Black murder breeds, to level at his head,
Who boasts so fair a partner of his bed,
Nor long must he poffefs those envied charms,
The fingle treasure of his house and arms:
Giving by this thy fall, cause to blafpheme
To all the heathen the ALMIGHTY NAME:
For which the SWORD fhall ftill thy race pursue,
And, in revolted ISRAEL'S fcornful view,
Thy captiv'd wives fhall be in triumph led
Unto a bold ufurper's fhameful bed;
Who, from thy bowels fprung, shall seize thy throne,
And scourge thee by a fin beyond thy own.
Thou haft thy fault in fecret darkness done;
But this fhall be before the noon-day's fun." [plies,
"Enough!" the KING, "Enough!" the SAINT re-
And pours his fwift repentance from his eyes:
Falls on the ground, and tears the nuptial veft,
By which his crime's completion was exprefs'd:
Then, with a figh, blafting to carnal love,
Drawn deep as hell, and piercing heav'n above,
"Let me, he cries, let me, attend his rod,
"For I have finn'd, for I have loft my GOD!"
"Hold! fays the prophet, of that speech beware, God ne'er was loft, unless by man's despair : The wound that thus is willingly reveal'd, Th' ALMIGHTY is as willing fhould be heal'd: Thus wafh'd in tears, thy foul as fair does fhow, As the first fleece, which on the lamb does grow Or on the mountain's top the flaky fnow.
}
Yet,
Yet, to the world that justice may appear
Acting her part impartial and fevere,
The offspring of thy fin fhall foon refign
That life, for which thou must not once repine;
But with fubmiffive grief his fate deplore,
And bless the hand that does inflict no more."
"Shall I then pay but part, and owe the whole ? My body's fruit for my offending foul? Shall I no more endure, the king demands, And 'scape thus lightly his offended hands? Oh! let him all refume, my crown, my fame, Reduce me to the nothing whence I came; Call back his favours faster than he gave, And, if but pardon'd, ftrip me to my grave. Since, tho' he seem'd to LOSE, he furely WINS, Who gives but earthly comforts for his fins."
EPIGRA M
ON THE FALSE REPORT OF MRS. KY'S DEATH.
N wings of wind his journey rumor fped,
Sufpended tears flood big in every eye,
Till truth's fair afpect chas'd the recent lie:
Slow mov'd the tears to forrow's fad employ,
But gufh'd a torrent in the cause of joy.
THOUGHTS ON PSALM cxix. xx.
MY SOUL BREAKETH OUT FOR THE VERY FERVENT DESIRE
THAT. IT HATH ALWAYS UNTO THY JUDGMENTS.
W
HILE heaven and earth folicit me to love,
My doubtfulchoice is puzzl'dwhich t'approve:
Heaven cries, OBEY, while earth proclaims, be FREE,
Heaven urges DUTY, earth pleads LIBERTY.
Call'd hence by heaven, by earth I'm call'd again,
Toft, like a veffel on the reftless main :
These diff'rent loves a doubtful combat wage,
And thus obftruct the choice they would engage.
Ah! 'tis enough; let my long-harrafs'd mind
In the best choice a peaceful haven find!
O my
dear GOD! let not my foul incline
To any love, or let that love be thine!
True, it is pleasant to be free to chufe,
And when we will, accept; when not, refuse.
Freedom of choice endures restraint but ill,
'Tis ufurpation on the unbounded will.
The neighing fteed thus loos'd from bit and rein,
To his lov'd pafture runs in hafte again.
So the glad ox, from his plough-burthen freed,
Runs lowing on to wanton in the mead :
And when the hind their freedom would revoke,
THAT fcorns his harness, THIS defies the yoke.
Freedom in choice we fondly count a bliss;
Eager to chufe, tho' oft we chufe amifs.
1
So the young PRODIGAL, impatient grown
To manage his entire eftate alone,
Takes from his prudent father's frugal care
His stock, by that improv'd and thriving there:
But his own steward made, with eager hafte
He does the flow-gain'd patrimony waste;
Till ftarv'd by riot, and with want oppreft,
He feeds with fwine, himself the greater beast.
Thus in deftruction often we rejoice,
I'leas'd with our RUIN, fince it was our CHOICE.
How do we weary heaven with diff'rent prayers!
The medly, fure, absurd and vain appears.
THIS begs a WIFE, nor thinks a greater blifs;
And THAT's as earneft to be rid of his :
THIS prays for children; THAT o'er- ftock'd, repines At the too fruitful iffue of his loins.
THIS afks his father's days may be prolong'd; THAT, if his father lives, complains he's wrong'd: Youth prays for good old age, and aged men Would caft their skins, and fain grow young again. Scarce in ten thousand two alike agree;
Nay, fome diflike what they just wish'd to be. None know this minute what will fuit them best, Since that which follows brings fome new request.
Oh! why, like fuch, grown restless with defire, Do my vain thoughts to unknown joys afpire? Be gone false hopes, vain wishes, anxious fears! Hence, ye disturbers of my peaceful years! O my dear GOD! let not my foul incline To any love, or let that love be thine!
THOUGHTS ON PSALM CXIX. v.
THAT MY WAYS WERE MADE SO DIRECT, THAT I MIGHT
KEEP THY STATUTES!
IN
N what a maze of error here I stray, Where various paths confound my doubtful way! THIS, to the right; THAT to the left-hand lies: HERE, vales defcend; THERE fwelling mountains rife: THIS has an easy, THAT a rugged way;
The treach'ry THIS Conceals, THAT does betray. But whither these fo diff'rent courses go,
Their wand'ring paths forbid, till try'd, to know.
HERE thwarting difficulties ftay my feet,
And on each road I threat'ning dangers meet.
But, more to heighten and increase my dread,
Darkness involves each doubtful step I tread :
No friendly tracts my wand'ring footsteps guide,
Nor other feet th' untrodden ground have try'd.
Oh! who will help a wretch thus gone aftray!
What friendly star direct my dubious way?
A glorious cloud conducted ISRAEL's flight,
By day their cov'ring, as their guide by night.
The eastern kings found Bethlehem too from far,
Led by the conduct of a twinkling star.
Nor be thou lefs propitious, Lord, to me,
Since all my business is to worship thee.
I
|