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STANZAS,

ON THE SAME OCCASION.

I.

WHY am I loth to leave this earthly scene? Have I so found it full of pleasing charms? Some drops of joy with draughts of ill between; Some gleams of sunshine 'mid renewing storms Is it departing pangs my soul alarms?

Or death's unlovely, dreary, dark abode? For guilt, for guilt! my terrors are in arms! I tremble to approach an angry God,

And justly smart beneath his sin-avenging rod.

II.

Fain would I say, "Forgive my foul offence'"
Fain promise never more to disobey:

But, should my Author health again dispense,
Again I might desert fair virtue's way:
Again in folly's path might go astray;

Again exalt the brute, and sink the man;
Then how should I for heav'nly mercy pray,

Who act so counter heav'nly mercy's plan? Who sin so oft have mourn'd, yet to temptation ran?

III.

O Thou, great Governor of all below,

If I may dare a lifted eye to Thee,

Thy nod can make the tempest cease to blow,
Or still the tumult of the raging sea;

With that controlling pow'r assist ev'n me,
Those headlong, furious passions to confine;
For all unfit I feel my pow'rs to be,

To rule their torrent in th' allowed line;
O, aid me with thy help, Omnipotence divine!

splerain

VERSES,

LEFT BY THE AUTHOR AT A REVEREND FRIEND'S HOUSE,
IN THE ROOM WHERE HE SLEPT.

I.

O THOU, dread Pow'r, who reign'st above;

I know thou wilt me hear,

When, for this scene of peace and love
I make my pray'r sincere.

II.

The hoary sire, the mortal stroke,
Long, long, be pleas'd to spare!

To bless his little filial flock,
And show what good men are.

III.

She, who her lovely offspring eyes
With tender hopes and fears,
O, bless her with a mother's joys,
But spare a mother's tears!

IV.

Their hope, their stay, their darling youth,
In manhood's dawning blush;

Bless him, thou God of love and truth,
Up to a parent's wish!

V.

The beauteous, seraph sister-band,

With earnest tears I pray,

Thou know'st the snares on ev'ry hand,Guide Thou their steps alway!

VI.

When soon or late they reach that coast,
O'er life's rough ocean driv'n,
May they rejoice, no wand'rer lost,
A family in heav'n!

A GRACE BEFORE DINNER.

O THOU, who kindly dost provide
For ev'ry creature's want!

We bless thee, God of Nature wide
For all thy goodness lent:

And if it please thee, heav'nly Guide,
May never worse be sent;

But whether granted or denied,
Lord, bless us with content!

Amen

THE FIRST PSALM.

THE man in life, wherever plac'd,
Hath happiness in store,

Who walks not in the wicked's way,
Nor learns their guilty lore!

Nor from the seat of scornful pride
Casts forth his eyes abroad,

But with humility and awe

Still walks before his God.

That man shall flourish like the trees Which by the streamlets grow; The fruitful top is spread on high, And firm the root below.

But he whose blossom buds in guilt,
Shall to the ground be cast,
And, like the rootless stubble, tost
Before the sweeping blast.

For why? That God, the good adore,
Hath giv'n them peace and rest,

But hath decreed that wicked men
Shall ne'er be truly blest.

THE FIRST SIX VERSES OF THE NINETIETH PSALM.

O THOU, the first, the greatest friend

Of all the human race!

Whose strong right hand has ever been
Their stay and dwelling place!

Before the mountains heav'd their heads

Beneath thy forming hand,

Before this pond'rous globe itself

Arose at thy command;

That Pow'r which rais'd, and still upholds,

This universal frame,

From countless, unbeginning time,

Was ever still the same.

Those mighty periods of years

Which seem to us so vast,
Appear no more before thy sight
Than yesterday that's past.

Thou giv'st the word-thy creature, man,
Is to existence brought;

Again thou say'st, "Ye sons of men,

Return ye into nought!

Thou layest them, with all their cares,

In everlasting sleep;

As with a flood Thou tak'st them off

With overwhelming sweep.

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