Page images
PDF
EPUB

O

And sleep on beauty's breast divine

In love's young rosy bowers.

And all the bowers of love and spring
Are beautiful and fair;

For He who is the life of life

Is always present there.

[blocks in formation]

That gem the azure sky;

Although with borrowed light they shine,
Reflected from His eye.

There's poetry above the stars,

Poesy's heavenly throne;

Fountain of fountains-light of life,

Music and love's own home,

And all above and all below
Is poetry sublime !

Stamped with the eternal mystic seal

The hand that is divine.

AN ALLEGORY.

For a long time my mind had been severely exercised, with a view of my own situation as a professed disciple of Christ, and also that of the Christian church. I had been casting about me to see if I could discover the cause of this sad declension in religious interest.

With my mind agitated and distressed, I fell into a disturbed slumber. I dreamed that I was in great distress of mind, on account of my exceeding sinfulness. It seemed as if no man had ever done so many bad things as I had, and that it was not possible that I could be forgiven. In this situation, I thought I passed some days and nights without once supposing these feelings arose from a convic-. tion of sin. At length, in all the bitterness of spirit, I voluntarily exclaimed, "O, wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" I felt as if my sins verily clung to me, a loathsome, dead weight. At this moment of despondency, and almost of despair, a Being appeared, of infinite beauty and surpassing loveliness, and with tones which reached my inmost soul, said, "Take my yoke upon you, which is easy, and my

Yes, exclaimed I, any

burden, which is light." thing for a change; and immediately my burden was gone, and I seemed to be clothed in a beautiful white robe, which hung loosely and gracefully over my shoulders, reaching to the ground. Keep this garment unspotted from the world, said he, and you will find it all you need.

What, thought I, do you call this a yoke, this a burden? Why, it seems as if I could fly to the uttermost parts of the earth, or soar to heaven. My vision seemed also to have undergone a change. How lovely every thing appeared! Nature wore a smile I had never seen before, and all upon which my eye rested was clothed with loveliness. Thus things remained for some days, my mind being occupied wholly with what had transpired, and in viewing the changed appearance of all around.

At length I observed there were recesses in this garment, and thrusting my hand into one of them, I found it contained scrolls or parchments. I drew one forth; it read thus: "Love the Lord thy God with all thy might, mind, and strength, and thy neighbor as thyself." I do, I do, was the quick response of my heart. heart. It really seemed that I loved every body and every thing, I drew forth another, upon which was written, "Do unto others as ye would that others should do unto you." Upon another, "Deal justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God." Upon another, "The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof, and the cattle upon

a thousand hills.

saith the Lord.

The silver and gold are mine," Another read, "Do whatsoever your hands find to do with your might." Another, "Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed in your spirit and in the image of your mind." Another, as I took it from my pocket, seemed to illumine the place where I stood, and I could observe the smallest obstruction in the way of my advancing. I cast my eye upon it, and read these words: "A lamp to your feet and a light to your path." A useful thing, indeed, thought I. I had by this time become much interested, as you may well suppose, and I looked with increasing desire for more scrolls. I found them in great abundance. "Visit the widow and fatherless in their afflictions," the sick and imprisoned of whatever character. Relieve the poor and destitute, whom you always have with you. Break the chain of the bondman, and let the captive go free. "Be diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." These are strange documents, said I within myself; but I have been so much relieved by losing my burden, I will try what I can. At this juncture I discovered on another parchment, "If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth liberally and upbraideth not," which strengthened my resolution to go forward. I thought every thing went on well for some time. It appeared that my work was easier. I had an abundance of time and opportunity to do good, and

means to do it with; and it seemed to me that I should never know any feelings or desires but these. O, how I could plead with sinners to flee from the wrath to come, to embrace Christ, and try his yoke and burden! How fervently could I pray that the poor slave, who had been so long and so unjustly trodden down, might rise with his mind illumined by the truths of God's word, and be permitted and enabled to cast off the double yoke of slavery to man and the devil How eagerly did I engage in scattering far and wide those (Olive?) leaves which are for the healing of the nations, and how agonizingly did I beseech the God of Peace to hasten the time when nations should learn war no more! In mingling again with the world, I observed that as different persons passed me, they cast a glance at my dress and smiled; but I supposed it to be the smile of complacency at its perfect plainness, its adaptation to my wants, and the ease with which it was worn. I felt to pity those who seemed to be cramped in their motions by dresses of a different kind, and upon which I looked with perfect disgust. After a while, some kind friends, as I thought them, ventured to suggest that there might be some improvement made in my exterior which would make me appear to better advantage, and even increase my influence and means of doing good, as by so doing I should be able to come at an entirely different class of men.

The more they said, and the more I thought of

« PreviousContinue »