What purpose has the King of saints in view? Why falls the Gospel like a gracious dew? To call up plenty from the teeming earth, Or curse the desert with a tenfold dearth? Is it that Adam's offspring may be sav'd From servile fear, or be the more enslav'd? To loose the links that gall'd mankind before, Or bind them faster on, and add still more? The freeborn Christian has no chains to prove, Or, if a chain, the golden one of love: No fear attends to quench his glowing fires, What fear he feels, his gratitude inspires. Shall he, for such deliv'rance freely wrought, Recompense ill? He trembles at the thought. His Master's int'rest and his own combin'd Prompt ev'ry movement of his heart and mind: Thought, word, and deed, his liberty evince, His freedom is the freedom of a prince. Man's obligations infinite, of course His life should prove that he perceives their force; His utmost he can render is but small The principle and motive all in all. You have two servants-Tom, an arch, sly rogue, From top to toe the Geta now in vogue, Genteel in figure, easy in address, Moves without noise, and swift as an express, Say, on what hinge does his obedience move? No, not a spark-'tis all mere sharper's play; Tom quits you, with-Your most obedient, Sir. Consults all day your int'rest and your ease, And, proud to make his firm attachment known, Now which stands highest in your serious thought? Charles, without doubt, say you-and so he ought; One act, that from a thankful heart proceeds, Excels ten thousand mercenary deeds. Thus Heav'n approves, as honest and sincere, The work of gen'rous love and filial fear; But with averted eyes th' omniscient Judge Scorns the base hireling, and the slavish drudge. Where dwell these matchless saints? old Curio cries. E'en at your side, Sir, and before your eyes, The favour'd few-th' enthusiasts you despise. And pleas'd at heart, because on holy ground Sometimes a canting hypocrite is found, Reproach a people with his single fall, And cast his filthy raiment at them all; Attend!-an apt similitude shall show Whence springs the conduct that offends you so. See where it smokes along the sounding plain, Blown all aslant, a driving, dashing rain, Peal upon peal redoubling all around, Shakes it again and faster to the ground; Now flashing wide, now glancing as in play, Swift beyond thought the lightnings dart away. Ere yet it came the trav'ller urg'd his steed, And hurried, but with unsuccessful speed; Now drench'd throughout, and hopeless of his case, He drops the rein, and leaves him to his pace. Suppose, unlook'd for in a scene so rude, Long hid by interposing hill or wood, Some mansion, neat and elegantly dress'd, By some kind hospitable heart possess'd, Offer him warmth, security, and rest; Think with what pleasure, safe and at his ease, He hears the tempest howling in the trees; What glowing thanks his lips and heart employ, The scrutiny of those all-seeing eyes I dare not--And you need not, God replies; The Book shall teach you-read, believe, and live! For though the pope has lost his int'rest here, That plea refuted, other quirks they seek- The future shall obliterate the past, And Heav'n no doubt shall be their home at last. And he that never doubted of his state, (Mention him if you please. Voltaire?—The same,) With spirit, genius, eloquence, supplied, Liv'd long, wrote much, laugh'd heartily, and died. And fum'd with frankincense on ev'ry side. O, happy peasant! Oh, unhappy bard! His the mere tinsel, hers the rich reward; He prais'd perhaps for ages yet to come, She never heard of half a mile from home: He lost in errors his vain heart prefers, She safe in the simplicity of hers. Not many wise, rich, noble, or profound In science, win one inch of heav'nly ground. And is it not a mortifying thought The poor should gain it, and the rich should not? No the voluptuaries, who ne'er forget One pleasure lost, lose Heav'n without regret ; Or aught he does, is govern'd by caprice; And bears the brand of blasphemy burnt in. No slaves on earth more welcome were than they : Are such a dead preponderating weight, |