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Which it affords, to such as do thy will
And persevere in good, that they shall rise,
To have a nearer view of Thee in heaven.
Father of good! this prayer in bounty grant,
In mercy grant it to thy wretched sons.
Then, nor till then, shall persecution cease,
And cruel wars expire. The way is mark'd,
The guide appointed, and the ransom paid.
Alas! the nations, who of yore received
These tidings, and in Christian temples meet
The sacred truth to acknowledge, linger still;
Preferring bonds of darkness to a state
Of holy freedom, by redeeming love
Proffer'd to all, while yet on earth detain'd.
So fare the many; and the thoughtful few,
Who, in the anguish of their souls, bewail
This dire perverseness, cannot choose but ask,
Shall it endure? Shall enmity and strife,
Falsehood and guile, be left to sow their seed;
And the kind never perish? Is the hope
Fallacious, or shall righteousness obtain
A peaceable dominion, wide as earth,

And ne'er to fail? Shall that blest day arrive
When they, whose choice or lot it is to dwell
In crowded cities, without fear shall live

Studious of mutual benefit and he,

Whom morning wakes, among sweet dews and flowers Of every clime, to till the lonely field,

Be happy in himself? The law of faith,

Working through love, such conquest shall it gain,
Such triumph over sin and guilt achieve?
Almighty Lord, thy further grace impart !
And with that help the wonder shall be seen
Fulfill'd, the hope accomplish'd; and thy praise
Be sung with transport and unceasing joy.

'Once, while the name Jehovah was a sound
Within the circuit of this sea-girt isle
Unheard, the savage nations bow'd their heads
To gods delighting in remorseless deeds;

Gods which themselves had fashion'd to promote
Ill purposes, and flatter foul desires.
Then, in the bosom of yon mountain cove,
To those inventions of corrupted man
Mysterious rites were solemnized; and there,
Amid impending rocks and gloomy woods,
Of those dread idols, some, perchance, received
Such dismal service, that the loudest voice
Of the swoln cataracts (which now are heard
Soft murmuring) was too weak to overcome,
Though aided by wild winds, the groans and shrieks
Of human victims, offered up to appease
Or to propitiate. And, if living eyes

Had visionary faculties to see

The thing that hath been as the thing that is,
Aghast we might behold this spacious mere
Bedimm'd with smoke, in wreaths voluminous,
Flung from the body of devouring fires,
To Taranis erected on the heights
By priestly hands, for sacrifice perform'd
Exultingly, in view of open day

And full assemblage of a barbarous host;
Or to Andates, female power? who gave
(For they so fancied) glorious victory.

A few rude monuments of mountain stone

Survive; all else is swept away. How bright

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The appearances of things! From such how changed
The existing worship; and, with those compared,
The worshippers how innocent and blest !

So wide a difference, a willing mind
At this affecting hour might almost think
That paradise, the lost abode of man,
Was raised again; and to a happy few,
In its original beauty, here restored.

'Whence but from Thee, the true and only God, And from the faith derived through him who bled Upon the cross, this marvellous advance

Of good from evil; as if one extreme

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Were left the other gain'd. O ye, who come

To kneel devoutly in yon reverend pile,
Call'd to such office by the peaceful sound
Of sabbath bells; and ye who sleep in earth,
All cares forgotten, round its hallow'd walls!
For you, in presence of this little band
Gather'd together on the green hill-side
Your Pastor is embolden'd to prefer
Vocal thanksgivings to the eternal King;
Whose love, whose counsel, whose commands have
made

Your very poorest rich in peace of thought
And in good works; and him, who is endow'd,
With scantiest knowledge, master of all truth
Which the salvation of his soul requires.
Conscious of that abundant favour shower'd
On you, the children of my humble care;
On your abodes, 'mid this beloved land,
Our birthplace, home, and country, while on earth
We sojourn,-loudly do I utter thanks
With earnest joy, that will not be suppress'd.
These barren rocks, your stern inheritance;
These fertile fields, that recompense your pains;
The shadowy vale, the sunny mountain top;
Woods waving in the wind their lofty heads,
Or hush'd; the roaring waters, or the still;
They see the offering of my lifted hands
They hear my lips present their sacrifice
They know if I be silent, morn or even :
For though in whispers speaking, the full heart
Will find a vent; and thought is praise to Him,
Audible praise to Thee, omniscient Mind,
From whom all gifts descend, all blessings flow!'

This vesper service closed, without delay,
From that exalted station, to the plain
Descending, we pursued our homeward course,
In mute composure, o'er the shadowy lake,
Beneath a faded sky. No trace remain'd
Of those celestial splendours: grey the vault,
Pure, cloudless ether; and the star of eve

Was wanting; but inferior lights appear'd
Faintly, too faint almost for sight; and some
Above the darken'd hills stood boldly forth
In twinkling lustre, ere the boat attain'd

Her mooring-place; where, to the sheltering tree,
Our youthful voyagers bound fast her prow,
With prompt yet careful hands. This done, we paced
The dewy fields; but ere the Vicar's door
Was reach'd, the Solitary check'd his steps;
Then, intermingling thanks, on each bestow'd
A farewell salutation, and the like

Receiving, took the slender path that leads
To the one cottage in the lonely dell,
His chosen residence. But, ere he turn'd
Aside, a welcome promise had been given
That he would share the pleasures and pursuits
Of yet another summer's day, consumed
In wandering with us through the valleys fair,
And o'er the mountain wastes, 'Another sun,'
Said he, shall shine upon us ere we part,
Another sun, and peradventure more ;
If time, with free consent, be yours to give,
And season favours.'

To enfeebled power,

From this communion with uninjured minds,
What renovation had been brought; and what
Degree of healing to a wounded spirit,
Dejected, and habitually disposed
To seek, in degradation of the kind,
Excuse and solace for her own defects;
How far those erring notions were reform'd ;
And whether aught, of tendency as good
And pure, from further intercourse ensued;
This (if delightful hopes, as heretofore,
Inspire the serious song, and gentle hearts
Cherish, and lofty minds approve the past)
My future labours may not leave untold.

THE WHITE DOE OF RYLSTONE.

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