal'd) 
 Foreftiewn in noontide luftre, now difclos'd 
 Frowns horrible on Earth's awaken'd fons, 
 Yet (fo infenfate, and obdur'd his guilt) . 
 Tho' the moft awful enfigns of difmay, 
 Dark'ning the face of Nature, had proclaim'*! 
 The world's approaching obfequies, yet Marx 
 Grafps fubJunary madows, piftur'd clouds, 
 And anchors on the toffing wave his hope. 
 So in the days of NOAH, tho' forewarn'd, 
 Ere the flood burit, and whelm'd their impious Heads, 
 The playful votaries of B E L i A L gorg'd 
 Their rav'ning palate, and in all the luxe 
 Of lawlefs joys, and wild intemp'rance jrag'd; 
 But now, like centinels afleep by thofe 
 They dread furpriz'd, they Hart; they flare,- they groai^ 
 And read their woeful fentence in their fears. 
 
 For lo ! the Judge 5 with Myriads in his train, 
 Angelic cohorts, hierarchal pow'rs, 
 And all the thrdn'd dominions of the fky, 
 Proud to adorn the triumphs of this day, 
 From the bright Empyrean bends to eartk 
 
 His
 
 DAY OF JUDGMENT. 503 
 
 His radiant progrefs. Earth to th' inmoft center 
 
 Shakes to and fro abounded. Hark ! the trump 
 
 ^Etherial pours the fleep-difpelling Waft, 
 
 And bellows in the cdncave of her womb 
 
 Parturient of life, and big with man. 
 
 Nature reverlt ker Lord's beheft obeys, 
 
 Her Dead with breath infpir'd, her Quick transfbrm'd. 
 
 The vaulted tombs, the cloud-capt pyramids, 
 
 Hear the loud-echo'd fummons, and refund 
 
 The treafur'd reliques, faithful to their truft. 
 
 Nor only labours monumental Earth 
 
 With human births. Each element throughout 
 
 Glows in this work ; and feels the feeds of man 
 
 Unravel from its complicated mafs. 
 
 From the four winds, by voice divine compell'd, 
 
 Thick fwarming atoms thro' the clouded air 
 
 Precipitate their flight, to build anew 
 
 The moulder'd frame ; no more to be difTolv'd ! 
 
 And now its priflin tenement rcnevv'd, 
 
 The foul long exil'd, which perhaps had roam'd, 
 
 A reftlefs fugitive, the blue expanfe, 
 
 Or, wheeling nearer to lov'd earth her flight 
 
 Hover'd impatient o'er th' imprifon'd corfe ; 
 
 Or, couching on the confines of her doom, 
 
 Had wilh'd, or fear'd the grand decifws day ; 
 
 True
 
 3^4 DAY OF JUDGMENT. 
 
 True to its nuptial tie, this foul returns, 
 And weds a partner, which (hall live for ever, 
 
 O rapture to the juft ! to think that they, 
 When ev'ry planet, flricken from its orb, 
 Shall fade, and o'er a ruin'd univerfe 
 Darknefs incumbent fpread her raven wing, 
 That they, emerging from the wreck, mail mine, 
 Like cluft'ring ftars around the fun of glory, 
 In firmaments unconfcious of decay ! 
 See ! how their brighten'd cheek with tranfport glowsj 
 As, riling from their dank and wormy bed, 
 They moult corruption ! All on wing they dart 
 Their wilhes, and anticipate the flues. 
 Ah ! how unlike the wicked ! The fcar'd Mufe 
 Starts at the conjur'd fpedres. Grant, O Lordj 
 The Poet may not in that group be feen j 
 But fhun thofe terrors, which in fancy chill 
 His blood, and with a Stygian vapour blot 
 Each fair idea dawning on his mind ! 
 Slow and reludlant from their dungeon's gloom 
 They rife unjoyous. Happier, if they ne'er 
 Had rifen from Death's dark oblivious vale ! 
 On their dim faded brow fits pale Difmay, 
 And from their haggard eyes, fhockt with each fight, 
 
 Each
 
 BAT OP JUDGMENT, 3<>5 
 
 Each found that meets their ear, wild Horror glares : 
 
 And Defperation, that internal Hell, 
 
 Their mien with Sorrow's darkelt fhade imbrowns. 
 
 But, hark ! again the trumpet's direful clang, 
 JVlixt with triumphal fhouts of banner'd hofts 
 Rufhing from high, th' affrighted welkin rends, 
 And to a congregated world proclaims 
 The Deity's approach. On radiant clouds 
 From pureil aether fpun, as on a car, 
 Borne thro' the yielding air he comes, and Earth, 
 Unable to fuftain th' effulgent beam 
 Of Godhead, with her adamantine hills 
 Shrinks at his prefence, and like wax diffolves. 
 JLo ! thro' the vaft extenfive cope of Heaven 
 Swells an immeafurable arch, with all 
 The gay diverfities of light diilinft, 
 The dread tribunal of onr Jodge. Imblaz'd 
 With Glory's richeft vefture; there he fits 
 Obvious to ev'ry eye. Stars confluent crowd 
 Into a wreath imperial for their King. 
 His glance outihines the fun ; and,, when he waves 
 Th' ambrofial beamy trefTes of his he^d, 
 Tremble the fkies, and all creation makes. 
 
 Tranfcendent majefty of CHRIST ! fublim'd 
 To fplendor from contempt, to higheft blifs 
 
 X Front
 
 SOD DAY Of JUDGMENT. 
 
 From depths of woe for us fuftain'd ! how chang'd 
 
 From him, whofe facred temples bled beneath 
 
 Th' infulting preflure of a thorny crown ! 
 
 From him, whojudg'd, condemn'd by vaflal Man, 
 
 Death's deadliefl pang endur'd ; and, "to the Sun 
 
 Expos'd, who fled the fpedacle abhorr'd, 
 
 Shook CALVARY'S dire top, and SALEM'S tow'ri 
 
 With groans of agonizing Deity ! 
 
 Lookup, affrighted ISRAEL, and confefc, 
 
 Amazingly convinc'd, thy fad miftake. 
 
 See there th' anointed Lord ; the fame who prefs'd 
 
 Thee with endearing call beneath the wings 
 
 Of healing mercy to repofe, when erft 
 
 He fojourn'd in thy tents ; a GOD unown'd j 
 
 Tho' Nature thunder 'd to each fenfe the truth, 
 
 Sufpended at his beck her pow'rs, or chang'd ! 
 
 How this his glorious advent, grac'd with pomp 
 
 Brighter than that thy carnal hope prefag'd 
 
 Of the firft advent, fatally o'erlook'd, 
 
 Harrows thy foul ! how all thy Elders mourn I 
 
 How droops thy Sanhedrim, abafht to view 
 
 The flaming Banner, and the fentenc'd Judge ! 
 
 Yet Mercy in that bofom fits enthron'd, 
 E'en for his foes an advocate, and melts 
 The wrathful flames of that awful brow 
 
 lute
 
 DAY OF JUDGMENT. 307 
 
 Into foft beams of tendernefs., The blefl 
 Redeemer mitigates the Judge's frown. 
 Elfe who fo pure, and incorrupt of heart, 
 As with unfhaken hope to fix his eye 
 On Majefty's infufferable blaze, 
 In terrors dreadfulleft array reveal'd ? 
 
 And now th' Archangel's trumpet thro* tkc- vsft 
 Ex'panfe of univerfe, which trembling fwells 
 The lengthen'd peal, the dire citation founds. 
 High, o'er the Judgraent-feat, triumphant floats, 
 The dread of infidels, the chriftian's boaft, 
 Th' ennobled Crofs. Where'er its glories ftream, 
 Eternal crimfon paints the blufhing fcene. 
 The Sword of Juftice, by a Seraph wav'd, 
 Illumines the wide air, and hung aloft 
 Th' eventful righteous Balance flames with gold. 
 Hither, in one diffufive area's fpace, 
 By fweeping whirlwinds level'd to a plain, 
 ADAM'S collective progeny conven'd, 
 Myriads on myriads crowd ; in number more 
 Than billowing fands, by winds tempeltuous driven 
 Thro' LIBYA'S treach'rous foil. How undiftinguifli'd 
 Thy armies here, proud XERXES, at whofe touch 
 
 Rivers exhaufted fhrunk ! What but a drop 
 To ocean added, and in ocean loft ? 
 
 X z See!
 
 308 DAY OF JUDGMENT. 
 
 See ! how Earth's cedars bow their with'ring head, - 
 Scath'd with the lightnings, which inceflant break 
 From yon tremendous throne ! How quake her C^SARS, 
 Her NIMRODS and her BOURBONS, lawlefs chiefs, 
 Beneath whofe wafteful fword unpeopled realms, 
 Ambition's victim, bled ! whofe laurels bloom'd ? 
 And wauton'd in the widow's flowing tears, 
 Their guilty joys bought with mankind's ctyftrefs ! 
 Curft the vain triumph, and the trophy'd Arc, 
 And all the proud memorials of their rage, 
 The ftricken heroes mourn, and wifh atchiev'd 
 Thofe victories, to which th' angelic hoft 
 Thro' Heav'n's glad courts applaufive Paeans fmg ? 
 Jmmortal victories, and worthy Man, 
 O'er paffions conquer'd, and o'er felf fubdu'd. 
 Not fo the potentate, whofe fpotlefs life, 
 Pure as his ermine, fhone ; who ne'er the fword 
 Unfheath'd, but when Religion alk'd its aid, 
 Or his lov'd Country, groaning under wrongs, 
 Bade him Oppreffion's infolence chaftife : 
 Flufli'd with gay hopes, and panting for the palm. 
 He views th' unfading crown, for which he toil'd ? 
 Amidfl the foft allurements of a throne 
 Firm and unfhaken, when Earth faw him fhed 
 Balm from his fceptre o'er a fofter'd realm. 
 Ye virtuous ALFREDS, GEORGES, ANNES, ELIZAS ? 
 
 Protectors
 
 BAY OF JUDGMENT. JO 
 
 PYoleftors of your country and mankind, 
 
 Lift up the brow of confidence, affume 
 
 Th' unblufhing mien of grandeur, and behold 
 
 TV exceeding weight of glory, which yoar King 
 
 Awards to all, who made the throne a ftep 
 
 To mount their blefl ambition to the fides. 
 
 The world's diftinftions, and its glofTy plumes 
 Are vanifh'd. Here the goodnefs of the heart, 
 Exuberant in fruits of holy life, 
 Gives man the juft pre-eminence o'er man. 
 The Monarch, if, to ev'ry luft a flave, 
 He bruis'd his fubjecls with an iron rod, 
 And ifluing from th' imperial denj on blood 
 And rapine bent, with ruin mark'd his way, 
 Outcaft from Hghtj and to congenial fiends 
 Confign'd, reverfe deplorable ! furveys 
 The beggar diadem'd, and thron'd in blifo, 
 All greatnefs, but what aggrandizes man, 
 Diminifht fhrinks. Pale Beauty hides her face 
 Once prais'd, than loath'd Deformity more foul, 
 Unlefs fair Virtue, beaming from within-, 
 Sheds a celeftial radiance o'er the mien. 
 Proud boaftful Science* o'er the midnight lamp 
 So oft in vain refearches poringi droops 
 To fee the fage now dwindle to a fool* 
 
 X 3 Who
 
 3*9 BAY OF JUDGMENT. 
 
 Who ne'er in ZEND'S porch, or^LATo's grove^ 
 Explor'd the path to happinefs. and GOD. 
 
 None more exult, or with more heighten 'd bloom 
 Impurpled, on the dread tribunal fix 
 The eye ferene uprais'd, than thofe whofe breafl 
 Glow'd with extenfive charity, and bade 
 The ftream benign in widen'd channels run, 
 To diftant ages circulating joy, 
 And folace as it flow'd. Lo ! HENRY lead* 
 Th' illuftrious band. The clouds, which here o'ercafl 
 His penfive brow, die ftorms, which vex'd his reign, 
 Are diffipated all. Immortal Hope 
 Diftends his heart, and glitters in his eye. 
 Blood-ftain'd ufurper, how the fcorpion whip 
 Of Confcience ulcerates thy bleeding foul ! 
 How dolt thou vvifh BOSWORTH'S lefs dreaded plaia 
 Had giv'n the laft decifion to thy fate ! 
 Hail, pious prince ! and to thy virtues due 
 A crown receive, which no rapacious hand 
 Shall ravifh. : view a moment's woes outweigh d 
 J3y an eternity of folid blifs* 
 
 Now palfy'd Fear the whole afiembly 
 And burfting fighs o'er all the void refound : 
 Now e'en the Good mifgivings feel. For lo
 
 DAY OF JUDGMENT. %ll 
 
 The feal of adamant is broke, and open'd, 
 
 Big with the fate of man, th' eternal book* 
 
 The Angels, anxious for this hour which clears 
 
 The mazes of the moral plan> unveils 
 
 Myfterious depths, which efft intent to fcan 
 
 They floop'd, and of their wand'ring found no end, 
 
 Throng round the Judge Unnumber'd^ and behold, 
 
 Aftonifht, ev'ry dark enigma folv'd, 
 
 And providence afferted in his ways. 
 
 The marmal'd world, obedient to command* 
 
 Forms a two-fold divifion ; on the right 
 
 The Juftj the Wicked on the left are rang'd 
 
 So when the genial fpring the turgid gems 
 
 Unlocks, and breathes a verdure o'er the mead?, 
 
 The fhepherd, fedulous to pour his flock 
 
 O'er the frefh pafturej the mixt troop furveys> 
 
 And bids the fetid and lafcivious herd 
 
 Graze from the bleating innocents disjoin'd. 
 
 Sufpenfe awhile, and dread Amazement holds 
 
 The full creation motionlefs : when lo ! 
 
 The founding Alchymy, by breath infpir'd 
 
 Of Archangelic Herald, rings a peal 
 
 Of fummons to the righteous> to attend 
 
 The Judge, and hear enouac'd thnr final. doo:n. 
 
 Thin ihades of doubt amidft the confcious gleams ', 
 
 Bright'ning their front are intcrpos'd. As when 
 
 X 4 A ROMAN*
 
 312 t>AY OF JUDGMENT, 
 
 -\ 
 
 A ROMAN chief, from the well-foughten field 
 Returning, felt alternate paflions fway 
 His breaft, now Kopkig, fearing now left all 
 His labours might difparag'd Jink below 
 The envy'd prize of Triumph's feftal pomp. 
 
 With placid brow, at which the aether fmiles 
 Flufh'd with redundiAicy of light, the Judge 
 Surveys the chofen flock, and fheds abroad 
 Peace o'er their hearts, and luftre o'er their mien, 
 Meek dove-ey'd Innocence, with Slander's darts 
 Oft here tranfpiefc'd, and in the fhuffled crowd 
 Of accidents with Guilt confounded, pure 
 And fpotleft as the recent fnow appears. 
 Her ftern accufers wither at the fight, 
 While Gherubs, with benevolence o'erflowing, 
 Clap their exulting wings, rejoic'd to view 
 Effulgence of their fanclitude, and long 
 To waft their fitter fpirit to the Ikies. 
 Omnifcience pleas'd the horieft heart infpec"fo y 
 His nobleft work ; and bares the deep recefsj 
 Where Charity and Virtue fit enfhrin'd. 
 Each unambitious grace, which, like the rofe 
 That paints th' untrodden wild, in fecret bloom'd, 
 Too delicate to bear the ruffling breath 
 Of worldly praife, now beams in open day, 
 
 And
 
 DAY OF JUDGMENT. 31$ 
 
 And its unfolded beauties fpreads before 
 Applauding angels, and a fmiling GOD. 
 The ftains, which to the beft below adhere, 
 Moles in a well-fhap'd body thinly fown, 
 Are by the candid Judge, without a frown, 
 From HeavVs memorial books eras'd for ever. 
 
 O glorious trial ! where the Juft, like gold 
 -By friendly fire refin'd, with added weight 
 And fp lender mine confpicuous, on the ftage 
 Of an affembled world proclaim'd aloud 
 Their merit, and by lifl'ning faints extoll'd ! 
 See fuff 'ring Worth exult, her utmoft wifh 
 Now more than gratify'd ! the weighty meed 
 O'erpays her woes, and with a boundlefs tide 
 Perennial pleafures burft upon her foul. 
 How glow Religion's Chiefs, whom threats nor flames 
 Could e'er fubdue ; nor all the ftudy'd pains, 
 Which witty Malice forg'd, could ever make 
 From the firm bafis of their high refolve ! 
 Their gracious GOD inclines his head, and nods 
 His approbation, in their forrows pleas'd 
 To recognize his own : the heav'nly Band 
 The viftors greet with pseans, and rejoice 
 To add the fteady phalanx to their roll. 
 
 Hufh'd
 
 314 DAY OF JUDGMENT. 
 
 Hufh'd be ye winds ! and Earth and JtLthcr, wrapt 
 In filence, liften to your Maker's voice 
 Mellifluous, which aloud the mild award 
 Enounces thro* your regions. " Come, ye Bleft, 
 " Share the unfading pleafures of my realm, 
 ' Coheirs of blifs, my fire's adopted fons." 
 Rapt at the found the Juft, a mining train, 
 The yielding clouds divide, by angel wings 
 Convoy'd in triumph thro' th' aerial fpace, 
 With Hallelujahs, and the dulcet {train 
 Of harps refounding. Round his throne the Judge 
 The gather'd Faithful ranks in fev'ral files 
 Proportion'd to their worthj all (tars ordain'4. 
 Orbs to relume by Satan and his crew 
 Rebellious voided, but in glory each 
 From each now difPring, as on earth their deeds, 
 How vaft the rapture, infinite the joy 
 From breaft to breaft rebounding ! how inflam'd 
 With love ineffable the bridegroom burns, 
 To meet the pure unfpotted fpoufe, in all 
 The heighten'd charms of Piety array'd ! 
 How the Redeemer with complacence hails, 
 The glorious ranfom of his precious blood, 
 His faints, from ev'ry quarter of the globe 
 Conven'd, afleflbrs of his throne, to hear 
 Quilt fentenc'd, and applaud her righteous doom ! 
 
 to
 
 DAY OF JUDGMENT. 
 
 See ! on the left what confternation broods 
 O'er all the louring profpeft ! how defponds 
 The mifcreant throng ! how frantic ev'ry look, 
 And {peaking gefture ! what a burft of groans 
 Declares the direful bodings of their foul ! 
 For now the Wicked, like a rufhing fea 
 Turbid with flormy gulls, their cited numbers 
 Pour round the bar, and deluge all the plain. 
 Luft, Murder, Avarice, and rancour'd Hate, 
 And Perfecution, varnifht o'er with zeal, 
 And foul Hypocrify, beneath the veil 
 Of fair Religion lurking, grifly forms, 
 Touch'd by a ray, quick flafhing from the throne, 
 Start up in native ghafllinefs reveal'd* 
 How vain the caitif's artifice, which oft 
 O'er baffled Juflice triumph'd, now the Judge 
 Omnifcient fcans his life, and brings to light 
 Each hidden purpofe, each unwitnefs'd deed ! 
 Th' invenom'd heart, its mazy folds evolv'd, 
 And ev'ry cell difclos'd, where Malice fate 
 Hatching dire treafons, maffacres, and ills, 
 Trembles beneath a fearching God. Appall'd 
 Heav'n's habitants look down, with horror viewing 
 Humanity degraded to a fiend. 

 
 3l6 DAY OF JUDGMENT. 
 
 **> -it- 
 
 Ah ! how they writhe their limbs, and gnafh their teeth, 
 With tortures inly rackt, afham'd to view 
 Blazon'd their crimfon fpots, afraid to meet 
 The glances of Omnipotence enrag'd, 
 Th' offended JESUS to confront, whofe laws 
 They trampled under foot, whofe name they mock'd, 
 And glorying in their fcandal, Hill rebell'd, 
 By all his gracious offers unreclaim'd ! 
 In vain to rocks they call, in yawning depths 
 To whelm their heads abaflit. Alas ! the rocks 
 Soon will their fuel'd entrails fcatter wide, 
 And nought remain a monument of wrath 
 Divine, but Man, apoftate Man, condemn 'd 
 To feed th' undying worm, to howl in fire, 
 His torments coextended with his being. 
 
 And now with afpecl, kindled into rage 
 Tenfold, at which earth, air, and fea around 
 Float with redundant flames, with voice, at which 
 Trembles Heaven's wide circumference, the Judga 
 The ftern award enounces. " Go, ye Curft, 
 " To fire, as everlafting as your fouls, 
 '* For Satan and his impious hoft prepar'd.'* 
 
 Strait at the found deftroying Angels pour* 
 Their wrathful vials o'er a world profcrib'd^ 
 
 A guilty
 
 DAT OF JUDGMENT. JI 
 
 A guilty world ! which faw its Maker bleed. 
 
 Inceflant thunders thro' th' aerial vault 
 
 Roll the big mutt'ring peal, and lightnings glare 
 
 Terrific thro' the gloom. The fun, the moon, 
 
 With blood difcolour'd, o'er the darken'd fcene 
 
 Scowl horror and amaze : ftars from their fphere 
 
 With hideous ruin and combuftion rum. 
 
 Convulfive tremors rock the reeling earth, 
 
 And from her riven womb, where prifon'd flept 
 
 Till now, in min'ral or metallic beds, 
 
 The vengeful minifters, embody'd flames 
 
 Shoot the long fpiry trail, and billowing pufh 
 
 O'er many a fpacious realm and region wide 
 
 The ruddy torrent. Ah ! what havock reigns ! 
 
 How Defolation o'er the proftrate globe 
 
 Furious her fcythe-arm'd chariot drives, and all 
 
 Its boafled fplenclor levels with the duft ! 
 
 Where are the giant-fons of Earth, the ALPS, 
 
 And APENNINES, the PYRENEAN cliffs, 
 
 Proud boundaries of kingdoms ? Where huge ATLAS, 
 
 Who frown'd tremendous o'er the fubjecl furge ? 
 
 All, like the fnow which glitter'd on their top*, 
 
 Melted before the prefence of the LORD, 
 
 Are perim'd, and no veilige left behind. 
 
 Ah ! vanim'd is that fpot, for juftice fam'd, 
 
 ( Of injur'd Hates th' Afylum, Queen of Ifles, 
 
 BRITANNIA.
 
 JlS BAY OF JUDGMENT. 
 
 BRITANNIA. Oh! my country ! there (he finks 
 Whelm'd in the fiery flood, and ambient feas, 
 Once her ftrong bulwark, but augment the blaze. 
 Empires renown'd, where erft contention rag'd 
 To add frelh laurels to the vidlor's brow, 
 Join'd in one fate, an undiftinguilh'd mafs 
 Of ruin lie, a monument to mew 
 How vain Ambition's moft fuccefsful toil. 
 The raging tumult thickens, and Uproar, 
 'Midft Nature's groans, and crufh of elements 
 Holds her licentious anarchy. The pow'rs 
 Of Heaven are fhaken, and yon unpillar'd arch, 
 Earth's gorgeous canopy, with fervent heat 
 Melts, like a fcroll convolv'd, to viewlefs air. 
 Th' auguft affize now finifh'd 'midft the loud 
 Plaudits of wond'ring Angels, darknefs drops 
 The curtain o'er Creation. Oh ! what plaints, 
 What yells refound, while rolling in the furge 
 Sulphureous, kindled by the Almighty's blaft 
 Th' eternal Tophet, Myriads howl and vvifh 
 They in the gen'ral wreck cou'd lofe their being ! 
 
 His ways aflerted, and unerring right 
 In each proportion'd recompenfe difplay'd, 
 The Judge all-glorious rifes from his throne, 
 And with his bright retinue wings his car 
 
 Triumphal
 
 DAY OP JUDGMENT, 
 
 Triumphal thro' the fides, to heavenly SIGN 
 In radiant pomp afcending. Angels ftrike 
 Their golden chords, and melody divine 
 Exulting thro' the aetherial region floats. 
 On their gay foreheads amaranthine crowns 
 Of joy, immortal praifes in their mouths, 
 The ranfom'd faints their Saviour hail, and loud 
 Hofannas from unnumber'd voices pour'd 
 Swell the glad jubilee. Heav'n's op'ning portals 
 Shook with the feftive acclamations ring. 
 
 THE
 
 THE 
 
 KEDEMPTION: 
 
 A 
 
 MONODY. 
 
 B Y 
 
 J. SCOTT, M. A. 
 
 Toy aUct 'ara.Huv "K-vficv 
 
 Ken wale fa,, T]OK d'larsXe* T/*V, poior 
 
 AyctQut TOJSTWV ifprijv xTtropa. 
 
 Frag. 
 
 14 DQC
 
 .O i
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 CT HE Reader need not be told that tie following Poem 
 was T.U '/// y'o / S E A T O N ' s P >U Z E , and rejefied* It is 
 not now publljhed as an appeal to the Public from the fentence 
 of the Judges ; but as it may afford half an hour's innocent 
 tnteitaitiment to the Rtader. 
 
 uthor chafe this contracted plan for two rea/ons : 
 one was, that be might keep clear of Arguments pro and con t 
 which if unjkilfully handled are as ridiculous in poetry, as 
 wooden fivords in Jkirmijhes at apuppet-fljew ; ana the other, 
 that he might not trefpafs upon the Reader's patien^e by enter- 
 ing too prolixly into a fubjec3> which is better fuitedfor a 
 large 'volume, than a frnall pamphlet. 
 
 The poetical Reader need not be told that the Metre is 
 an imitation of that, which Milton hath ufed in his Ly- 
 
 THE
 
 THE 
 
 REDEMPTION. 
 
 JL/ AUGHTERSof Jove, no more ! -. Adieu, ye 
 
 Maids, 
 
 Whofe vifionary forms have met my eye ; 
 Whether I mus'd by Anio's .headlong fteep, 
 Or by the fabled haunts of Caftaly, 
 Or where Cephifus joins the billowy deep ; 
 Or where thro' groves, and olive-woven fhades, 
 Iliflus rolls his ftream ; 
 For now a loftier theme 
 
 Demands my fong, REDEMPTION'S wondrous plan, 
 And thy fad fufferings, O my God, for Man ! 
 
 But come, O Virgin-mufe of Sion, come, 
 Come gently, and my breaft infpire 
 With fome faint fparks of that feraphic fire, 
 Whofe beams refulgent glow'd, 
 When burfting thro' the womb 
 Of dark futurity, " A God, a God," 
 
 Y 3 Pro.
 
 Proclaim'd aloud the heav'n-enlighten'd Seer* 
 " From Bofrah lo he comes mighty to fave, 
 " Mighty to triumph o'er the grave ! " 
 And all the oaks of Bafhan ftoopt to hear, 
 And Lebanon's attentive cedars bow'd. 
 
 But turn, O turn thine eyes 
 
 To where with groves of Palm, and Olive crown'd* 
 On the fair bofom of the mountain lies 
 The Garden's holy ground ! 
 For there my Saviour's bitter agonies 
 Began ; there from th' Abyfs profound 
 Of blackeft Hell, a ftream of horrour flow'd, 
 And overwhelm'd his pure and innocent foul ; 
 Or ere his facred blood 
 
 Had wafht, had cleans'd us from pollutions foul, 
 And feal'd anew the League 'twixt Man and God. 
 
 Dark rofe the dreadful Night, 
 And not one fprightly note, or pleafing found, 
 Was heard to breathe around : 
 The Shepherds fat with filent horrour mute, 
 And charm 'd no more their pipe or jocund flute ; 
 And Philomel her wonted ftrain forbore : 
 How could me fing, while from the blafted oak 
 The hoarfe night-ravens croak, 
 And Screech-owls moan aloud in dire affright, 
 
 And
 
 REDEMPTION. 327 
 
 And {creaming from the pool with hideous cry 
 
 Aloof the Bitterns fly ; 
 
 While clouds impetuous burft with horrid roar, 
 
 And Speclres fhriek, and Ghofts unholy yell, 
 
 And mutt'ring in the black and turbid air 
 
 Daemons and fiends of hell, 
 
 Array'd in livid flames, terrific glare ? 
 
 Earth to the center {hook, 
 And univerfal Nature quakt for fear, 
 As if her end was near j 
 While ev'ry pale Star, with diftemper'd look, 
 Shot from the fky : and well, O well they migte 
 When he was doom'd to agonizing pain, 
 Who bade them flame on high, 
 The faireft gems in heav'n's fair canopy, 
 And fill'd their orbs with everlafting light. 
 But now fee where he lies 
 On the cold ground, expos'd to thick dank air, 
 And all the fury of the madding fides ! 
 See how each nerve and vein 
 Trembles and throbs with torture j how his eyes 
 Start from their feat with anguifh and defpair ! 
 What drops of fanguine fweat roll down amain 
 From his fair limbs ! " O Father, O remove 
 " If poflible this cup ; yet not my will, 
 
 Y 4 Eat
 
 " But thine be done ! " O agonizing Love* 
 
 O Grace beyond compare ! 
 
 Swift thro' the yielding air 
 
 The words upflew to heav'n, and all the Quirt 
 
 Of blefled Angels flood in fpeechlefs trance : 
 
 Afide they flung their harps of golden wire, 
 
 And in their bow'rs of amaranthine fhade 1 
 
 For one fhort moment ftay'd 
 
 Their ardent fongs of rapture and of praife> 
 
 While wonder- ftruck they gaze, 
 
 O King of Sufferings, on thy conflicts dire ! 
 
 But foft ! Am I deceiv'd, or doth a ray 
 Of light ethereal burft thro' yonder cloud, 
 And gild the mountain top with its fair beam ? 
 Lo down the lucid ftream 
 An Angel glides ! he leaves his cryftal fphere, 
 And cuts with nimble wing his liquid way 
 Thro' the rank vapours of this murky air ; 
 Sent, O my Saviour, from thy lab'ring breaft 
 To drive away the horrours of delpair, 
 And give thy forrow-fick'ning foul to refh m- 
 
 And hark, while fwiftly from th' ethereal he 
 This harbinger of light 
 Defcends, what awful filence reigns around! 
 
 No
 
 REDEMPTION. 3*$ 
 
 No more their ruftling heads the Cedars wave, 
 
 And each aerial Sound 
 
 Creeps foftly to its cave : 
 
 The dark Clouds {lumber on the mountain's brow> 
 
 And Nature ftands abforb'd in dread fufpenfe ; 
 
 While thus the Angel cheers his drooping fenfe, 
 
 And bids full ftreams of heav'nly mufic flow. 
 
 THE HYMN. 
 
 Hail * Sun of Righteoufnefs, whofe healing ray 
 Can pierce the darknefs of Egyptian night ; 
 Tho' now fome earth-born clouds obftriufl thy way, 
 Soon (halt thou blaze in thy meridian height ; 
 And beaming, with celeflial love, 
 Deftroy the f covering, and the veil remove, 
 And guide the nations with thy friendly light, 
 To the bleft regions of eternal day. 
 Then, O ye Hofts on high, 
 Cherubs and Seraphs, that excel in might, 
 Ye that encircling guard the faphyr throne, 
 And fmg Hofannas to the great THREEONE, 
 O praife him, praife him everlaftingly ! 
 
 When Man rebell'd, and from th'abyfs profound 
 Thofe mifcreated monitors Sin and Deatn 
 
 * Malachi iv. a, j- Ifaiah xxv. 7. 
 
 A wai
 
 330 REDEMfrTjfr. I|A 
 
 A way to Eden found ; 
 
 There blafting, with their peftilential breath, 
 
 Each herb, and fruit, and flow'r, 
 
 Of Eve's * delicious bow'r j 
 
 Thou faw'ft the havoc, faw'il with melting eye 
 
 f The fad Earth labour under the horrid doom 
 
 Of guilt, and mifery ; 
 
 Saw'il all her beauty ^ all her vernal bloom 
 
 Like flow'rs froft-fmitten die ; 
 
 While heaving with convulfive pangs, and groans^ 
 
 She op'd her jaws, and yawn'd the general tomU 
 
 Of her once happy, once immortal fons ! 
 
 At that dread hour, when ilatue-ftruck with woe 
 
 Stood the primaeval Pair^ 
 
 And wept, and loaded with their fighs the airj 
 
 V/e | lookt around but lo 
 
 Not one to pity them, not one to know ! 
 
 No Son of light, no Angel dar'd to plead, 
 
 No Seraph intercede : 
 
 Till Thou, the high prieft, heard'ft the wretches moan 
 
 And ofFring up their incenfe-breathing pray'r 
 
 In golden cenfer at th* eternal throne, 
 
 - * Paradife Loft, iv. 690, 
 
 {- The Author purpofely left this line thus, unharmonious, that the 
 f.ouad might be in accord with the Senfe. 
 
 J Pfalni kix. zo, & Ifaiah lix. .16, 
 
 *' On
 
 REDEMPTIO N. ' 33! 
 
 *' On me their Shepherd, me thy wrath employ, 
 
 *' But fpare thefe haplefs fheep, O Father, fpare, 
 
 " Let me with agonies their grief atone, 
 
 " And all their fins, and all their forroivs bear." 
 
 Then fang the morning Stars their hymns of joy, 
 
 When thou, the Father's uncreated Son> 
 
 The promis'd * Shilo, quitting thy abode, 
 
 That heaven of heav'ns the bofom of thy God, 
 
 And ftript of all thy blifs, and all thy glory, 
 
 Began'ft, O wondrous flory, 
 
 The tafk of Love, and voluntary Woe, 
 
 Hail Word eternal ! Hail creating Mind ! 
 
 Then did the Hills, then did the Vales refound ; 
 
 The Vale of Arnon, and the purple brow 
 
 Of beauteous Amana, and Shenir rang, 
 
 And all the forefts of thy Carmel fang, 
 
 When Thou, in flelhly f Tabernacle Ihrin'd, 
 
 'Ganft pour the ftream of bleffings all around, 
 
 And brooding over teach thy helplefs care, 
 
 As the fond Eagle doth her young, to try 
 
 Their fcarce-fledg'd plumes, and thro' the bafer air 
 
 Aflert the manfions in their native fky. 
 
 J O goodly Vine, beneath whofe cluflring boughs 
 
 The weary flocks repofe ! 
 
 * Gen. xlix, 10, f a Cor, v, I. J John xv, I,
 
 3J2 REDEMPTION. 
 
 O * Rofe of Sharon ! O f Enclofure fweet 
 
 Of chief perfumes, of fpices frelh and rare ! 
 
 Wake, wake ye winds, and o'er the Garden blow, 
 
 That all the foul -delighting fcents may flow j 
 
 And ye, O Spirits of air 
 
 Catch the rich odours, and to heav'n repair, 
 
 That angels may difTolve in raptures meet ! 
 
 O t Phofphor ! O effulgent Son of Morn ! 
 
 But ah how fallen, fain ! how chang'd from Him, 
 
 Who led to war th' embattled Seraphim, 
 
 And all the Youth of Heav'n ; whofe flaming hand, 
 
 With thunders arm'd, hurl'd from th' ethereal fky 
 
 The arch apoftate and his rebel band, 
 
 Hurl'd them with ruin, and combuftjon dire, 
 
 To bottomlefs perdition, there to lie 
 
 Weltring in lakes of everliving fire ! 
 
 Yet, fpotlefs Lamb, tho' now with wrath divine 
 
 Thou feel'ft thy adamantine foul opprefl j 
 
 Tho' Adam's fins are by adoption thine, 
 
 And crufh with heavy load thy lab'ring breafl j 
 
 Yet quickly {hall the mortal coil be o'er, 
 
 And grief, and pain, and anguifh be no more j 
 
 Soon mall the brightnefs of thy Godhead mine : 
 
 Ev'n now methinks thy robes with f.i.rguine red 
 
 * Solomon's Song, ii. i. f Solomon's Song, iii. 14. & infra, 
 
 | Re. xxii. 16. Jfai, Ixiii, 2. 
 
 Are
 
 REDEMPTION. 333 
 
 Are ftain'd, like thofe that in the winefat tread ; 
 
 I fee, I fee thee rife. 
 
 How bright, how glorious, o'er the ftarry ikies, 
 
 And Sin, and Death are led 
 
 Chain'd to thy Chariot wheels ! Hark, hark tke Song 
 
 Begins, the Song of triumph and delight, 
 
 Which erft we fung, when from the dreadful fight 
 
 Returning Vi&or all the rapturous throng 
 
 Of Saints and Angels hail'd thee, wond'rous King, 
 
 Almighty Lord, Heav'n's fole eternal Heir : 
 
 Lift up your heads, ye Gates, and O prepare, 
 
 Ye living Orbs, your everlailing doors, 
 
 The King of Glory comes ! 
 
 What King of Glory: ? He, whofe puiflant might 
 
 Subdu'd * Abaddon, and tL' infernal pow'rs 
 
 Of Darknefs bound in adamantine chains : 
 
 Who wrapt in glory with die Father reigns 
 
 Omnipotent, immortal, infinite ! 
 
 The Angel Ceas'd, and from his flinty bed 
 The God-redeemer rofe : 
 Lull'd was his care in heav'n-infpir'd repofe, 
 And his fick foul with airs ethereal fed : 
 Content he rofe, O Father, to fulfil 
 Thy fixt eternal will. . 
 
 * The Angel of the bottomlefs pit is fo called in Rev. ix, TK 
 
 And
 
 33-f REDEMPTION. 
 
 And now the madding crew their Saviour led 
 Mild as a Lamb to Slaughter, like a fheep 
 
 Before her fhearers dumb But, O my Mufe, 
 
 Forbear ! Ev'n gnarled Oaks for grief would weep, 
 And the rough rocks their briny tears diffufe, 
 Should'ft thou to Calvary's cleft fummit rife, 
 And there, in colours fuited to thy woe, 
 The torments and ftupendous forrows paint 
 
 Of the great fufPring Saint. 
 
 Oh flop, and from the humble bafe below 
 
 Cafl up thy tearful eyes 
 
 To where thy Lord, and * Love was crucify 'd j 
 
 So fhall the World, and all its vanities 
 
 Appear like drofs Ambition, Luft, and Pride 
 
 Shall far, far off their baleful povv'rs remove. 
 
 And in the pure unfpotted mind. 
 
 Nothing remain behind, 
 
 But Adoration, Ecftacy, and Love. 
 
 * Cyp. E/wj 
 
 FINIS.
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
 Los Angeles 
 This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. 
 
 TOTD ID-UKB 
 
 AUG i 6 1973 
 
 , REC'D LD-URD- 
 
 JAN 13 1975 
 
 NOV 4 1980 
 
 Form L9-Series 444
 
 A 000000891 2