But he who rolls in luxury soon mourns,
Its bed of roses as a bed of thorns.

By nature some are forcibly inclin'd
To pity; gifted with a feeling mind.

And this propensity should be esteem'd

A signal priv❜lege, a great blessing deem'd,
As we may properly deduce from thence,
A moral certainty of innocence.

For he who can for others mis'ry grieve,
Will but unwillingly that mis'ry give.

200

205

In such a soil the virtues rudely grow,

And all luxuriant love's sweet blossoms blow.

But when compassion is by reason sway'd,

From approbation and from choice display'd,

Line 204. It is certain that the compassion of a Christian should extend to brutes as well as to men. Our Saviour says "that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of Judgment." If this be the consequence of every idle word, how much more shall it be of every cruel blow which we give the animals that are put in subjection to us!

When as a branch of moral rectitude,

As a great law of God it is pursu'd:

'Twill be a virtue of the highest kind,
Such as it was in our great Master's mind;
Like his correct example it will be,
Disinterested, warm, diffusive, free;

Devoid of weakness, a most tender soul,
And generous beyond the least controu!.
The disposition will be unconfin'd,
And its exertions useful to mankind:
Nor the true aims of heav'nly mercy break,
And private favors public injuries make.
Dove-ey'd Compassion! fair celestial theme!
God's loveliest attribute! delight supreme!
For when his pow'r almighty call'd to birth,

210

215

220

This spangled firmament, this smiling earth; 225 When he its boundaries extensive spann'd,

Meting the waters in his hollow hand;

Thou satt'st with him upon his sapphire throne,

Thou art his essence, thou art all his own;

And when he made he knew that he should spare,
And from th' extreme of justice should forbear.
Where'er much blest thy spirit soft pervades,
Where'er thy mild and genial influence spreads;
Which is yet sweeter than the balmy wing,
Of kind Favonius that leads in spring;
Discord, and pain, and unrelenting war,
With all her brood of evils, fly afar;

But love succeeds, with ev'ry grace to please,
With gentle sympathy, and placid ease.

235

O check not, Christian, thou, this tender sense, 240

Of heart-dissolving soft benevolence.

Though mild, the dang'rous passions 'twill controul, And for celestial joys refine thy soul.

The orphan's hope, the refuge of the poor.

For the sublimest purpose it was giv'n,

To make thee proxy to indulgent heav'n.

END OF THE THIRD BOOK.

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THE

CHRISTI A N.

BOOK THE FOURTH.