My sted fast heart shall fear no ill,
For thou, O Lord, art with me still;
Thy friendly crook shall give me aid,
And guide me through the dreadful shade.

Though in a bare and rugged way,
Through devious lonely wilds I stray,
Thy bounty shall my pains beguile:
The barren wilderness shall smile,
With sudden greens and herbage crown'd,
And streams shall njurmur all around.

GRATITUDE.

BY THE SAME.

When all thy mercies, O my God!

My rising soul surveys; Transported with the view, I'm lost

In wonder, love, and praise !

O! how shall words with equal warmth

The gratitude declare,
That glows within my ravish'd heart!

But thou canst read it there.

Thy providence my life sustain’d,

And all my wants redrest, When in the silent womb I lay,

And hung upon the breast.

To all my weak complaints and cries

Thy mercy lent an ear,
Ere yet my feeble thoughts had learnt

To form themselves in prayer.

Unnumber'd comforts to my

soul Thy tender care bestow'd, Before my infant heart couceiv'd

From whom those comforts flow'd.

When in the slipp'ry paths of youth

With heedless steps I ran,
Thine arm, unseen, convey'd me safe,

And led me up to man.

Through hidden dangers, toils, and deaths,

It gently clear'd my way, And through the pleasing snares of vice,

More to be fear'd than they.

When worn with sickness, ost hast thou

With health renew'd my face, And when in sins and sorrow sunk,

Reviv'd my soul with grace.

Thy bounteous hand with wordly bliss

Has made my cup run o'er, And in a kind and faithful friend

Has doubled all my store.

Ten thousand thousand precious gifts

My daily thanks employ,
Nor is the least a cheerful beart,

That tastes those gifts with joy.

Through every period of my life

Thy goodness I'll pursue;
And after death, in distant worlds,

The glorious theme renew.

When nature fails, and day and night

Divide thy works no more, My ever-grateful heart, OʻLord!

Thy mercy shall adore.

Through all eternity to thee,

A joyful song I'll raise, But, oh! eternity's too short

To utter all thy praise.

CREATION.

BY THE SAME.

Tue lofty pillars of the sky,
And spacious concave rais'd on high,
Spangled with stars, a shining frame,
Their great original proclaim;

Th’unwearied sun, from day to day,
Pours knowledge on bis golden ray,
And publishes to every land
The work of an Almighty hand.
Soon as the evening shades prevail,
The moon takes up the wondrous tale,
And nightly to the list’ning earth
Repeats the story of her birth:
Whilst all the stars that round her burn,
And all the planets in their turn,
Confirm the tidings as they roll,
And spread the truth from pole to pole.
What though in solemn silence all
Move round the dark terrestrial ball?
What though nor real voice nor sound
Ainid their radiant orbs be found?
In reason's ear they all rejoice,
And utter forth a glorious voice,
For ever singing as they shine,
“ The hand that made us is divine."

THE WISH.

BY MERRICK.

How short is life's uncertain space!

Alas! how quickly done!
How swift the wild precarious chace!
And yet bow difficult the race,
How
very

Youth stops at first its wilful ears

To wisdom's prudent voice; Till now arriv'd to riper years, Experienc'd age, worn out with cares,

Repents its earlier choice.

What though its prospects now appear

So pleasing and refin'd; Yet groundless hope, and anxious fear, By turns the busy moments share,

And prey upon the mind,

Sivce then false joys our fancy cheat

With hopes of real bliss ; Ye guardian pow'rs that rule my fate, The only wish that I create,

Is all compris'd in this:

May I through life's uncertain tide,

Be still from pain exempt;
May all my wants be still supply'd,
My state too low tadmit of pride,

And yet above contempt.

But should your providence divine

A greater bliss intend; May all those blessings you design, (If e'er those blessings shall be mine)

Be centr'd in a friend.