THE DIVINE PURPOSE.

Takes from us essence infinitely wise,
A chaos gives and crowns with non-existence.
It is not thine, O man, ephemeron worm,
To doubt, to question, or arraign thy God.
Can'st thou sustain creation's weight? can'st thou
Direct the helm of universal nature?

Blush erring mortal, blush thou finite speck,
Thou atom in creation, hide thy head;

Or rather come, admire, adore, and love,
The God who plans, (the God) who cares for

thee

As doth become a God. High as yon worlds Which roll unnumber'd o'er thy head unworthy, So high transcends the thought of God, above A creature's mind. Whate'er his hand effects,

He copies from his own eternal mind;

Presents the picture to the eye of man,
And challenges his love. No first outline,

THE DIVINE PURPOSE.

No sketch imperfect needing skilful touch,
His mind of all, the perfect prototype.

O! wisdom vast, immense! a deep profound! Abyss unfathomable! glorious!

The depth of purpose, and the height of love!
Not like the streains and rivulets, which flow
Meand'ring through the vale; but overflow
Like inundations from the mighty deep.
O goodness infinite! exciting cause

Of high and grateful love, from man to God-
He source of universal good-of good
Unchangeable, man the blest recipient.

My soul believe, my soul adore and love. O faith! thou principle conspicuous,

To praise thee, God and man unite. Offspring Illustrious thou of heav'ns illuming beams; Without thee all a gloomy barren waste;

THE DIVINE PURPOSE.

(

No grateful fruits to God, no joys sublime
To lighten up and dignify the soul,
Bending beneath the pressure of its weight,
But now by faith disburden'd. The highly
Polish'd mirror, darts the rays reflected,
Gilding the countenance, whereon they meet,
So beams the gladsome soul effulgent rays,
Reverberates those rays-rays transcendent,
Receiv'd, transmitted from the God they love;
Their looks express the light and life within:
O! Radiations gloriousserenely good,

Benign, substantial these superlative.

ON INFIDELITY,

SUGGESTED BY MELANCHOLY FACTS.

O UNBELIEF, perfidious principle, Thy neck an iron sinew, brass thy brow, Thy lip accurs'd, the God of truth defames; Dost foully blot, the page immaculate, Then charge the lie on God. Pestiferous Thy breath, before thee falls the blasted bloom Of all felicity. Uptarest thou

Improvement's path, and strew'st with thorns

Tis thine to break the bands of social order,
Let loose the dogs of hell on friends on foes,

F

ON INFIDELITY.

And scatter obligations to the wind,
Tear up the base of constituted pow'r,
The throne and palace level with the dust,
With furious arm, o'erturn the work of ages,
Then smile malignant at the havoc made.

INSATIATE fiend, thy brow malignant low'rs; Why dash from hearts entwin'd the cup of joy? Why break the golden cords which bound their

souls, to lebdb

The rising flame of fond endearment quench,
From modest virtue's snowy bosom tear
The man belov'd-the object of her joy?

HER tender spirit crush'd by grief and fear ; Reviews the past, and turns aside to weep; And weeping prays, not only prays-forgivesAnd pants to meet him in those blissful realms Where friendship, peace, and joy eternal bloom.

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