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Make him mot more so by affronts, but 'suage,
And melt by kindness his pernicious rage.
But if thy proud and thy revengeful mind,
To these mild arts of love be disinclin❜d,
On each offence thy hand indignant raise,
Or draw thy sword, and like a fire-work blaze;
To thee intemp'rate, perhaps, the sword,

The death thou wishest others will afford.

136

But though, when wrong'd the christian should be

meek,

Nor wild revenge from his own hand should seek.

Yet in that cause where virtue urges on,
Where much for man by firmness can be won;
To which the love of human nature moves,

145

That justice and that wisdom well approves ;

Not earth, not hell, should in the least controul

The gen'rous purpose of his daring soul.

He is humanely regularly brave,

And noble scorns to be of pow'r a slave;

150

A slav'ring sycophant, or truckling tool,
Obedient though to just and legal rule;
And not forgetful that he is enjoin'd,

Be free, and not the servant of mankind.
He knows opposing salutary laws,
Upon himself he condemnation draws.

The wise and good of ev'ry age declare,

155

That we should rev'rence those the sword who bear.

For they of empire who display the rod,

161

Are both ordain'd and are upheld by God,

While wise in mercy, and in anger just,

Worth they reward, and trample vice in dust. Impartial Heav'n 'gainst tyrants shuts the door, 165And scarce detests the foul blasphemer more.

ye

Line 158. "Ye are bought with a price, be not the servants of men." Corinth. vii. 23.

Line 161 &c. "Whosoever resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil." Romans, xiii. 2 and 3.

If then he bear of pow'r the sacred trust,
He firmly strives to be humane and just ;
Disdains a gen'rous people to oppress,
But blended knows their mutual happiness.

The worldling thinks upon his riches here,
Which he enjoys in trembling and in fear.
The christian should delight in those above,
Obtain'd by works of justice and of love.
Go, if thou wishest for celestial wealth,
Which is not liable to waste or stealth,

170

175

Go with enlighten'd mind, and honest heart,
Thy Saviour's Gospel to the world impart;
Go ftop th' adultr'ous eye, and murd'rous hand,
Checking wild passion at its dread command, 180
Go make the drunkard sober, coward brave,
And give delicious freedom to the slave,

(Loo ing the bond which tyranny has made,

By reason's gentle but persuasive aid,)

Make the true God idolators adore,

And raise a heav'n where was a hell before.

185

Go, prudently like Sharp and Clarkson, aim,
Nations from basest bondage to reclaim;
Whose names for ever on her grateful breast,
Much-injur'd Africa shall bear imprest.

Go o'er the world, like Howard nobly kind,
And mitigate the sorrows of mankind.
But if it be thy less illustrious doom,

To be confin'd reluctantly to home,

190

Line 187 &c. The society in London for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, of whose committee Mr. Granville Sharp is chairman, highly deserve the approbation of mankind. They profess to contend for the immediate Abolition of the slave Trade; but not the immediate emancipation of the Negroes in the West-Indies. They wish the latter to be gradual, and in a manner which might be beneficial to the Negroes themselves, as well as to others.

Line 191, &c. I would recommend the reader to the very valuable writings of this amiable man; to his "State of Prisons," and his work "on Lazarettos." The benevolent man will find in the writings of Mr. Howard many hints how he may benefit his fellow creatures.

Yet there, where'er thou can'st, distress relieve, 195
And cheerfully, if poor, thy little give.

To wipe the tear from the lone widow's eye,
To minister when hungry orphans cry;
To see the sick man in imprisonment,

And with affection's hallow'd blandishment,
To raise him drooping from affliction's pow'r,

As languishes in frost the tender flow'r;
To deeds like these, the Scripture says is giv❜n,
And not to pious forms, a seat in heav'n.

200

O muse! on the lov'd theme, delighted dwell, 205
With growing rapture, of its blessings tell.

In pain, 'tis pleasure, and in sickness health;
In sorrow, friends, and e'en in begg'ry wealth.
And it declares (ah highly-pleasing thought!
With a perennial source of comfort fraught!) 210
That thou whose with'ring and infectious breath,
Pervades thro' Nature, all-subduing death!
Declares the glad propitious day, will come,

When thou thyself, thyself, shall meet thy doom!

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