Their fortitude and wisdom were a flame *
Celestial, though they knew not whence it came,
Derived from the same source of light and grace,
That guides the Christian in his swifter race;
Their judge was conscience, and her rule their law:
That rule, pursued with reverence and with awe,
Led them, however faltering, faint, and slow,
From what they knew, to what they wished to know.
But let not him that shares a brighter day,
Traduce the splendour of a noon-tide ray,
Prefer the twilight of a darker time,
And deem bis base stupidity no crime;
The wretch, who slights the bounty of the skies,
And sinks, while favoured with the means to rise,
Shall find them rated at their full amount,
The good he scorned all carried to account.

Marshalling all his terrors as he came,
Thunder, and earthquake, and devouring flame,
From Sinai's top Jehovah gave the law,
Life for obedience, death for every flaw.. .
When the great Sovereign would his will express,
He gives a perfect rule; what can he less?

And guards it with a sanction as severe ..
As vengeance can inflict, or sinners fear:
Else his own glorious rights he would disclaim,
And man might safely trifle with his name:
He bids him glow with unremitting love
To all on earth, and to himself above;
Condemns the injuriousdeed,the slanderous tongue,
The thought that meditates a brother's wrong:
Brings not alone the more conspicuous part, ;
His conduct to the test, but tries his heart.

Hark! universal nature shook and groaned,
'Twas the last trumpet-see the Judge enthroned:
Rouse all your courage at your utmost need,
Now summon every virtue, stand and plead.
What! silent? Is your boasting heard no more?
That self-renouncing wisdom, learned before,
Had shed immortal glories on your brow,
That all your virtues cannot purchase now.

All joy to the believer! He can speakTrembling yet happy, confident yet meek.

Since the dear hour that brought me to thy foot, And cut up all my follies by the root, VOL. I.

H

I never trusted in an arm but thine,
Nor hoped, but in thy righteousness divine:
My prayers and alms, imperfect and defiled,
Were but the feeble efforts of a child ;
However performed, it was their brightest part
That they proceeded from a grateful heart:
Cleansed in thine own all-purifying blood,
Forgive their evil, and accept their good;
I cast them at thy feet-my only plea
Is what it was dependence upon thee: .
While struggling in the vale of tears below,
That never failed, nor shall it fail me now.

Angelic gratulations rend the skies,
Pride falls un pitied, never more to rise,
Humility is crowned, and faith receives the prize.

EXPOSTULATION.

Tantane, tam patiens, nullo certamine tolli
Dona sines?

VIRG.