238 LYRIC POEMS. to All Hallelujah, heavenly Bing : While distant lands thy victory sing. And tongues their utmost pow'rs em- ploy, The world'sbright roof the joy. The Incomprehensible. 1 PAR in the heav'ns my God retires, My Cod, the mark of my desires, And hides his lovely face ; When he descends within my view, He charms my reason to pursue, But leaves it tied and fainting in th' unequal chase. 2 Or if I reach unusual height Till near his presence brought, There floods of glory check myflight, Cramp the bold pinions of my wit, And all ontune my thought ; Plung'd in a sea of light I roll, Where wisdom, justice, mercy shines; Infinite rays in crossing lines Beat thick confusion on my sight, and overwhelm my soul. 9 Come to my aid, ye fellow- minds, And help me reach the throne ; (What single strength, in vain de- signs, United force bath done ; [poles, Thus worms may join, and grasp the Thus atoms fill the sea) But the whole race of creature -souls Stretch'd to theirlast extentof thought, plunge and are lost in thee. 4 Great God, behold my reason lies Adoring ; yet my love would rise On pinions not her own ; Faith shall direct her humble flight, Thro' all the trackless seas of light, To Thee, eh' eternal Pair, the Infinite Unknown. Death and Eternity. 1 MY thoughts, that often mount the skies, Go, search the world beneath, Where nature in all ruin lies, And owns her sovereign, death. 2 The tyrant, howhe triumphs here! His trophies spread around! And'heaps of dust and bones appear Thro' all the hollow ground. 3 These sculls, what ghastly figures now How loathsome to the eyes? These are the heads we lately knew So beauteous and so wise. 4 But where the souls, those deathless things, That left this dying clay ? .¡wings, My thoughts, now stretchout all your And trace eternity. 5 0 that unfathomable sea! Those deeps without a shore! Where living waters gently play, Or fiery billows roar. 6 Thus must we leave the bañks of life, And try this doubtful sea 1 Vain are our groans, and dying strife, To gain a moment's stay. 7 There we shall swim in heav'niy bliss, Or sink in flaming waves. While the pale carcase thought!etslies, Amongst the silent graves. 5 Some hearty friend shall drop jis tear On our dry bones, and say, " These once were strong, as mine appear, " And -mine must be as they." 9 Thus shall our mould'ring members teach What now our senses learn : For dust and ashes loudest preach Man's infinite concern. A Sight of Heaven in Sickness. I OFT have I sat in secret sighs, To feel my flesh decay, Then gruau'd aloud withfrighted eyes, To view the tott'ring clay. 2 But I forbid my sorrows now, Nor dares the flesh complain ; Diseases bring their profit too ; The joy o'ercomes the pain. 3 My cheerful soul now all the day Sits waiting here and sings Looks thro' tire ruins of her clay, And practises her wings. 5 Faith almost changes into sight, While from afar she spies, Her fair inheritance, in flight Above created skies. 5 Had but the prison walls been strong, And firm without a flaw, In darkness she had dwelt too long, And less of glory saw. 6 But now the everlasting hills Thro' every chink appear, And something of the joy she feels While she's a pris'ner here. 7 The shines of heaven rush sweetly in At all the gaping flaws: Visions of endlessbliss are seen: And native air she draws. 6 0 may these walls standtott'ringstill, The breachesnever close, If I must here in darkness dwell, And all this glory lose ! 9 Or rather let this flesh decay, The ruins wider grow, 'Till glad to see th' enlarged way, I stretch my pinions through. The Universal Hallelujah. Psalm cxlviii. Paraphrased. 1 PRAISE ye the Lord with joyful tongue, Ye pow'rs that guard his throne ; Jesus the man shall lead the song, The God inspire the tune.
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