46 
Jake then, ye votaries to the world’s ap- 
plause, 
"Fake all the fame that empires can bestow} 
Pure from a richer source my spirit draws 
More lasting joys the balm for every woe. 
Who gives the sparrow skiil to fly, 
And frolic in the yielding air ? 
Who hears the unfledged ravens ery, 
And feeds them with parental care? 
Delightful thought! The same almighty 
power, 
With watchful care my varied path at- 
tends 5 
&ad in the noontide or the midnight hour, 
My feeble soul from every ill defends. 
Then what is life ? A sacred voice declares, 
Taught by the truth illumin’d page : 
Tt soothes my spirit in a world of cares ; 
Ht curbs my fiery passions’ wildest rage. 
Be still, my heart, hush all thy sorrows, 
Every accent speaks to thee : 4 
. Mark! ohmark, from whence it borrows 
’ Each divinely-cheering truth, 
To guide thy frail and wandering 
youth, 
‘Fo seats of endless bliss and purity. 
*¢ Dare a living man complain, 
«* Man, whose sins the stars outnumber ! 
*¢ Does he hope by day to gain 
«¢ Pleasures never mix’d with pain, 
¢¢ And free from care by night toslumber ? 
«¢ Ah fool! for thee in dread array 
«¢ The kcenest disappointments wait : 
&¢ This li‘e is but a thorny way, 
«* To lead the pilgrim to a happier state. 
«¢ Forward, to the aw/ul goal 
6¢ Say, frail mortal, tanst thou look 5 
*¢ And firmly rest thy feeble soul, 
€¢ On some great promise in the sacred book ? 
«¢ Cans’t thou to the world above, 
«¢ Lift a humble, steadfast eye 5 
«* Assured the God of boundless love, 
€£ Will be on earth thy friend, thy bliss in 
realms on high ? 
*¢ Then art thou rich beyond expression, 
* Firm as the storm-beat rock thy soul may 
rest 3 
«¢ Life to thee is worth possession, 
© Alike in joy or sorrow thou art blest!” 
Yes, with my lips, my heart shall raise, 
Yo thee my thankful, noblest praise, 
Great source of happiness divine 5 
Thy power supports my fainting soul ; 
Thy cheering words my fears controul, 
And to Thy wiil my all [ would resign. 
j.ct the proud sceptic with sarcastic sneer, 
Contemn those truths the best of men revere 3 
Eet him assaule with all his puny rage 
The word of life, the heaven-indited page : 
But when my hands the sacred leaves unfold, 
In every line my wondering eyes behold 
The brightest, strongest, evidences shine 
To prove the glorious author most divine. 
Original Poetry. ‘ 
[Feb. 1, 
Inestimable book ! to mortals given, 
In wondrous love, to point the road to Hea- 
ven! 
Whether in joy or grief, to thee Lowe 
The choicest comforts I possess below. 
When travelling inAffliction’s darksome road, 
Oh! how it cheers my heart to hear thee 
say, 
“¢¢ Cast all thy weighty burden on thy God 5 
«« He will sustain thee, He will guide thy 
way.” 
And when oppress’d by grief, to find 
My thoughts so much ia love with 
sin ; 
When doubts and fears distract my mindy 
And shame and darkness reign within. 
Blest source of comfort! then 1 fly, 
Anxious to hear thy soul-reviving voicey 
That tells me Jesus left the worlds on high, 
And died, that sinful mortals might rejoice! 
Yes, while on earth through his forgiving 
love, 
In glorious hope of endless joys above. 
Oh tis enough! here would my spirit rest, 
And bid life’s changing seasons roll along ; 
These srcred truths compose my troubled 
breast, 
And will inspire my Jast triumphant song. 
Ah ! then no more my restless heart, 
Indulge one anxious, wishful sigh : 
With cheerful hope perform thy part 5 
And look for perfect bliss beyond the sky- 
This mortal frame must soon decay = 
Soon the messenger will come 
Fromm realms of never clouded day, 
To lead me home ! 
Then will this painful conflict cease, 
And all the ills I now deplore : 
Then will my spirit rest in peace, 
A prey to grief andsin no more. 
Trowbridge, Wilts. ALBERT. 
Cee eee 
TO MARY. : 
WHEN sad reflection me oppressesy 
I find relief in my distresses, 
By thinking of my Mary ; 
Whose virtues glisten inmy eyes, 
Like to the stars that gem the skies, 
Whose splendours never vary. 
In her I find those manners sweet, 
Which render female grace complete, 
No pertness e’er assuming 5 
Her soothing language gently flows, 
Each accent with true knowledge glowsy 
She’s like the lily blooming, 
Oh could I then this fair one move 
To feel the gentle flame of love, 
*T would soothe a passion tender 5 
>F would rid me of all earthly strife, ‘ 
My heart, my hand, my all, through life, 
To Mary I'd surrender. 
Encas. 
