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POETRY.

SOLOMON'S SONG.

Metrical Tranflation of the Introductory Part of the Canticles, Ch. i. 1---6.

SCENE An open country, a few miles Southward from Jerufalem: the female attendants on Pharaoh's daughter, advance finging alternately, and personating that princefs.

First Singer.

LET th' embraces of his love

Ev'ry chafte affection move!
2nd S. Sweet thy falutations are,
Than the vintage sweeter far!
All. As perfumes which we prepare,
Fill with fweets the ambient air;
So thy fame, O prince renown'd,
Spreads to realms remote around:
Gentile virgins own their flame

Kindled by thy matchless name.
2nd S. Draw me, king, to thine embrace!
All. We thy fteps will fwiftly trace.
AS. I'm already, wrapt in thought,

To the royal chambers brought.
All Happy bride! with thee we joy,
Sharing blifs that ne'er can cloy:
Let the world, in fenfual lays,
Wine, and it's delufions, praife;
We, who lawless tranfports hate,
Thy pure love will celebrate.
2nd S. Daughters of Jerufalem!

Darker though my afpect feem,
Colour'd by a fun more warm,
View not with contempt my form.
If my vifage reprefents
Kedar's black unfeemly tents;
Richeft hangings not delight
More than 1, your monarch's fight.
Think that through the dreary wafte
Wearied and expos'd I've paft.-
Me, unworthy if you deem,
So, in Egypt's fons esteemn
Judah's realm is little priz'd,
And its fan&tuary defpis'd.

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"Why fperting thus ?" a feaman cries, "Whilft forrows overwhelm ?" "Why yield to grief?" the boy replies, "My Father's at the helm !"

Poor doubting foul, from hence be taught, How groundless is thy fear;

Think on the wonders Chrift hath wrought,

And He is always near!

Safe in his hands, whom seas obey,

When fwelling furges rife;
Who turns the darkest night to day,
And brightens low'ring fkies.

Though thy corruptions rife abhor'd,

And outward foes increafe, 'Tis but for him to fpeak the word,

And all is hufh'd to peace.

Then upward look, howe'er diftrefs'd,
Jefus will guide thee home;
To that bleft port of endless reft,
Where ftorms fhall never come.

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Inftructive vault! for here I find
Religious awe imprefs my mind,

As o'er thefe lords I tread !
Amid their mould'ring bones I país,
And read their titles grav'd in brass,

Frail annals of the dead!

Shall mortals pant for glitt'ring state? Is happinefs but--to be great?

Are all unbleft befide?

I will no more the cheat believe,
Tho' living grandeur may deceive,
'Tis by this vault deny’d.

Sure, earthly honours all are vain,
And titles but enhance the pain,

If nothing else we own.
Be this th' ambition of my birth,
To feek for more fubftantial worth
Than names poffefs alone.

There is an honour from the skies---
There is a name that dignifies

The rich poffeffor's mind;
No other title's worth my care;
Be this the object of my pray'r,
Which all that seek may find.
A name and title grace can give
That make men happy while they live,
And when they yield their breath;
When earthly fplendors fhall be loft,
The names of faints fhall sparkle moft,

Immortaliz'd in death.

IOTA.

HYMN FOR A CHILD.

SINCE JESUS loves to hear his praise
Arife from infant tongues';
Let us not waste our youthful days

In vain and idle fongs.

We can't too early ferve the Lord,
Nor love his name too dear;
Nor prize too much his precious word,
Nor learn too foon his fear.

The pleasures that his children find,
Exceed the finner's mirth;
Are food for the immortal mind,
And fuit our humble birth.

ERRATA in our laft No.

W.

Page 45, line 8, for Hill read Hall.-p. 46, 1. 26, for moving read moved. P. 47, note l. 13, for in the Society read in Society-for Jer. xxxiii. 7, read xxix, 7.-p. 47, .l. 22, for denomination over (in fome copies) read domination over.

Printed by T. Gillet Salisbury Square.

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THE

Evangelical Magazine,

FOR APRIL, 1801.

BIOGRAPHY.

MEMOIR OF THE REV. GEORGE BELL,

Late Minifter of the Affociate Congregation, at Wooler, in the County of Northumberland.

TH

HIS good man, and induftrious fervant of Jefus Chrift, was born in the village of Crailing, near the town of Jedburgh, in North Britain. His parents, though poor, were of a refpectable character for piety, and thote humble virtues, which, in general, are found to diftinguish the cottages of the Scottish peafantry. At the parith school he was taught reading, writing, accompts, and the rudiments of the Latin tongue. The advantages which the youth in Scotland derive from thefe wife inftitutions are peculiar, and very important. They lay the foundation of all that is afterwards venerable in piety, refpectable in public appearances, and fuccefsful in commercial purfuits. At the inftance of the General Affembly of the Church, and by the authority of Parliament, there were, fobn after the Reformation, fchoolmafters fettled in every parish. Their qualifications are judged of by the Prefbytery, and their conduct cognizable by them. Out of the unappropriated tythes there is allowed to them a fmall annual ftipend, from about five pounds to thirty. A dwelling and school-house, with a garden, are by the heritors given to them, and in several places pafture for a cow. In confideration of thefe emoluments, they are bound to inftru&t, gratis, the children of the poor. The wages for other children are fixed by the Prefbytery, and are very moderate indeed one and fixpence a quarter for reading; two fhillings for reading and writing; five fhillings (in fome places only the half) for Latin and Greek. Thefe things, aided by the affectionate fuperintendance of the miniftry, produce the very beft effects. The feeds of

VOL. IX.

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