De sacris autem hæc sit una sententia, ut conserventur.-CIC. DE LEG.
But let us all concur in this one sentiment, that things sacred be inviolate.
He lives, who lives to God alone,
And all are dead beside;
For other source than God is none
Whence life can be supplied.
To live to God is to requite
His love as best we may;
To make his precepts our delight,
His promises our stay.
But life, within a narrow ring,
Of giddy joys compris'd,
Is falsely nam'd, and no such thing,
But rather death disguis'd.
Can life in them deserve the name,
Who only live to prove
For what poor toys they can disclaim
An endless life above?
Who, much diseas'd, yet nothing feel;
Much menac'd, nothing dread ;
Have wounds, which only God can heal,
Yet never ask his aid?
Who deem his house a useless place,
Faith, want of common sense;
And ardor in the Christian race,
A hypocrite's pretence?
Who trample order; and the day
Which God asserts his own,
Dishonor with unhallow'd play,
And worship chance alone?
If scorn of God's commands, impress'd
On word and deed, imply
The better part of man unbless'd
With life that cannot die:
Such want it, and that want, uncur'd
Till man resigns his breath,
Speaks him a criminal, assur'd
Of everlasting death.
Saa period to a pleasant course!
Yet so will God repay
Sabbaths profan'd without remorse,
And mercy cast away.
FOR THE TOMB OF MR. HAMILTON
Pause here, and think: a monitory rhyme Demands one moment of thy fleeting time.
Consult life's silent clock, thy bounding vien;
Seems it to say-' Health here has long to reign?"
Hast thou the vigor of thy youth? an eye
That beams delight? a heart untaught to sigh?
Yet fear. Youth, ofttimes healthful and at ease,
Anticipates a day it never sees;
And many a tomb, like Hamilton's, aloud
Exclaims, 'Prepare thee for an early shroud.'
THE ENCHANTMENT DISSOLVED.
Blinded in youth by Satan's arts,
The world to our unpractis'd hearts
A flattering prospect shows;
Our Fancy forms a thousand schemes;
Of gay delights and golden dreams,
And und turb'd repose.
So in the desert's dreary waste
By magic power produced in haste,
(As ancient fables say),
Castles, and groves, and music sweet,
The senses of the traveller meet,
And stop him in his way.
But while he listens with surprise,
The charm dissolves, the vision dies,
'Twas but enchanted ground;
Thus if the Lord our spirit touch,
The world, which promised us so much,
A wilderness is found.
At first we start and feel distress'd
Convinced we never can have rest
In such a wretched place;
But He whose mercy breaks the charm,
Reveals his own Almighty arm,
And bids us seek his face.
Then we begin to live indeed
When from our sin and bondage freed
By his beloved Friend;
We follow him from day to day,
Assured of grace through all the way,
And glory at the end.
LIGHT SHINING OUT OF DARKNESS.
God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill,
He treasures up his bright designs,
And works his sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace ;
Behind a frowning Providence
He hides a smiling face.
The billows swell, the winds are high,
Clouds overcast my wintry sky;
Out of the depths to thee I call,
My fears are great, my strength is small.
O Lord, the pilot's part perform,
And guide and guard me through the storm,
Defend me from each threat'ning ill,
Control the waves, say, 'Peace, be still.'
Amidst the roaring of the sea,
My soul still hangs her hope on thee;
Thy constant love, thy faithful care,
Is all that saves me from despair.
Dangers of every shape and name
Attend the followers of the Lamb,
Who leave the world's deceitful shore,
And leave it to return no more.
Though tempest-toss'd and half a wreck,
My Saviour through the floods I seek;
Let neither winds nor stormy main
Force back my shatter'd bark again.
O Lord, my best desire fulfil,
And help me to resign
Life, health, and comfort, to thy will
And make thy pleasure mine.
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