What conscience dictates to be done, Or Or warns me not to do, This, teach me more than hell to shun, That, more than heav'n pursue. What blessings thy free bounty gives, Let me not cast away; For GOD is paid when man receives, T' enjoy is to obey. Yet not, to earth's contracted span Let not this weak unknowing hand If I am right, thy grace impart, If I am wrong, O teach my heart Save me alike from foolish pride, At aught thy wisdom has deny'd, Teach me to feel another's woe, Mean though I am, not wholly so, This day, be bread and peace my All else beneath the sun, lot: Thou know'st if best bestow'd or not, And let thy will be done. To thee, whose temple is all space, Whose altar, earth, sea, skies! One chorus let all being raise! THE INFINITE. WATTS. SOME seraph, lend your heav'nly tongue, Or harp of golden string, That I may raise a lofty song To our Eternal King. Thy names, how infinite they be! Thy glories shine of wondrous size, Thine essence is a vast abyss, Which angels cannot sound, An ocean of infinities Where all our thoughts are drown'd. D The myst'ries of creation lie Reason may grasp the massy hills, In vain our haughty reason swells, THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. AN ODE. WE WATTS. HEN the fierce north wind with his airy forces Rears up the Baltic to a foaming fury, And the red lightning with a storm of hail comes Rushing amain down, How the poor sailors stand amaz'd and tremble! While the hoarse thunder, like a bloody trumpet, Roars a loud onset to the gaping waters, Quick to devour them. Such shall the noise be, and the wild disorder, Tears the strong pillars of the vault of heaven, Flames all around 'em. Hark the shrill outcry of the guilty wretches! Stare thro' their eye-lids, while the living worm lies Thoughts, like old vultures, prey upon their heart strings, And the smart twinges, when their eye beholds the Lofty Judge frowning, and a flood of vengeance Rolling afore him. |