V THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES FREDERIC THOMAS BLANCHARD ENDOWMENT FUND Alpha and Omega, A POEM, In FIVE CANTOES : ADDRESSED TO L P H N S 0, A Young Gentleman Atheiftically inclined. To which are added, The THIRD CHAPTER of HABBAKUK, REFLECTIONS on the SEA-SIDE, &c. By LEfTIS JONES, A. B. Vicar of Caldicut, in Monmouthfhire. / am ALPHA and OMEGA, the Beginning and the End, the Ftrji and the Loft. Rev. xxii. 13. GLOCESTER, Printed by R. RAIKES ; And Sold by MefTrs. DAVEY and LAW, in A ve- Mary- Lane, London j by Mr. WILDE, in Hereford; and bv all other Book-fellers in Town and Countrv. ivJ I JL A. - . . 3a: D r a a c a A " oi n< no zv * V. il c *:j r L 353? ' * ADVERTISEMENT. ;;3/_, ! ; ^q l[r THE Writer of the following Piece fubmits it 5 entirely to the Candour of the Public, and f+ J 3noio o3 > oIsoiG oit &s hopes the Goodnefs of his Intention will atone for, >m in fome Meafure, the feveral Imperfections per- ceivable in the Performance, which is levelled, not 7 7 againft any particular Perfon concealed under the . Name of ALPHONSO, (as he has Reafon to think * has been injurioufly fuggefted without the leaft Foundation) but againft ATHEISM itfelf, the moft deplorable Chara&eriftic of this licentious Age. * o But for his ill State of Health it would have ap- pear'd, perhaps, in a Drefs more worthy the in- terefting Subject, yet hitherto unattempted in Poetry. A 2 True C J True Criticifm, a Stranger to Prejudice, views every . r - ' . well-meaning Attempt with a favourable Eye, and, where the Subject is difficult, does not forget to make proper Allowances. His Endeavours to pleafe and to profit will pleafe the Humane, and he wifhes jiii-i'jjjl -J^j^^f- vjiil W v/AiCJT ' Id* J 1 1 T T v-i JL \ to have had the Art of mixing the utile duki fo bri ( oildu*][ orb to ii/ob. vfon as to pleafe and to profit Malevolence. If this incorrect Eflay be capable, upon the whole, of iinpvSL srft tributing Somewhat to the Service of Religion, (for, however deficient in Practice. he dares rank himfelf > _ *. ' . ~ * T J7J^ in the Number of its fincereft Well-\vilhers) the * *** * ' \ ^/>^ will be accepted, and the Donor abundantly J t r -11^ 2#I n iit i recompencedj elpecially, rf it Ihould haply entice any Mafter of the Pen more effectually to under- J J - p take what he has cordially attempted the Mainte- I . * f . * 7 J ') ^ f _, y f ' ( *! f|T nance of Truth, and the Conviction of Infidelity, for the Honour of GOD, and the Benefit of Man, . AL- *> kjw( <5> kjM/ O k.jn O k.jHf <> k.i O kjrf O kjrf O kjw( <(] ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ * . i*^^**********^ CANTO I. curvce in terras animte et cceleftium inanes 1 X. THERE are, I own, BRITANNIA'S Sons among, Far better skill'd in Argument and Song ; Where NATURE, in the Precept, blends with ART, ." And fweet Convidtion melts the confcious Heart : For me Beneficence, not Fame, my End, 5 ' Who perfonate the Bard to prove the Friend. Happy ! if, prompted by this rude Defign, Some fav'rite Subjedl of the tuneful Nine Maintain the Sacred Caufe, as Truth infpires, With facred Rage, and more exalted Fires. 10 & ' PLEA- a C A N T O I. PLEASURE makes ATHEISTS ; that deftroying Peft By Man call'd Pleafure, and with Glee carefs'd : Hence the bewitching Smile, and fportive Glance, Hence the wild Notes that urge the frantic Dance. Profanely eloquent, or lewdly witty, 15 She crowns the Goblet, or lafcivious Ditty. If on the lufcious Board a Turtle fmoaks, Wit triumphs, and JEHOVA ends in Jokes: Then, wide diftended with the gorgeous Load, The Man of Tafte annihilates his GOD. 20 Earth, Earth abforbs him whole, and not a Ray -\ Informs his Breaft, of pure celeftial Day ; But each Diviner Image fades away. f- Sweet are the Toys which Vanities beftow, j j ' Sweet are the Joys which from Extortion flow; 25 -- Sweet Ver. n. PLEASURE makes ATHEISTS: See Dr. CLARK cm the Being and Attributes of GOD as to the Caufes of ATHEISM. Ver, 21. Earth, Earth abforbs, &c.] Quin corpus onuftum Hefternis vitiis animum quoque praegravat una, Atque affigit humo divinae particulam aurse. HOR. CANTO I. 3 Sweet are the Joys when Pow'r ufurps Controul, And fweet are Revels o'er the Midnight Bowl ; Sweet and attractive as the Syren's Charm, The Joys that round Idalian Grottoes fwarm ; Sweet the foft Eccho of recoiling Oaths, 30 Sweet all the Joys that fqueamifti Virtue loaths ; Oh doubly fweet ! deceiv'd ALPHONSO cries, Oh doubly fweet ! a Voice from HeH replies. The Soul aims high : Shall Luft its Aim defeat ? In Man how mix'd the Little and the Great ! 35 Collected, now, the Godlike Pow'rs prevail; {fi^a^u^' ' *T *T And, now, the Brutal Legions turn the Scale; v Vu g Inclined, by Fits on PLATO'S Wings to rife, r i -j vi TN r i TM- Or link, and, like DOMITIAN, Iport with Flies : - Now, like ALCIDES, leans to Virtue's Sway, 40 Now, deaf to Virtue, treads the flow'ry Way, Then twirls the Diftaff once divinely brave, When all the Hero dwindles to a Slave. Tim .C A N T. O I. Thus Man ; 'till Grace each Appetite refine, Pleas'd to corred: the Senfual to Divine. 45 Not fo the Atheift, by whofe ruder Plan The Brutes alone are Relatives to Man : To Virtue Vice, and Death to Life preferr'd, Supine he mingles with th' ignoble Herd ; Difclaims th' Alliance tho' to Heav'n allied, 50 And the prime Monfter fwells with earthly Pride ; Spurns the kind Hand that fpreads out all his Store ; Lives but to die, and dids to live no more. C C ' - -^JULUMC J Does aught of Toy BRITANNIA'S Offspring fuit. J J r t c v/5n That ftains the Hottentot* and marks the Brute ? c c 3 oo The Toys of Vice, which real Toys you deem, j j > j . v Wear a falfe Glofs, and are not what they feem. loiqi ovi aJu. < .nan iG Obferve how foon the fond Illusions pall ! How foon th' unhallow'd Manna turns to Gall I .TV oa too A ^Ht chiw* mdT j oi eoibntw is n^il L. 47. They that deny a (5 OD deftroy Man's Nobility ; for 'tis moft certain that Man is akin to^the Beafts by his Body j and, if he is not akin to GOD by his Spirit, he is a very bafe and ignoble Creature. BACON'S EfTays by WYLLIMQT. CANTO I. 5 A Grant too high ; but grant your Dodrine true : 60 Are Virtue's Sons kfs happy Men than you ? Alike the AthehTs and the Chriftian's Lot To bud, to bloflbm, ripen, drop, and rot. Nor Heav'n, nor Hell, exift beyond the Grave, To damn the Sinner, and the Saint to fave. 65 But what a Choice has poor ALPHONSO made, [Confcicnce repuls'd, and Reafon ill repaid !] If, doom'd eternal Raptures to forego, * i O ' His fhort-liv'd Pleafures end in endlefs Woe ? Full at the Gates, amidft a wondVing Crowd, 70 Hark ! does not Wifdbm lift her Voice aloud ? c Attend, my Sons ! with folemn Stillncls hear c The Words I utter, and thofe Words revere. ' c Truft me, Religion is no empty Sound ; c TRUTH in her Paths, and HAPPINESS are found. 75 B * From L. 63 refers to the different States of Infancy, Youth, Manhood, Old-Age, and the final Diflblution of Man. L. 70. This daringly-beautiful Profopopeia is taken from viii. Prov. i. Doth not Wifdom cry, and Underftanding put forth her Voice ? She crieth at the Gates, at the Entry of the City, &c. 6 C A N T O I. From Heaven I faw the Royal Maid defcend, * A thoufend Mimfterial Loves attend ; c But chief of thefe, and charming to the Sight, * Faith, Hope, and Charity, enrob'd in White. * .Around her fhone a bright Ethereal Flame, 80 * Bright as the Place, atnd pure, from whence (he came. c A fudden Chorus ftrikes my ravifh'd Ears, * Sweet as the Mufick of the founding Spheres. c Her Breath Ambrofial Odors: Wrought with Gold, ' Her Vefture flow'd all-glorious to behold. 85 < In her Left Hand a Branch of Olive bends, 4 Her Right the Fiffors Starry Crown extends. * Gracious fhe fpoke, and thus her Speech began, " GLORY TO GOD! BENEVOLENCE TO- MAN. . " Mine the ftill Raptures of a Life well-fpent 90 " Of humble Eafe, and durable Content : " The Joys which I impart are Joys alone, " Health to the Cheek, and Marrow to the Bone ; " Comforts which no Viciflitude deftroys, " Subftantial, lafting, uncompounded Joys. 95 Each CANTO I. 7 * " Each Intellectual Appetite I fill, " Inform the Judgment, and correct the Will ; " Fix in the Bounds which Reafon's Laws require, " Each Hope and Fear, Averfion and Defire. " My chearful Influence each Affection fways, "V 100 " Calms ev'ry Pafllon, eviy Luft allays, v " Whence Gentlenefs of Mind and Length of Days. \ " 'Tis mine, to plead th' opprefs'd but righteous Caufe, " When CONSCIENCE, CONSCIENCE bounds with Self-Applaufe. " My Sons no Terrors, no Diftradions know ; 105 " All, as above, is Harmony below. " Their Joys, proportion'd to their Hopes, increafe ; " Their Lives are Chearfulnefs, their End is Peace. " Add, when the laft loud Trumpet pierce the Tombs, " [A Blaft prelufive to their final Dooms !] Iio " Immortal Extafies my Train await, " Which not the Tongue of Angels can relate. " To him that overcomes behold the Prize P c She ceas'd ; and loud Hofannahs rent the Skies.' B a CAN- # flftftsseifOtf^^ >& >JC ^**&**fc^**fc^**^ ^ )j( 4di^iHiflijf(j|UHi^^ X( & W^G$V&<&&1^ & CANTO II. Before the Mountains were brought forth> or ever the Earth and the World were made, thou ART GOD from Ever* lafting and World without End. Pfalm xc. 20. A GOD! illumin'd Nations cry aloud, 1 1 5 ^ ^ A GOD the Pagan fees as through a Cloud. Go, vifit ev'ry Clime the Sun fiirveys, The Creatures eccho the Creator's Praife ; Where Ignorance her rude Dominion fpreads, Or where the gentle Foot of Science treads. 120 Whence L. 115. Firmiilimum hoc afferri videtur cur Decs effe eredamus, quod nulla. gens tam fera, nemo OMNIUM tam fit immanis, cujus mentem non imbuerit Deorum opinio : multi de Diis prava fentiunt, id enira vitiofo more effici folet : omnes tamen efle vim et naturam Divinam arbitrantur. TUSCUL. i. When he fpeaks of Deorum and .Dm, he fpeaks in Conformity to the vulgar Opinion, and Polity of the Pagan World, not intending to infer from thence a Plurality of Gods, but only -numen effe aliquad\ or, as he fays in the latter Part of the Sentence, agreeably to the Senti- ments of all the wifer Heathens, agreeably to his own real Sentiments, and agreeably to Truth, efle vim et naturam Divinam. C A N T O II. 9 Whence could this univerfal Awe begin ? Whence ? from the Scene without, and Voice within. And Man's firft Sire the glowing Lecture read, Which kindling through fucceflive Ages fpread. Groundlefs this Awe, or real, may we call ? 1 25 Can that be groundlefs which determines all ? Another NEWTON let ALPHONSO prove. Say, how the Motion-lefs began to move ; Thy fprightly Genius clear the wondrous Fact, How firft Inaction fhould begin to act ; 130 What latent Caufe firtt fhook the dormant Load : Was Motion then its neceflary Mode ? ' The Chain of Caufes by Degrees perfue, 'Till the whole Syftem open fair to View ; 'Till free thy Soul, on Contemplation's Wings, 135 Mount upward to the Archetype of Things ; Mount above Heav'n, then down to Earth below, And learn thy own dear Littlenefs to know. Two io -CANTO II. Two diff 'rent Principles amaze the Schools, Attraction here, and there Repulfion rules ; 140 Whofe happy Variance works the general Good, And gives each Orb the very Place it fhould. And what are thefe ? the Pow'r of G O D imprefs'd "} On Matter Matter in itfelf confefs'd \. Indiff'rent or to Motion, or to Reft. \ 145 Hence, then, not Matter, but one boundlefs Soul, Suftains, impels, and regulates the whole : Attend, ye Atheifls I but to Reafon's Call, One great myflcrknre Loous governs all. Does Man exift ? Man muft receive, of Courfe, 150 Exiftence from fome firft-fexifting Source : Reflect ? but whence can Man's Reflection rife ? Its Source muft be intelligent and wife. L. 140. And what is this Attraction ? (fays the excellent Mr. HERVEY, meaning the Attrac- tion both of Gravitation and Cohefion) Is it a Quality, in its Exiftence, inseparable from Mat- ter; and, in its ailing, independent on the DEITY .'---Quite the Reverfe. It is the very Finger of GOD ; the conftant Impreflion of Divine Power; a Principle neither innate in Mat- ter, nor intelligible by Mortals. Contemp. on the Starry Heavens. 3 A NT O II. ii A Caufe irrational who dares fufpedt Productive of a rational Effect ? 155 Is there no GOD, becaufe thy mortal Eye Sees not th' Invifibk ? whofe Works imply An Architect Divine : With partial Blaze All Nature the Divinity difplays. Go, Rebel to the firft and beft of Pow'rs ! 1 60 Go, fearch the Properties of Plants and Flow'rs ! Their Effence lies conceal'd ALPHONSO grants, Yet the Life circulates of Flow'rs and Plants. The Wretch depriv'd of Hearing, or of Sight, , Frames rude Ideas or of Sound or Light. 165 Yet, tho' this Truth his reaf 'ning Pow'rs confound, Is there, AL?HONSO! neither Light nor Sound ? Enough for Mortals i by Reafon's Aid, They trace the Maker in the Things he made. Can Man, proud Man, each curious Point decide ? 170 A Worm of Yefterday, how vaft his Pride ! J Anxious, iz C A N T O II. Anxious, tho' blind with Paflions, to explain Myfterious Truths which Angels fearch in vain. Can Man, aflifted by his Pride alone, Strike thro' the Blaze of GOD's Empyreal Throne, 175 When the rapt Seraph, mask'd before his Sight, Bears not thofe overwhelming Floods of Light ? Above all Heights can finite Reafon mount, And all the Ways of Infinite recount ? As well, prefumptuous ! may the grov'ling Swine 180 Unriddle each prudential Act of thine ; Explain what Order, and what Rules you keep, Why cultivate the Land, why tempt the Deep. Rife then, ye Brutes ! Man's ev'ry Scheme explode, A Man to you, and but a Brute to God. 185 What Caufe, fay Cafuift ! from Corruption freed, Re-kindles into Life the dying Seed ? Why L. 180. Ne beftiae quidem, quid homo fit, capiunt j multoq; minus fciunt qua ratione ho- jnines refpublicas inftituant ac regant, aftrorum curfus metiantur, mare navigent. GROTJUS df V. R. C. L. i. CANTO II. Why Parts of Matter, let ALPHONSO teach, Conned with Parts cementing each to each. Say why this Particle of Breath Divine Lives the rich Tenant of a moukTring Shrine : Make Nature all thy Study, all thy Care ; t i Invent, improve, interpret, and compare: Each Operation, Virtue, Pow'r explore ; Then fink, Ambition! and prefume no more. 195 Unbiafs'd Reafon this Conclufion draws, There is, there muft be, fome Eternal Caufe. Yet Reafon's Self in proper Bounds reftrain : She errs, and maddens with too free a Rein, Like the Sun's Horfes in yon Starry Plain. \ 200 L. 200. Like the Sun's Horfes, in the Story of PHAETON* I CAN- / <> j*"H O fTTMl <> jT^ O j^ O ^ O !*"*i O F"^ O /*"*! <* O k_jtf <> kjn( O fcjrf <> iHLjil <> kjrf O kjM( <> k.j^ <> fcu( <* JOVIS OMNIA PLENA. The invifible Things of him from the Creation of the World are clearly feen, being underftood by the Things that are wade^ even his Eternal Pow'r and. GOD-head. Rom. i, 20. FROM Pow'rs beheld conclude a Pow'r unfeen, : Which is, which muft be, and which muft have been. .. Above, below, ftupendous Works declare A Pow'r Supreme, in being what they arc. Go, take thy Range thro 1 all Creation's Round, 205 Say, is there one firratum to be found ? L. 201. It is lefs difficult to believe the moft portentous Stories of the Alcoran^ the Talmud^ or the Legend^ than to believe that this univerfal Frame of Nature is without an intelligent Bpfrlg : And therefore GOD 'never wrought a Miracle to convince Atheifm^ becaufe his .ordinary Works are fufficient for that Purpofe. BACON'* Eflayi by WYLLIM.OT. CANTO III. Search deep thro' Nature's univerfal Frame, Findj if thou canft, one {ingle Speck to blame; One Star that {nines not to its Station true ; One Gram of Sand too many, one too few : Where lies one Mountain not of Ufe declare, One Rock, one culpable IOTA, where. Here wide extended Vallies laugh with Corn, And wilder Glories yonder Hills adorn ! The Purple Grape Nectareous fwclls with Juice, And fragrant Heaths Balfamick Draughts produce, fte flow'ry Meads in gay Luxuriance bloom, And Shrubs, and Herbs Ambrofial waft Perfume : Frefli from the verdant Hill and dewy Vale, Frefh from the Vale a thoufand Sweets exhale, ^ 220 Frefh blows Arabia in each Spicy Gale. The Silver Stream, here, foft meand'ring flows, There, the full Bough a cool Repaft beftows, And with attractive Lure the mellow Fruitage glows, <-* w C 2 Sec 16 CANTO See yonder Sun which gilds the Blue Expanfe ! 225 Is that vaft Globe the fhining Gift of Chance ? What fecret Pow'r ftill feeds the mighty Blaze, Piefcribes its Motion, and directs its Rays ? It is a flaming Evidence, ordain'd To fpeak the Might of GOD's creative Hand: 230 From World to World it fpreads th' important Sound, From Mercury to Sat urns utmoft Bound, To fee the Sign, and not their Zeal improve, To feel its Warmth, and yet not melt with Love ; Be this the Mark of cold SPINOZA'S Train, 235 Who fee the Sign, and feel its Warmth in vain. Their Eyes fee Wonders, will their Tongues confefs ? No; the Tongue curfes which was form'd to blefs. - - A At L. 225. Quid poteft efle tarn apertum, tanrq; perfplcuum, cum ccelum fufpeximus, coeleffiaqj contemplati fumus, quam effe aJiqt^od numen praeftantiffimae mentis quo haec regantur ? Quod qui dubitat,. baud fane intelligo cur non idem Sol fit, an nullus ft, dubitare poflit ? Quid enim eft hoc illo evidentius ? De Nat. Dear. L. 231. See fome beautiful Reflexions on this Subje6l in MARTIN'J Gentleman's *nd Lady's Phiiofophy.. C A N T O ID. 17 At awful Diftance from this Source of Day Myriads of Suns their Nightly Beams difplay ; 240 Each fpangling * Point, an Orb immenfely great, May chear dependent Worlds with Light and Heat: % ^*- Rare Works for cafual Atoms to compleat ! Hence let ALPHONSO juft Conclusions draw, Which ev'n a Moth inculcates, ev'n a Straw. 245 What Laws yon Planetary Spheres controul, Or doom in Other's fluid Traces to roll? Oblique to whirl in everlafling Gyres, And rapid Meafures round their central Fires? What Laws impel the Comet's fiery Train 1 ," 2*5 That wanton fellies thro' th' Ethereal Plain ? O * Confult with Reafoii IReafon will reply,. Each lucid Point, which glows in yonder Sky, Informs a Syftem in the boundlefs Space,-. And fills, with Glory, its appointed Place ; With Beams unborrow'd brightens other Skies y And Worlds to thee unknown with Light and Life fupplies. The Vnl'verfe. L. 245. This very Straw, faid VANIKUS, (taking up a Straw,- as he was going to the Stake) proves the Being of a G O D, ,C A T& T O IIP. O wondrous Structure -without Hands compil'd 1 Devious by Rule, and regularly wild. A larger Compafs what if each enjoy 'd, Eccentric flaming thro' th' unbounded Void ? 255 Such univerfal Symmetry and Art, J J ' Such Harmony diffus'd thro' ev'ry Part, Are various Proofs of one Supreme above ; Are various Proofs of WISDOM, POW'R, and LOVE. See yet, unnotic'd by the naked Eye, . 360 New Syftems new Inhabitants fupply ! Here breathes an Animal without a Name, . One Step from nothing its compendious Frame : A Speck ! whofe Form the niceft Eye approves ; A Drop its -Ocean where it lives and moves, 265 O Miniature compleat thro' ev'ry Part 1 O Nature! GOD's inimitable Art 1 Great in its Littknefs it gives Surprize, Beyond Leviathans enormous Size. Amazing CANTO III. Amazing thefe ! yet greater Wonders fcan, 270 Trace the rude Embrio working up to Man : How fearfully ! how wonderfully wrought ! Shap'd into Grandeur ! quicken'd into Thought I O what are Planets, Comets, what the whole Of yon bright Arch, to Man's immortal Soul ? 275 One Soul, that in Religion's Orbit runs, Out-values and out-fhines ten thoufand Suns. ALPHONSO, learn Earth's Luftre to contemn^ * O learn the Value of thy richeft Gem ! * Undone for ever if that Gem be loft ! 280 , Millions of Worlds can never pay the Colt JT J c * * " ' . C A N- & *( CANTO IV. y For tuna ! Deam^ Cceloq; locamus* Doubtlefs there is a GOD that judgeth the Earth* Pfalm Iviii. 10. 'T^HEE, CHANCE ! thee, blind Direarefs of the Mufe f I hail, and hail thee with no fordid Views. What Warmth I feel thy genial Ray fupplies, And gives Imagination Wings to rife: 28 c Thus may I boaft the Gift thy Lots bequeath, And with thy own LUCRETIUS fhare the Wreath. Doubtlefs, to thee ev'n HOMER'S mighty Name Owes the long Plaudit of impartial Fame ; 290 Who, blind like thee, and void of Fraud confefs'd, On various Cubes each Grecian Type imprefs'd I Thefe CANTO IV. at Thefe emptied, rattling, from the dubious Urn, Lo, Page the firft with Indignation burn ! Again he tofs'd the loud contingent Dies ; ~) Again each Reader views, with wild Surprize, v 295 New Prodigies in fweet Connection rife. \ Thus Line to Line, and Page to Page fucceeds, 'Till doom'd to fall lamented HECTOR bleeds ; I And fierce implacable ACHILLES tow'rs Tremendous in the View of Trojan Pow'rs. 300 Iliad hence the Reach of Thought furpafs'd, As Art met Nature in each lucky Caft. Say, whence, as finifh'd by th' exa&eft Mold, This Re&itude thro' all which we behold ; Flow'rs, p L. 292. Hie ego non miror efie quemquam qui fibi perfuadeat, corpora quaedam folida atque individua vi et gravitate ferri, mundumq; effici ornatiffimum et pulcherrimum ex eorum corporum concurfione fortuita : Hoc qui exiftimet fieri potuifle, non intelligo cur non idem putet fi innu- merabiles unius & viginti formae literarum vel aureae, vel quales libet, aliquo conjiciantur, poflc ex his interram excuffis, annales Ennii ut deinceps legi poflint, effici. De Nat. Deor. L.2. L. 292. The Irony here fuppofes the Figure of each Letter in the Greek Alphabet to have been imprefled on fundry little Cubes, or Dice, which, being rattled in a Box, regularly produced, at each fortuitous Caft, a Page of the Iliad ; as if the firft Caft had produced the firft Page, the next the fecond, and fo on fucceflively to the End of the Poem : Which affords a Series of Effe&s, wrought by CHANCE, of the miraculous Kind. 22 C A N T O IV. Flow'rs, Fruits, and Mufick, Air and Skies, unite 305 To charm the Smell, Tafte, Hearing, Touch, and Sight ! How various Objeds various Joys difpenfe, How gratify the Appetites of Senfe. That apt Interpreter of Thought the Tongue ? 310 Why circulates the Blood ia Crimfon Tides ? . CHANCE, like the Moon, unconfcious Queen, prefides ; . . Fierce to repel thefe Tides as to receive, CHANCE gave the Heart to pant, the. Lungs to heave. Who fining the Sinews, and who brac'd the Nerves? 31 r Almighty CHANCE firft made, and ftill preferves. Who form'd the Eye ? Blind CHANCE ; Deaf CHANCE, the Ear : ALPHONSO ! what a Miracle is here- 1 Strange that meer CHANCE fhould Human Art excel ! Strange that fo blind an Agent plann'd fo well ! 3 20 Tri focial League could jarring Atoms join ? Juft without Art 1 correct without Defign ! As G A N T O IV. As well may frantic Eloquence perfuade My Reafon that St. PAUL'S was never made ; Or that by Accident Materials came, .3*5 And regularly blundered into Frame. TLT J 'fA To Reafon's uncorrupted Voice fubmit, TI -n -r i r W hate er exilts is uniform and fit ; I All by one perfect Architect defign'd, " r ^ r ^VI\ I All the full Sapience of Eternal Mind, y 330 The Work of WISDOM, POW'R, and LOVE, combin'd. \ J But, funk in Eafe, a Lethargy Divine, Notes the prime Monarch any Aft of mine ? Shall mortal Insignificancy (hare His kind Infpedion, his immediate Care? 335 Enjoys this World a Portion of his Grace? This World a Cypher in the Realms of Space. D 2 Om- L. 328. Whatever is, is right. POPE. L. 337. A Cypher which Expreffion at once alludes to the Circular Form and Inflgnifi- cancy of this Terreftrial Spot in companion with other Syftems difperfed thro' the Regions f Space. CANTO IV. Omnifcience* Self Man's Ignorance reftrains, Man's Weaknefs puts Omnipotence in Chains, Man's Pride of Juftice would controul the Sway, 340 Man's Goodnefs fleeps Eternity away. All deaf, the Hearer of our various Needs : ol All blind, the Being whence all Light proceeds ; & 5 r > With Cognifance exaft, the King of Kings 5 55 Kens thro' the wide Diverfity of Things : J & Without his Guidance not a Minim moves ; ' .W io 2ioW Nature but ads as Nature's GOD approves. .if A Ask ye the Caufe that gives Deftfu Aipn Scope, When left by, Mif'ry's laft Attendant,., Hope, A Nation (inks, Earth's ftrong Foundations rend, Tofs the wild Waves, and penal Flames afcend? (Involv'd in equal Guilt, attend the Call, Arid may Augufta rife by Lisbon s Fall !) ALPHON so holds-^- 'tis Nnttrre;' NamTe"fe1gns, *Tis Nature ading juft as GOD ordains. This, CANTO IV. 25 This, if he weighs it with a Mind intcnfe, Is true Philofophy and folid Senfe. Still o'er thefe Realms thy watchful Care extend, Still from th' infulting Foe our Shores defend ! Thy Wifdom, yet, Britannia^ Ardour guide, To iboth their Malice, and abate their Pride : Shield us beneath the Shadow of thy Wings, es! and Ruler ev'n of Kings ! Guardian o ?* : - iteigoiq IB$ub/V ,i ilm a'LJjj-jQ ; M *t\ . A N- C A N T O V A Death-Bed argues better than a Ct AUK. Young. Heufuge^ nate DEO I teq\ bis, ait> eripe flammis. , -1 i/fii> .^iJjJjjC JO . ! SAY whence thefe ardent Hopes of being blefi'd, Thefe ftrong Ideas on the Mind imprefs'd j 365 Still in progreffive Science form'd to grow, The Mind ftill knowing^ ftill on Fire to know. Sure thefe preparatory Flights muft be The Rudiments to full Maturity. I fee, mcthinks, th s Athenian Hero ftand 370 Smiling with Death's full Goblet in his Hand \ L. 370. Th' Atitman Here.] SOCRATES. CANTO V. 1 hear the dying, but enmptur'd, Sage With folemn Truths attentive Crouds engage, In Terms where Judgment and Perfuafion meet, And, like his Hopes of Glory, firong and fweet \ 375 Oppreffion wafts him to tfea peaceful Shore Where Slander wounds, and Poifon kills, no more; Here CATO falling, BRUTUS there furrey, Exalted in the Mufe's partial Lay. Defpair-led Souls may defp'rate Ads atchieve, .3 380 Such as dare die becaufe they dare not live. Nobly refign'd, and not by Phrenfy driv*n> J + J \Y t ^O The Grecian falls, forgives and is forgiv'n : Triumphant SOCRATES! my Soul admires The Pagan glowing ev'n with Cbrijiian Fires. 385 . Haft L. 372. Agreeably to this CICERO. His et talibus rationibus addu&us SOCRATIS nee patronum quaefivit ad judicium- capitis^ nee judicibus fupplex' fuit : ad-hibuitq; liberam contti* maciam a magnitudine animi duflam non a fuperbia ; et fupremo vitae die dc hoc ipfo multa dif- feruit; et paucts ante diebus, cum facile poflet educi e cuftodia, noluit : et cum pene in manu jam mortiferum illud tenuerat poculum, locutus iu eft ut non ad mortem trudi, verum in ccelum vidertar afcendere. a 8. CANTO V. Haft thou not read how fad Tradition paints The Fall, and thro' that Fall the Rife, of Saints, Who chofe, their Lives by dying to prolong, All Kings in Heav'n, and Martyrs all in Song ? Pleafure in vain each gentle Charm eflays, mill gflsw i 39 And Wealth and Honour unfuccefsful blaze. _;iW Wondrous good Men ! who, Proof to hoftile Pride, SmiTd at the Rack, and impious Might defied ; With Rapture fill'd, Hell's 'Bkck Militia view'd, Fell, breathing Peace, and, falling, yet fubdued; 395 Refolv'd, amid the public Tempeft flood, And fail'd to Liberty thro' Seas of Blood : Death, touch'd with Pity, purchas'd their Releafe, And the ftern Tyrant figns a lading Peace. Peace to that Breaft which Faith celeftial guides, 400 Where a fix'd Calm, and filial Awe, prefides ! Peace to the Chriftian Hero arm'd with PowV, Unruffled to behold his mortal Hour 1 . . CA N T O Vi Arm'd at allf Points, he knows no inward Strife* Knows not one Sigh for all the Pomps of Life ; 405 But, as gay Scenes and happy Vifions rife, '" nA Hears his kind Angel's genjtle Call, and dies. . j ii. It- is a glorious Privilege to die, ^ When the rapt Soul afcends yoh %angled Sky ; 3U ^ r r i r_ r S V I *$] ** " iT -v Where wide diffus'd her'intelleftual Sight, ^ 410 All Truth fhall ftream abroad, Truth heav'nly bright, ( b:iA From one imcnenfe and genuine Fount of Light. V* rdG t ' >l ^ J ' There not incumber d, not confin'd to Place, Glowing along illimitable Space, Inftant, her nimble Eflence wings her Way, 415 Bright as the Sun, and a&ive as a Ray. O come that Minute,, worth an Age of Time! & nadW . ; [The Chriftian's Wifli elate with Views fublime] When Death fhall fign th' imprifon'd Soul's Difcharge, And the free Mind fhall think and ad at large : 420 E When So CANTO V. When the rais'cj Man, from Matter's irkfome Load Released, expatiates o'er yon bright Abode, And crown'd with GOD-like Pow'rs lives whole to GOD. m Hail thou, the Father's uncreated Ray ! Hail, of defponding Souls thou total Stay ! The Blifs ineffable is thine to give ; 6 > By Nature dead, by thee alone we live. j . j O form'd in ev'ry Heart may JESUS reign, ~Y And a&ive Faith raife high the grateful Strain*, \ > & ) ~ \ 'Till each of ADAM'S Sons JoH.Paradife regain ! > 430 j When Death-Bed Pangs (O grievous Load to bear !) Wake Confcience, and whea. G^nfcience wakes Defpair;, When the Teeth gnafli, diftorted Eye-Balls roll, And ftrong Convulfions rend the ftruggling Soul ; * . When the flirill, hideous, Heart-felt Voice within 43 r r- - . V -T ' Shouts Vengeance, and prefents each glaring Sin ;. ITTI ri /Ir-rk r i When Worlds appear or Torments yet unrelt ; Rotiz'd into Thought eV'n ftartled ATHEISTS melt. K Where CANTO V. 5- Where now (ah ! where) are thofe fure Maxims fled Which erft from Truth their devious Steps mif-led ? 440 So gaily drefs'd, fo gilded" o'er with Art, That fpecious Error won th' inclining Heart : 'w D^ -O * All Sophiftry, how florid, yet how weak^} t ^r Let Death, that Lord of ARISTOTLE, fpeak. Then will the Wretch cry loud, but cry unheard, 445 IWobd / '' t O;7O{] II V.C'rH ic *L .. < O thou moft worthy to be Ipv'd and fear'd ! .. : ' ^ Are no Referves of Mercy to be found ? "^ . . 'io / * Can neither Pray'rs, nor Tears, nor Vows compound ? v r . r c Ah ! no. Stern Juftice calls : Hark ! hark ! the fearful Sound.X jH moil I If, J * I go. alas ! but whither muft I go? 1 Is there no Medium betwixt Blifs and Woe ? CTJ.. 3D c Cannot that GOD, which did this Whole create ' ' ( Reduce me to my former empty State ? J , L J - |; < Lay the whole Man in undiftinguuh'd Duft ? ( * He can: But how? with endlefs Mercy iuft. . J J g 4 Down with the Tyrant's Empire, Death and Hell ! * < O 'tis the Blifs of Angels to rebel. E 2 < Nothing A nr V, Nothing Ibutliell and Gontefen<^ -how remaitt, Before the everlafting Hills had Birth. 4.6 c J * Before the ftrong Foundations of the Earth, - ' i Long before dntient Time began to ftart, -. Brimeval ! from Eternity thou ART. Angels, Arch- Angels, Thrones, Dominions, all, Before thy Foot-ftool reverential fall. Thro* Space Creation hails thee King of Kings \ ' : - Thro' Space th' eternal Hallelujah rings. Father of Lights ! with unreferv'd Acclaim We praife thee, we adore thy glorious Name. Thy Ways in Fulnefs of Perfection fhine ; 475 Pure Equity, eflential Truth, are thine : To CANTO V. 33 To thee Ml I'oWr, all Mercy, appertain ; Mercy ftill fweetens, Pow'r confirms, thy Reign. Thy Mercy endlefs, and fupreme thy Pow'r ,au; I \o 'ViV^uo Vv O lave us, fave us, in our dying Hour I :r A bniili j^ n'vBi ^{rtl aniBfiO avabiqqo moil / .iluG orb ru bVnir V ' .V O T >I A D ^^^^^^^^Sm,, ;iJI yr!j fno3 ^ Aftonifh'd at the Slaughter of the Day. \ ; 77 In the full Blaze his; Arrow* ggflffa ^Bffe, 3 bnBabbH gnortcS His Spear gave Lightning where his Fury trod. With headlong Rage in mighty Numbers ftrong, & & & J ^i io id (As the dread Whirlwind rapid pours along) 5 25 Of Eelid\ Sons on rufh th' embatded Train ; They fall, and, breathing Slaughter, ftrew the Plain. They fall! they fall] in undiftinguifli'd Heaps ; And Blood, and Defolation, mark his Steps. For fl ^iL ^fia^ The Third Chapter of HABBAKUK. 37 For this, his People thro* the Deep he led, 530 ^ ^ . ^u* **r j^. *-. -*- i*p *-, :>*. ,. And kept inviolate th' anointed Head. r Soon as the Oracle of GOD foretold The Fate which Sion well deferv'd of old, Shudder d my Soul, with confcious Horror fill'd, : And the big Sweats from ev'ry Pore diftill'd ! -T S3S For much I fear'd the favage Foe to prove, n oT Fix'd to Revenge, and dettitute of Love. What tho' the Fig-Tree fliould no Bloflbms yield, No Fruit the Vineyard, and no Crops the Field ; Tho' with'ring Olives mock the Planter's Toil, 540 Exub'rant erft with grateful Streams of Oil ; Tho' loathfome Murrains on our Kine befal, Depopulate the Fold, and thin the Stall ; Tho' all around in Anarchy be hurl'd ; Thy CHURCH (hall ftand amid the burfting World, 54.5 'Till Heav'n's Supreme his own Elecl: releafe, And all be mild Repofe, and all eternal Peace. F RE- REFLECTIONS on the SEA-SIDE. * SNATCH me fwift from thefe tumultuous Scenes To where Life knows not what Affliction means ; To where Religion, Peace, and Comfort dwell, 550 And chear with Heart-felt Rays my lonely Cell ; There, where no ruffling Winds, no raging Seas, - Shock the calm Mufe amidft her penfive Eafe : Each Paffiony/00/, each mild Affe&ion mine, ' Mix'd with each Human Grace, and each Divine: 555 p Aw'd by no Terrors, with no Cares perplex'd, This Life my gentle Paffage to the next. ' Yet if it pleafe thee beft, thou POW'R SUPREME t My Bark to drive thro' Life's more rapid Stream ; If . * Publiihed in Martin 's Mffgazine t and fince revifed. REFLECTIONS on the SEA-SIDE. 39 If low'ring Storms my deftin'd Courfe attend, 560* And Ocean rage 'till this black Voyage end ; Let Ocean rage let Storms indignant roar I bow fubmiflive, and, refign'd, adore ; Refign'd adore, in various CHANGES try'd, Thy own lov'd Son my Anchor and my Guide! 565 Refign'd adore, whate'er thy Will decree, ; '..... * . ~ A * My Faith in JESU ! and my Hope in THEE ! O happieft Lot! if, thro' a Sea of Woes > I reach that Harbour where the Juft repofe. :^qi2biriv/ -jr^iHlsBa^iWijb^xiM ,- r . IW3BH8-, - Fa EPI- 7, . . E P I-'T A P H S. ;ii j5iobj b'ngrbJJ 'HT^HIS honed Tomb no fulfome Fktt'ry knows, 570 A The laft proud Gift which Vice on VicebeftoWs; Yet dares one fweet and glorious Truth impart- Tranfcribe the glowing;I^dlure on thy Hfea^rf. t- J fit)iqq.orl O Haft thou that powerful Faith that works by Love, : And, dead to Senfe, ftill points to Thrones above? 575 Feed the warm Hope which pure Religion gives, Nor fear to die, thou whofe REDEEMER lives ! Thy Bones fhall rattle from their Earthy Bed : JESUS, who died to favt thee, faves thee dead. On EPITAPHS. xxw^^ On a Young Man's Tomb. ^NATCH'D from the Scenes which captivate Mankind, 580 Ev'n Youth muft leave its glitt'ring Toys behind; Bleft with the Change, when, ev'ry Thought fublime, The Soul can tafte 'Eternity in Time : Then Youth, in Rapture, overlooks the Span, And, fbrm'd an ANGEL, only pities MAN. 585 The END. . ' IU UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. Form L9-lCOm-9,'52(A3105)444 THE UWMW OF ,J Ait v i !" . - ^ DC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY A 000001 315 1