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
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
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.'
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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