Whose abject souls, like demons dark, CXXX. For man to murmur or repine No less absurd than to complain Of darkness in the sun. 520 CXXXI. Who would not, with an heart at ease, Bright eye, unclouded brow, Wisdom and Goodness at the helm, The roughest ocean plough? CXXXII. What tho' I'm swallow'd in the deep? Tho' mountains o'er me roar? Jehovah reigns! as Jonah safe I'm landed, and adore. Thy will is welcome, let it wear Its most tremendous form: Roar, Waves! rage, Winds! I know that thou Canst save me by a storm. CXXXIV. From thee immortal spirits born, 530 CXXXV. Not less compell'd by Reason's call, Than to thy skies, by Nature's law, CXXXVI. To thee aspiring they exult; I feel my spirits rise, I feel myself thy son, and pant CXXXVII. Since ardent thirst of future good, To thee man's prudence strongly ties, CXXXVIII. Since great thy love, and great our want, And men the wisest blind, And bliss our aim, pronounce us all Distracted or resign'd: CXXXIX. Resign'd thro' duty, int'rest, shame; Deep shame! dare I complain, When (wondrous truth!) in heav'n itself Joy ow'd its birth to pain? CXL. And pain for me! for me was drain'd Gall's overflowing bowl; 540 550 And shall one drop, to murmur bold Provoke my guilty soul? CXLI. If pardon'd this, what cause, what crime, The sun was lighted up to shine, And man was born to praise: CXLII. And when to praise thee man shall cease, A cloud dishonours both, but man's CXLIII. For, oh! ingratitude how black! With most profound amaze At love, which man belov'd o'erlooks, Astonish'd angels gaze. CXLIV. Praise cheers, and warms, like gen'rous wine; Praise, more divine than pray'r: Pray'r points our ready path to heav'n; Praise is already there. CXLV. Let plausive Resignation rise, 560 570 580 CXLVI. Makes the man bless'd as man can be; Darts beams thro' Fate's incumbent gloom, CXLVII. 'Tis Nature's brightest ornament, The richest gift of Grace, Rival of angels, and supreme Proprietor of peace: CXLVIII. Nay, peace beyond, no small degree Of rapture 'twill impart; Know, Madam!" when your heart's in heav'n, All heav'n is in your heart." CXLIX. But who to heav'n their hearts can raise ? Deny'd divine support, All virtue dies; support divine The wise with ardour court: CL. When pray'r partakes the seraph's fire, 'Tis mounted on his wing, Bursts thro' heav'n's crystal gates, and gains Sure audience of its King. CLI. The lab'ring soul from sore distress 1 That bless'd expedient frees; I see you far advanc'd in peace; CLII. How on that posture has the beam An humble heart, God's other seat! * CLIII. And stoops Omnipotence so low? Eternity's inhabitant, Well-pleas'd, in such a cell? CLIV. Such honour how shall we repay! CLV. Thus far, at large, on our disease; The dismal human groan. CLVI. What our sole fountain of distress? That trifles makes important, things Of mighty moment mean. * Isaiah lvii. 15. 610 620 |