Which still so near us, yet beyond us lies, Say, in what mortal soil thou deign'st to grow? Where grows? where grows it not? if vain our toil, 'Tis no where to be found, or ev'ry where; And, fled from monarchs, St. John! dwells with thee. Ask of the learn'd the way. The learn'd are blind This bids to serve, and that to shun mankind : Some place the bliss in action, some in ease; Those call it pleasure, and contentment these: Some sunk to beasts, find pleasure end in pain; Some swell'd to gods, confess ev'n virtue vain : Or indolent, to each extreme they fall, To trust in ev'ry thing, or doubt of all. Who thus define it, say they more or less 1han this, that happiness is happiness? L'ak nature's path, and mad opinions leave; All states can reach it, and all heads conceive; Obvious her goods, in no extreme they dwell; There needs but thinking right, and meaning well; And mourn our various portions as we please, Equal is common sense, and common ease. Remember, man, "the universal cause Acts not by partial, hut by general laws;" And makes what happiness we justly call, Subsist not in the good of one, but all.—POPE, SECTION. IV. The Goodness of Providence. THE Lord my pasture shall prepare, Or on the thirsty mountains pant: To fertile vales, and dewy meads, My weary wand'ring steps he leads ; Where peaceful rivers, soft and slow, Amid the verdant landscape flow. 3 Tho' in the paths of death I tread, With glooming horrors overspread, My steadfast heart shall fear no ill; For thou, O Lord, art with me still; Thy friendly crook shall give me aid, And guide me through the dreadful shade 4 Tho' in a bare and rugged way, Through devious lonely wilds I stray, Thy bounty shall my pains beguile; The barren wilderness shall smile, With sudden greens and herbage crown'd, And streams shall murmur all around. -ADDISON SECTION V. The Creator's Works attest his greatness. THE spacious firmament on high, With all the blue ethereal sky, And spangl'd heav'ns, a shining frame, Whilst all the stars that round her burn, "The hand that made us is Divine."-ADDISON SECTION VI. An Address to the Deity. O THOU! whose balance does the mountains weigh Whose will the wild tumultuous seas obey ; Whose breath can turn those wathy worlds to flame That flame to tempest, and that tempest tame; Earth's meanest son, all trembling, prostrate fails, And on the bounty of thy goodness calls. 2 O! give the winds all past offence to sweep, To scatter wide, or bury in the deep. Thy pow'r, my weakness, may I ever see, And wholly dedicate my soul to thee. Reign o'er my will; my passions ebb and flow At thy command, nor human motive know! If anger boil, let anger be my praise, And sin the graceful indignation raise. My love be warm to succour the distress'd, And lift the burden from the soul oppress'd. 30 may my understanding ever read This glorious volume which thy wisdom made! When oceans roar, or awful thunders roll, May thoughts of thy dread vengeance, shake my soul ! 4 Grant I may ever, at the morning ray, His court admire, or for his favour sue, Or leagues of friendship with his saints renew; Pleas'd to look down and see the world asleep; While I long vigils to its Founder keep! Canst thou not shake the centre? Oh, control, The pursuit of Happiness often ill-directed 2 Now ev'ry passion sinks to rest, 3 In silence, hush'd to reason's voice, Come, dear Emilia, and enjoy 4 Come, while the peaceful scene invites, Where shall the lovely fleeting form 5 Does it amidst the frolic mirth Or hide beneath the solemn gloom, 6 How oft the laughing brow of joy, And, through the cloister's deep recess, Invading sorrow steals. 7 In vain, through beauty, fortune, wit, It dwells not in the faithless smile 9 Howe'er our varying notions rove, To place its being in some state, 12 To temper'd wishes, just desires, And deaf to folly's call, attends The music of the mind.-CARTER. SECTION VIII. The Fire-Side. DEAR Chloe, while the busy crowd, Tho' singularity and pride Be call'd our choice, we'll step aside, 2 From the gay world, we'll oft retire Where love our hours employs; |