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2. All nature faints beneath the mighty name,
Which nature's works through all their parts proclaim.
I feel that name my inmost thoughts control,
And breathe an awful stillness through my soul:
As by a charm, the waves of grief subside;'
Impetuous passion stops her headlong tide.
3. At thy felt presence all emotions' cease,
And my hushed spirit finds a sudden peace;
Till every worldly thought within me dies,
And earth's gay pageants vanish from my eyes;
Till all my sense is lost in infinite,

And one vast object fills my aching sight.
4. But soon, alas! this holy calm is broke;
My soul submits to wear her wonted3 yoke ;
With shackled pinions strives to soar in vain,
And mingles with the dross of earth again.
But He, our gracious Master, kind as just,
Knowing our frame, remembers man is dust.
His spirit, ever brooding o'er our mind,
Sees the first wish to better hopes inclined;
Marks the young dawn of every virtuous aim,
And fans the smoking flax into a flame.
5. His ears are open to the softèst cry,
His grace descends to meet the lifted eye;
He reads the language of a silent tear,
And sighs are incense from a heart sincere.
Such are the vows, the sacrifice I give ;
Accept the vow, and bid the suppliant live;
From each terrestrial bondage set me free;
Still every wish that centers not in thee;
Bid my fond hopes, my vain disquiets cease,
And point my path to everlasting peace.
6. If the soft hand of winning Pleasure leads
By living waters, and through flowery meads,

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When all is smiling, tranquil, and serene,-
And vernal' beauty paints the flattering scene,-
O! teach me to elude' each latent snare,
And whisper to my sliding heart, "Beware!"
With caution let me hear the Siren's voice,
And, doubtful, with a trembling heart rejoice.

7. If, friendlèss, in a vale of tears I stray,

Where briers wound, and thorns perplex my way,-
Still let my steady soul thy goodness see,
And with strong confidence lay hold on thee:
With equal eye, my various lot receive,
Resigned to die, or resolute to live;
Prepared to kiss the scepter or the rod,
While God is seen in all, and all in God.

8. I read his awful name, emblazoned high,
With golden letters, on the illumined sky;
Nor less the mystic' characters I see

Wrought in each flower, inscribed on every tree:
In every leaf, that trembles to the breeze,
I hear the voice of God among the trees.

9. With thee in shady solitudes I walk,
With thee in busy, crowded cities talk;
In every creature own thy forming power,
In each event thy providence adore :
Thy hopes shall animate my drooping soul,
Thy precepts guide me, and thy fear control.
Thus shall I rest unmoved by all alarms,
Secure within the temple of thine arms,
From anxious cares, from gloomy terrors free,
And feel myself omnipotent" in thee.

1 Ver'nal, belonging to the spring; appearing in spring; hence, belonging to youth, the spring of life.

2 Elūde', to evade or escape from. 3 Siren, one of three damsels,or according to some writers, of two, -said to dwell near the island of Caprea, in the Mediterranean, and to sing with such sweetness that they

who sailed by forgot their country, and died from excess of delight; hence, an enticing woman; something which is alluring or deceptive. 4 Emblazoned, (em blå ́znd), decked or painted in bright colors.

5

Mys' tic, far from human understanding; obscure.

"Om nip' o tent, all-powerful.

10. Then, when the last, the closing hour draws nigh,
And earth recedes' before my swimming eye;
When, trembling, on the doubtful edge of fate
I stand, and stretch my view to either state ;—
Teach me to quit this transitory2 scene
With decent triumph, and a look serene ;
Teach me to fix my ardent hopes on high,
And, having lived to thee, in thee to die.

MRS. BARBAULD,

IV.

102. THE UNIVERSAL PRAYER.

ATHER of all! in every age,

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In every clime adored,

By saint, by savage, and by sage,
Jehovah, Jove, or Lord!

2. Thou great First Cause, least understood,
Who all my sense confined

To know but this, that thou art good,
And that myself am blind;

3. Yet gave me, in this dark estate,
To see the good from ill;
And, binding nature fast in fate,
Left free the human will.

4. What conscience dictates to be done,
Or warns me not to do,

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6. Yet not to earth's contracted span
Thy goodness let me bound;
Or think thee Lord alone of man,

When thousand worlds are round.

7. Let not this weak, unknowing hand
Presume thy bolts to throw,
And deal damnation round the land
On each I judge thy foe.

8. If I am right, thy grace impart
Still in the right to stay;

If I am wrong, O, teach my heart
To find that better way.

9. Save me alike from foolish pride,
Or im'pious discontent

At aught thy wisdom has denied,
Or aught thy goodness lent.

10. Teach me to feel another's woe;
To hide the fault I see ;
That mercy I to others show,
That mercy show to me.

11. Mean though I am, not wholly so,
Since quickened' by thy breath;
O, lead me, wheresoe'er I go,—
Through this day's life or death.

12. This day be bread and peace my lot;
All else beneath the sun

Thou know'st if best bestowed or not,
And let thy will be done.

13. To Thee, whose temple is all space,
Whose altar, earth, sea, skies!

One chorus let all being raise!
All nature's incense rise!

'Quick' ened, made alive.

ALEXANDER POPE.

SECTION XXII.

I.

103. MEMORY.

IS sweet to remember! I would not forego

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The charm which the past o'er the present can throw, For all the gay visions that Fancy may weave In her web of illusion' that shines to deceive. We know not the future-the past we have fell— Its cherished enjoyments the bosom can melt; Its raptures anew o'er our pulses may roll, When thoughts of the morrow fall cold on the soul. 2. 'Tis sweet to remember! when storms are abroad, To see in the rainbow the promise of God;

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The day may be darkened, but far in the west,
In vermilion and gold, sinks the sun to his rest;
With smiles like the morning he passèth away-
Thus the beams of delight on the spirit can play,
When in calm reminiscence' we gather the flowers,
Which love scattered round us in happier hours.

3. 'Tis sweet to remember!

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When friends are unkind,

When their coldness and carelessness shadow the mind:
Then, to draw back the vail which envelops a land
Where delectable' prospects in beauty expand;

To smell the green fields, the fresh waters to hear
Whose once fairy music enchanted the ear;
To drink in the smiles that delighted us then,
To list the fond voices of childhood again ;—
Oh, this the sad heart, like a reed that is bruised,
Binds up, when the banquet of hope is refused.

4. 'Tis sweet to remember! And naught can destroy
The balm-breathing comfort, the glory, the joy,

1

Illusion, (il lu' zun), a deceptive appearance; a false show.

2 Vermilion, (ver mil' yun), a beautiful bright red.

'Rem`inis' cence, memory; re membrance.

'De lect' a ble, delightful; very pleasing.

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