Shows them the shortest way to life and love; 370 375 Wo boast some rich ones whom the Gospel sways, 380 And strain'd to the last screw that he can bear, 335 And she, once mistress of the realms around, Now scatter'd wide, and no where to be found, As soon shall rise and reascend the throne, 393 By native pow'r and energy her own, As Nature at her own peculiar cost, Restore to man the glories he has lost. Go-bid the winter cease to chill the year, 100 405 Supreme on earth, and worthy of the skies, So sings he, charm'd with his own mind and form, The song magnificent-the theme a worm! 410 415 O'er all his thoughts, and swell'd his easy sail : 420 His books well trimm'd and in the gayest style Like regimented coxcombs rank and file, And teach him notions splendid as themselves: 425 Though that of all most worthy of his care; What shall the man deserve of human kind, Whose happy skill and industry combin'd 430 Shall prove, (what argument could never yet,) The Bible an imposture and a cheat? The praises of the libertine profess'd, The worst of men, and curses of the best. Where should the living, weeping o'er his woes; 435 Where should they find, (those comforts at an end The Scripture yields,) or hope to find a friend? 4.10 Sorrow might muse herself to madness then, And seeking exile from the sight of men, Bury herself in solitude profound, Grow frantick with her pangs, and bite the ground. 445 Flies to the tempting pool, or felon knife. The jury meet, the coroner is short, And lunacy the verdict of the court; Reverse the sentence, let the truth be known, Such lunacy is ignorance alone; 450 They knew not, what some bishops may not know, Weeps tears of joy, and bursts into a song. But the same word, that, like the polish'd share, Ploughs up the roots of a believer's care, 460 Kills, too, the flow'ry weeds, where'er they grow, That bind the sinner's Bacchanalian brow. Oh that unwelcome voice of heavenly love, Sad messenger of mercy from above! How does it grate upon his thankless ear, 465 Crippling his pleasures with the cramp of fear! In vain he points his pow'rs against the skies. 470 Truth will intrude-she bids him yet beware; And shakes the sceptick in the scorner's chair. Though various foes against the truth combine, Pride above all opposes her design; 475 Pride, of a growth superiour to the rest, And is the soul indeed so lost-she cries, 480 Grace undeserv'd, yet surely not for all- 485 Some love of virtue, and some pow'r to praise ; And, soaring on her own unborrow'd wings, 490 495 500 And the fool with it who insults his Lord. The atonement a Redeemer's love has wrought, 505 Is not for you the righteous need it not 510 That man is dead in sin, and life a gift. Is virtue, then, unless of Christian growth, 515 Mere fallacy, or foolishness, or both? Ten thousand sages lost in endless wo, For ignorance of what they could not know? 520 ..... My creed persuades me, well-employ'd, may save; Let heathen worthies, whose exalted mind 525 Left sensuality and dross behind, Possess for me their undisputed lot, And take, unenvied, the reward they sought. Not blind by choice, but destin'd not to see. 530 Celestial, though they knew not whence it came, Traduce the splendour of a noontide ray, 540 The wretch, who slights the bounties of the skies, And sinks, while favour'd with the means to rise, When the great sov'reign would his will express, He gives a perfect rule, what can he less? And guards it with a sanction as severe Else his own glorious rights he would disclaim, 556 And man might safely trifle with his name. He bids him glow with unremitting love To all on earth, and to himself above; Condemns th' injurious deed, the sland'rous tongue, |