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And tho' the mountains like a leaf should shake, 55 With the wild swelling that the sea doth make, Yet as he knows himself of Heav'n approv'd, He would e'en then be fearless and unmov'd. No dupe he is, though fraught with boundless love, As serpents wise, though harmless as the dove; 60 Firm, but not furious, without dazzling, clear; Meek, but not mean; and humble, without fear. His are the comforts of the temp'rate mind, Where meekness dwells with chastity refin'd. How sweeter than mad anger's headlong gust, 65 Its fierce convulsions, or the pangs of lust! But if thou think'st that happiness can lye, In the gross pleasures of a sensual sty; In sense, go wallow, as in mud the swine, Immerge in sloth, lust, gluttony, and wine; The pure ethereal soul with these pollute,

And o'er insulted man exalt the brute.

Yet soon, to seek 'tis base thou shalt confess,

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In sensuality for happiness:

Which brutes themselves with truer pleasures know.
For them like thee reflection gives no wo,
No anxious cares for future hoards annoy,
Their low, but undisturb'd, and even joy.

Nor does the Gospel, churlishly severe,
Bid us from Nature's just desires forbear.
Though roving lust it checks, it will approve
The tender pleasures of connubial love;
And though by pity mov'd to those who weep,
Our in tears of sympathy we steep;

eyes

Yet where of mirth resounds the lively voice,
We there in mirth accordant should rejoice.
For our great Master at the nuptial feast,
Of which he kindly shar'd an humble guest,
Disdain'd with sour austerity t'annoy,
The temp'rate pleasures of a decent joy;
And as he deign'd the hallow'd bliss to join,
Th' obedient water colour'd into wine.

The christian knows no impious discontent,

Should be imagin'd at whate'er event,

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Comes in this transient mutable abode,
For all is known to a directing God.
Who clearly views in his all-seeing eye,
Not only man, but e'en the sparrow die;
Who counts each trivial hair upon the head,
And ev'ry stone near which we careless tread.

If he has riches he should make them prove,
The means to gain the blessing from above;
His pray'r, his alms, incessantly should rise,
As witnesses to the recording skies.

If he is full of sicknesses and poor,

He should be happy that he has no more;

Should think, like Lazarus, that he shall know,
Eternal joy for transitory woe.

And surely where this recompense is giv'n,

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We should not, niggard call, but lib'ral, Heav'n.

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10. 4.

102. "Thy prayers and thine alms are for a memorial before the Throne." Acts,

He also knows in prophecies of old,

The oracles of truth, it is foretold,

That subtle and tyrannic pow'rs should rise,
And for a time appointed in the skies

Should prosper, casting mighty monarchs down,
Or giving them a tributary crown;

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That for twelve hundred grief-ful years and more,
Her murder'd saints religion should deplore;
While vice and blasphemy would scourge mankind,
The superstitious Vassalage confin'd.

He knows his various passions to controul
And in meek patience to possess his soul.
If mad with insolence, oppressors vex,
If defamation, and if want perplex,

He thinks of those distresses which before,
His faultless and his heav'nly Master bore;
That if with him the cross he bear in pain,
With him a crown eternal he shall gain.

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Line 128 &c. There are some who imagine that Christianity enjoins us, like my lady's gentlewoman,

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He chiefly knows of anger to beware,

For that to hell, like treach'rous wealth, is near,
On either side of which their palaces appear.

And if thy foe is with resentment fierce,
Eager with words or steel thy heart to pierce,

only to say and do soft things. They are mistaken. It enjoins us in the defence of truth, to be intrepid as lions. Our Saviour satirizes the Scribes and Pharisees in the most nervous and emphatical language:" Ye Serpents! Ye generation of Vipers! How can ye escape the damnation of hell?" Matthew, xxiii. 33. And he says to his Disciples, "Be not afraid of them which kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do, but I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear. Fear him who after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell.” Luke, xii; 4, 5. And St. Paul says (meaning from the example of our Saviour to recommend it) "Ye have not resisted unto blood, striving against sin." Hebrews, xii. 4. We may observe, therefore, with truth, there is no observation more unjust than that of the profligate Machiavel, who says Religion depresses the mind and discourages us from daring and noble pursuits. On the contrary, when rightly understood, it excites to the greatest and most hazardous undertakings, provided they tend to the honor of God, or benefit of mankind.

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