REMNANTS OF TIME 477 "In paradise, of all things common else : "By thee adulterous lust was driv'n from men "Among the bestial herds to range; by thee " Founded in reason, loyal, just, and. pure " Relations dear, and all the charities "Offather, son and brother, first were known: " Perpetual fount5in of domestic sweets, " Here love his golden shafts employs, here lights " His constant lamp, and waves his purple wings, " Reigns here and revels ; not in the bought smile " Of harlots, loveless, joyless, unindear'd, "Casual amours, mixt dance, or wanton mask " Or midnight ball, &c. "Blessed poet, that could so happily unite love, and virtue, and draw so beautiful a scene of real felicity, which till this day I always thought was merely romantic and visionary ! Lucius has taught me to understand these lines, for he has felt them ; and methinks while I repeat them now I feel a strange new sensation. I am convinced the blind poet saw deeper into nature and truth than I have imagined. There is, there is such a thing as a union of virtuous souls, where happiness is only found. I find some glimmerings of sacred light rising upon me, some unknown pant - ings within after such a partner and such a life. "Nor is the other lesson which I have learnt, at all inferior to this, but in truth it is of higher and more durable importance. I confess since I was nineteen years old I never thought virtue and religion had been good for any thing, but to tie up children from mischief, and frighten fools : But now I find by the conduct of my friend Lucius, that as the sweetest and sincerest joys of life are derived from virtue, so the most distressing sorrows may find a just relief in religion and sincere piety. Hear me, thou almighty Maker of my frame, pity and assist a returning wan- derer, and O may thy hand stamp these lessons upon my soul in, everlasting characters." XI. Thou hast received Gifts for Men. Psalm lxviii. 18. JESUS the Mediator emptied himself for our sakes when he descended to earth in order to die for us, and by his death to sub- due our enemies. Now the Father has filled him again at his ascent to heaven with every glory and every blessing, with all authority and power to bestow - blessings, graces and glories on the sons of men. " It pleased the Father that in him all fulness should dwell. All power in heaven and earth was given into his hands ;" Col. i. 19. Mat. xxviii. 18. And when he received the power he distributed the blessing. See Acts ii. 33. " Being by the right -hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." He Rath shed abroad miracles and graces in abundance among the inhabitants of the lower world. The triumphs of majesty must have some mercy in them, and ensigns of victory must be interwoven with signal displays of xh3
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