POETRY.

ELEGY TO PITY.

HALL lovely Pow'r ! whose bosom heaves the sigh,
When fancy paints the scene of deep distress;
Whose tears spontaneous crystallize the eye,
When rigid fate denies the pow'r to bless.

Not all the sweets Arabia's gales convey

From flow'ry meads, can with that sigh compare :
Not dew-drops glittering in the morning ray,
Seem near so beauteous as that falling tear.
Devoid of fear, the fawns around thee play;
Emblem of peace, the dove before thee flies;
No blood-stain'd traces mark thy blameless way,
Beneath thy feet no hapless insect dies.

Come, lovely nymph! and range the mead with me,
To spring the partridge from the guileful foe,
From secret snares the struggling bird to free,
And stop the hand uprais'd to give the blow.

And when the air with heat meridian glows,

And nature droops beneath the conquering gleam Let us, slow wandering where the current flows, Save sinking flies that float along the stream. Or turn to nobler, greater tasks thy care, To me thy sympathetic gifts impart ; Teach me in friendship's griefs to bear a share, And justly boast the generous feeling heart. Teach me to sooth the helpless orphan's grief, With timely aid the widow's woes assuage, To Misery's moving cries to yield relief,

And be the sure resource of drooping age. So when the genial spring of life shall fade, And sinking nature owns the dread decay, Some soul congenial then may lend its aid, And gild the close of life's eventful day.

FRIENDSHIP.

A friend should always like a friend indite,
Speak as he thinks, and as he thinks should write,
Searching for faults, as he would beauties find,
To friendship true, but none to justice blind.
A generous friendship no cold medium knows,
Burns with one love, with one resentment glows;
One should our interest-one our passions be,
My Friend should slight the man that injures me.

THE WEEKLY MONITOR,

MORAL, ENTERTAINING AND INSTRUCTIVE.

No. 7.]

SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 1817.

[VOL. I.

RELIGIOUS DEPARTMENT?

SELECTED.

HOW SHALL WE SATISFY OURSELVES WITH RESPECT TO THE DIVINE AUTHORITY OF THE GOSPEL? (Concluded from page 82.)

We shall conclude these Essays in answer to the question, "How shall I satisfy myself with respect to the Divine Authority of the gospel?" by making use of a similie, which we think sufficiently authorised by the language of sacred writ and expressive of all which we have said on the subject. The gospel may be compared to a grand Temple, the foundations of which are deeply and firmly laid. It is indeed founded on the rock of ages.-It rises with exact proportions and a perfect symmetry of all its parts.-Its ornaments although simple, are rich, beautiful and solid; and its whole appearance is such as at once to affect the mind of the well disposed beholder with pleasing admiration, and with that solemnity which inspires and assists rational and filial devotion, as a Temple suitable to the character of that infinitely wise, powerful and good Being, who is supposed at once to have been the author of, and to inhabit and fill it, with his essential presence, as an abode, worthy the God of the Universe, when he condescends to communicate with his rational immortal creatures here on earth, and to announce to them not only his laws for the governing of their conduct, but his gracious design of securing their ultimate happiness. Here are no partition walls. All sincere worshippers are equally admitted, and may offer their devotions, notwithstanding their different forms, with filial confidence of being graciously heard, accepted and answered. But, alas! the weakness or wickedness of men, or both united, have, to outward appearances, greatly diminished the grandeur and lustre of this sublime edifice, by endeavouring to accommodate it to their own interested or capricious views; so that beheld through the medium of their false colorings, it rather excites disgust than pleas

ure.

Thanks to its Author, it still remains as delineated by his owne hand, and may be contemplated with infinite pleasure and advantage by all who are disposed to visit and to enter its consecrated portals. But in order to this they must lay aside every thing inconsistent with the purity and holiness of the place, or the character of Him who is there worshipped; and with an unaffected simplicity, sincerely desire that divine instruction which is there supplied, and which is designed and adapted to nourish the souls of men, and to prepare them for eternal happiness. Or, to use our simple style, do you wish to be satisfied with respect to the Divine Authority of the gospel Study it, and the evidences in its favour, with that candor and virtuous love of truth which we have recommended; and we have no doubt of your feeling the weight of that evidence, and greatly adoring the infinite goodness of that great Parent, who has through this medium, provided for our abundant consolation in this, and our happiness in the future world.-May an "Old Man" who speaks with affection and from experience prevail; especially on the younger part of the community, seriously to attend on the subject. Its importance demands your own happiness is intimately connected with it; and I am persuaded it will be attended with an hope which make1h not ashamed, and which will prove an anchor to your souls ;-will be your best security amid the storms of life; -increase your pleasures and lessen your sorrows ;—give serenity in the evening of your days;-console you on the bed of death ;and conduct you to mansions of blessedness beyond the grave.

THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST.

"TWICE had the sun gone down upon the earth, and all as yet was quiet at the sepulchre ; death held his sceptre over the Son of God-still and silent the hours passed on-the guards stood by their posts the rays of the midnight moon gleamed on their helmits and their spears-the enemies of Christ exulted in their success; the hearts of his friends were sunk in despondency and in sorrow; the spirits of glory waited in anxious suspense to behold the event, and wondered at the depth of the ways of God. At length, the morning star rising in the east, announced the approach of light; the third day began to dawn upon the world, when on a sudden the earth trembled from its centre, and the powers of heaven were shaken-an angel of God descended; the guards shrunk from the terror of his presence, and fell prostrate on the ground-he rolled away the stone from the

door of the sepulchre and sat upon it. But who is this that cometh forth from the tomb with died garments from the bed of death? He that is glorious in his appearance, walking in the greatness of his strength? It is thy Prince, O Zion! Christian it is thy Lord! He hath trodden the wine press alone; he hath stained his raiment with blood; but now, as the first born from the womb of nature, he meets the morning of his resurrection. He arises a conqueror from the grave; he returns with blessings from the world of spirits; he brings salvation to the sons of men. Never did the returning sun usher in a day so gloríous! It was the jubilee of the universe. The morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted aloud for joy; the Father of mercies looked down from his throne in the Heavens; with complacency he beheld his world restored; he saw his work, that it was good. Then did the desert rejoice; the face of nature was gladdened before him, when the blessings of the eternal descended as the dew of heaven for the refreshment of the nations."

1

GOD'S PRESENCE MAKES ALL CONDITIONS HAPPY.

WHERE the king is, there is the court; and where the presence of God is, there is heaven. Art thou in prison with St. Paul and Silas, if God is with thee thou wilt sing thy hallelujahs. Art thou at the stake with blessed martyrs; as the beams of the sun put out the fire, so the beams of God's countenance put out the flames, and turn their troubles into comforts; so that 'tis but winking, and thou art in heaven. Therefore that soul which enjoys the Lord, though it may want the sun or moon to shine in creature comforts, worldly delights to solace it; yet it needs them not, for the glory of God doth enlighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof; God himself irradiates it with the brightness of his beauty, and Christ himself fills it with joy unspeakable, and full of glory. This God brings his heaven with him, and that man who enjoys God, carries heaven about him; so that here is his happiness. Cast him into the dungeon, into a furnace, where you please, yet he is still in heaven. Therefore, for my part, Lord give me thyself, and then deal how thou pleasest with me.

TRUE GREATNESS.

ARE there great men any where to be found? Yes, though they attract not much notice or regard of men. The holy, humble, self-denied soul, is such:-he that lives above the things of time,

and has his meditation on God, and the things of the invisible world; that is pleased with a little of the good things of timecan forgive enemies-pass by affronts-forget injuries-repay hatred with love-rejoice in tribulation-triumph in faith-have rule over his own spirit—mourn for the sins of the times-weep over his want of conformity to God's law-tremble at his threatenings -depend on the promises-bewail his omissions-repent daily of his sin, wrestle in prayer, and prevail with God, and Enoch-like, have his conversation in heaven, and walk with God:-This is he that is truly great in the eye of angels, in the eye of God.

Sir Walter Raleigh, one of the most illustrious heroes that England ever bred, a man equally celebrated for valor, for genius, and for learning, was not ashamed to address his wife in the views of approaching dissolution in the following pious strain :-Love God, and begin betimes. In him you shall find true, everlasting, and endless comfort. When you have travelled and wearied yourself with all sorts of worldly cogitations, you shall sit down by sorrow in the end. Teach your son also to serve and fear God whilst he is young, that the fear of God may grow up in him. Then will God be an husband to you, and a father to him, an husband and a father that can never be taken from you."-This is true heroism! Such was Sir Walter Raleigh.

To pray against temptations, and yet to rush into occasions, is to thrust your fingers into the fire, and then pray that they might not be burnt. The fable saith, "That the butterfly inquired of the owl, how she should do with the candle, which had singed her wings. The owl counselled her, not so much as to behold the smoke." If you hold the stirrup, no wonder if Satan get into the saddle.

ON THE RESPECT DUE TO ALL MEN.

As ALL the several ranks of society have an equal claim to those native qualities, in which consists the dignity of human nature, they are equally subject to the weaknesses, that constitute its humiliation. The higher classes of human life are no more able than the lower, to defend themselves from the attacks of sickness, or the stroke of mortality. None of the rich, any more than the poor, can redeem his brother, when death has hold of his prisoner; and