24fl LYRIC POEMS. 6 Oh! if my threatning. sins were gone, And death had lost his sting, I could invite the angel on, And chide his lazy wing. 6 Away these interposing days, And let the lovers meet ; The angel has a cold embrace, But kind, and soft, and sweet. 7 I'd leap at oncemy seventy years, I'd rush into his arms, And lose my breath, and all my Cares, Amidst those heav'nly charms. . 8 Jobfol I'd lay this body down, 'Arid leave the lifeless clay, W About a sigh, without a groan, Andstretch and soar away. Sincere Praise. I ALMIGHTY Maker, God ! How wondrous is thy name !. Thy glories how diffus'd abroad Theo' the creation's frame ! 4 Nature in every dress Her humble homage pays, And finds a thousand ways to express Thine undissembled praise. 3 In native white and red The rose and lily stand, And free from,pride, their beauties spread, To shew thy skilful hand. 4 The lark mounts up the sky, With.unambitions song, And bears her Maker's praise on high Upon her artless tongue. . 0 My soul would rise and sing To her Creator too, Fain wouldmy tongue adore my Ring, And pay the worship due. 0 But pride that busy sin, . Spoils all that I perform ; Curs': pride,.that creeps securely in, And swells a haughty worm. 7 Thy glories I abate, Or praise thee with design ; Some of the favours I forget, Or thinkthe merit mine. 8 The very songs I frame, Are faithless to thy cause, And steal the honours of thy name To build their own applause. 9 Createmy soul anew, Else all my worship's vain ; This wretched heart will ne'er be true, Until 'tis form'd again. 10 Descend, celestial fire, And seize me from above, Iblelt m,e in flames of pure desire, A sacri¢ce to love. 11 Let joy and worship spend The remnant of my days, And to my God, my soul ascend, . In sweet perfumes of praise. True Learning. Partly imitated from a French Sonnet of Mr. Poiret. t HAPPY the feet that shining truth has led With her own hand to tread the path she please, To see her lustre round her spread. Without a veil, without a shade, All beauty, and all light, as in herself she is. n Our senses cheat us with the pressing crowds Of painted shapes they thrust upon the mind : The truth they shew lies wrapp'd it sev'nfold shrouds, Our senses cast a thousand clouds On unlighten'd souls, and leave them doubly blind. 3 I hate the dust that fierce disputers raise, And lose the mind in a wild maze of thought.: rtle ways, What empty triflings, and what sub- To fence and guard by rule and rote ! Our God will never charge us, That we knew them not. 4 Touch, heav'nly word, O touch these curious souls ; Since I have heard but one soft hint from thee, [schools From all the vain opinions of the (That pageantry of knowing fools) I feel my pow'rs releas'd, and stand divinely free. 5 'Twas this almighty word that all things made, He grasps whole nature in his single hand ; All the eternal truths in him are laid, Theground of all things,andtheir head, The circle where they move, and cen- tre where they stand, 6 Without his aid I have no sure defence From troops of errors that besiege me round ; [sense But he that. rests his reason and his Fast here, and never wandershence, Unmoveable he dwells upon unshaken ground. 7 Infinite truths, the life of my desires, Come from the sky, and join thyself to me ; [tires ; I'mtir'd with bearing, and this reading But never tir'd of telling thee, 'Tis, thy fair fate alone my spirits burn to see. 8 Speak to my soul, alone, no other hand Shall mark my path out with delusive art ; All nature silent in his presence stand, Creatures be dumb at his command, And leave his single voice to whisper to my heart. .
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