A tale, that blends their glory with their shame! The only point where human bliss stands still, 310 315 And but more relish'd as the more distress'd: The broadest mirth unfeeling Folly wears, Less pleasing far than Virtue's very tears: 3.20 Good, from each object, from each place acquir'd, For ever exercis'd, yet never tir'd; Never elated, while one man's oppress'd; Never dejected, while another's bless'd, And where no wants, no wishes can remain, 325 Since but to wish more virtue is to gain. See the sole bliss Heav'n could on all bestow ! 330 Blave to no sect, who takes no private road, But looks through nature up to nature's God: Pursues that chain which links th' immense design, Joins heav'n and earth, and mortal and divine; 335 Sees, that no being any bliss can know, But touches some above, and some below; And knows where faith, law, morals, all began, 340 345 Hope of known bliss, and faith in bliss unknown: (Nature, whose dictates to no other kind Are giv'n in vain, but what they seek they find) 350 Self-love thus push'd to social, to divine, Gives thee to make thy neighbour's blessing thine. 355 Extend it, let thy enemies have part; Grasp the whole worlds of reason, life, and sense, In one close system of benevolence : Happier as kinder, in whate'er degree, And height of bliss but height of charity. 360 God loves from whole to parts; but human soul Must rise from individual to the whole. Self-love but serves the virtuous mind to wake, As the small pebble stirs the peaceful lake; 365 Friend, parent, neighbour, first it will embrace, Wide and more wide, the o'erflowings of the mind Take every creature in, of every kind; Earth smiles around, with boundless bounty blest, 370 Come then, my friend, my genius, come along, O master of the poet, and the song! And while the muse now stoops, or now ascends, 375 380 Intent to reason, or polite to please. O! while along the stream of time thy name Expanded flies, and gathers all its fame; Say, shall my little bark attendant sail, 385 Pursue the triumph, and partake the gale? When statesmen, heroes, kings, in dust repose, Whose sons shall blush their fathers were thy foes, Thou wert my guide, philosopher and friend! 390 That, urg'd by thee, I turn'd the tuneful art, 395 THE UNIVERSAL PRAYER. DEO OPTIMO MAXIMO. FATHER of All! in ev'ry age, By saint, by savage, and by sage, Thou Great First Cause, least understood: Who all my sense confin'd To know but this, that Thou art good, Yet gave me, in this dark estate, To see the good from ill; And, binding nature fast in fate, Left free the human will. What conscience dictates to be done, Or warns me not to do, This, teach me more than hell to shun, What blessings thy free bounty gives, For God is paid when man receives, Yet not to earth's contracted span, Let not this weak, unknowing hand Presume thy bolts to throw, And deal damnation round the land, If I am right, thy grace impart, If I am wrong, O teach my heart Save me alike from foolish pride, At aught thy wisdom has deny'd, Teach me to feel another's wo; Mean though I am, not wholly so, Through this day's life or death. This day be bread and peace my lot: All else beneath the sun, Thou know'st if best bestow'd or not, And let thy will be done. |