Whose abject souls, like demons dark,
Are murm'ring in the dust.

CXXX.

For man to murmur or repine
At what by thee is done,

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,
To thee their fountain flow,
If wise, as curl'd around to theirs
Meandring streams below.

530

CXXXV.

Not less compell'd by Reason's call,
To thee our souls aspire,

Than to thy skies, by Nature's law,
High mounts material fire:

CXXXVI.

To thee aspiring they exult;

I feel my spirits rise,

I feel myself thy son, and pant
For patrimonial skies.

CXXXVII.

Since ardent thirst of future good,
And gen'rous sense of past,

To thee man's prudence strongly ties,
And binds affection fast.

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;

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550

And shall one drop, to murmur bold

Provoke my guilty soul?

CXLI.

If pardon'd this, what cause, what crime,
Can indignation raise ?

The sun was lighted up to shine,

And man was born to praise:

CXLII.

And when to praise thee man shall cease,
Or sun to strike the view;

A cloud dishonours both, but man's
The blacker of the two.

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,
And banish all complaint;
All virtues thronging into one,
It finishes the saint;

560

570

580

CXLVI.

Makes the man bless'd as man can be;
Life's labours renders light;

Darts beams thro' Fate's incumbent gloom,
And lights our sun by night.

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;
I see you on your knees.

CLII.

How on that posture has the beam
Divine for ever shone?

An humble heart, God's other seat! *
The rival of his throne.

CLIII.

And stoops Omnipotence so low?
And condescends to dwell

Eternity's inhabitant,

Well-pleas'd, in such a cell?

CLIV.

Such honour how shall we repay!
How treat our guest divine?---
The sacrifice supreme be slain ↓
Let self-will die: Resign.

CLV.

Thus far, at large, on our disease;
Now, let the cause be shown,
Whence rises, and will ever rise,

The dismal human groan.

CLVI.

What our sole fountain of distress?
Strong passion for this scene;

That trifles makes important, things

Of mighty moment mean.

* Isaiah lvii. 15.

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