But chance is not; or is not where thou reign'ft:
Thy providence forbids that fickle pow'r
(If pow'r fhe be that works but to confound)
To mix her wild vagaries with thy laws.

Yet thus we doat, refufing while we can
Instruction, and inventing to ourselves

Gods fuch as guilt makes welcome, Gods that fleep,

Or difregard our follies, or that fit

Amus'd fpectators of this bustling stage.

Thee we reject, unable to abide

Thy purity, 'till pure as thou art pure,

Made fuch by thee, we love thee for that cause

For which we fhunn'd and hated thee before. Then we are free. Then liberty like day Breaks on the foul, and by a flash from heav'n Fires all the faculties with glorious joy.

A voice is heard that mortal ears hear not

"Till thou haft touch'd them; 'tis the voice of

fong,

A loud Hofanna fent from all thy works,
Which he that hears it with a fhout repeats,
And adds his rapture to the gen'ral praise.
In that bleft moment, nature throwing wide
Her veil opaque, difclofes with a smile
The author of her beauties, who, retir'd ́
Behind his own creation, works unseen
By the impure, and hears his pow'r deny'd.

Thou

Thou art the fource and centre of all minds,
Their only point of reft, eternal Word!
From thee departing, they are loft and rove
At random, without honour, hope, or peace.
From thee is all that fooths the life of man,
His high endeavour, and his glad fuccefs,
His ftrength to fuffer and his will to ferve.
But oh thou bounteous giver of all good,
Thou art of all thy gifts thyfelf the crown!
Give what thou can't, without thee we are poor;
And with thee rich, take what thou wilt away.

13.

THE

TA S K.

BOOK VI

ARGUMENT of the SIXTH BOOK.

Bells at a distance —Their effect.—A fine noon in winter.-A fheltered walk. -Meditation better than books. Our familiarity with the course of nature makes it appear lefs wonderful than it is.The transformation that spring effects in a fhrubbery defcribed. A mistake concerning the course of nature corrected.-God maintains it by an unremitted act.-The amusements fashionable at this hour of the day reproved.—Animals happy, a delightful fight.-Origin of cruelty to animals.—That it is a great crime proved from fcripture.-That proof illuftrated by a tale.-A line drawn between the lawful and unlawful deftruction of them.-Their good and useful properties infifted on.—Apologies for the encomiums beftored by the author on animals.-Inftances of man's extravagant praife of man.-The groans of the creation fhall have an end.- A view taken of the restoration of all things. An invocation and an invitation of him who fall bring it to pass.-The retired man vindicated from the charge of uselessness.—Conclufion.