If thefe reflexions fhould your mind employ, While weeping you attend your breathless boy! "This child, tho' capable to know long nce,

'Between what's good and ill the difference;

Is from the world remov'd, before it knew "The mighty end for which life's breath it drew. "A momentary life it had from me,

"But no instructions fraught with piety;

'Nothing from me its happiness t' infure, "In that state which it now muft ftill endure. "The breathless corpfe is in the coffin plac'd, "And left in the cold, filent grave to waste : "And what good reason have I to suppose, "Its prec'ous foul enjoys more fweet repose? "Why may I not more juftly apprehend, "Eternal punishment must be its end; "That by a judge impartially fevere, "'Tis fentenc'd endlefs mifery to bear? "Ev'n while I weep at its untimely fate, In utter darknets it may deprecate

"Its hated birth-day, and for ever mourn, "That 'twas of fuch a wicked parent born."

Nought but the worm that fhall for ever live, Can anguish like felf-condemnation give. Racks, pains, and tortures must be eafy things, Contrasted with remorfe's gnawing ftings. How very earnestly I wish, that they Who have the management of children, may

Take against confcience, fcourges timely care,
Which at the last intolerable are,

By ftriving early in their minds to move
Knowledge of CHRIST, of truth a cordial love!

On this hand one is lodg'd whofe tomb does show A tale indeed of pitiable woe!

Well may the little images recline,

O'er the dumb ashes hang their heads, and pine!
None can the melancholy story hear,

But fure muft drop, the fympathizing tear.
Juft twenty-eight his age; fudden his death;
Himfelf in prime of life depriv'd of breath:

His bones with manly marrow were replete, "Full were his breasts of milk," when cruel fate Did from the body call his foul away,

And give the carcafe to its parent clay.

Perhaps his mind, with many pleasures fraught,
Of th' evil hour had entertain'd no thought.
And who could any apprehenfions have,
So bright a fun the world at noon fhould leave?
Men thought his hill stood in a firm-fix'd place;
Long life feem'd written in his fanguine face:
Large trains of earthly fatisfactions were
The fure folacers of his greatest care.

When, lo! an unexpected stroke defcends,

From that ftrong arm "which lofty mountains rends;

Which, like the "moth the felf-thought hero's might
Crushes" refiftlefs into gloomy night;

And that as quickly, and with much more ease
Than men to death that feeble infect squeeze.
Perhaps the prospect of his nuptial joy,
Was all that did his warmeft thoughts employ.
Perhaps the breathings of his love-fick breast,
Were in a language like to this exprefs'd:
"Yet but a little while, and I'll poffefs
"The utmost of all human happiness :

"I'll call my charmer mine, and in her have
"The greatest comfort that my heart can crave."
In fuch enchanting views did some kind friend,
Bid on the op'ning grave his eyes to bend.
And foftly hint the momentary fpan,

On earth allotted to that creature, man;
How vaftly out of time would he have thought
The admonitions which he then was taught !
Tho' rich in feeming blifs, and warm his blood,
He on the brink of diffolution stood.
Dreadful viciffitude! that bridal joys
Should be exchang'd for Death's folemnities!
Deplorable misfortune! to be loft

On a fondly-imagin'd friendly coaft!
Ev'n in the haven fhipwreck to endure,
And fink when happiness was deem'd fecure!
O! what a memorable proof is here,

In best estate how frail and vain men are !

Ye gay and careless look, behold this tomb!
Regard this day; to-morrow ne'er may come !

Who can tell but the joyful bride-maid's spread,
And carefully prepar'd the marriage-bed?
With richest covers had it deck'd and grac'd,
And fofteft downy pillows on it plac'd?
When-O! do not on youth or ftrength rely,
Since mortal beings have no certainty;
But trust in GoD, unchangeable on high-
Death, unrelenting death prepares to find,
In the cold earth, beds of another kind.
Unto his grave he must be carried out,
Not with a fplendid or a joyful rout;
But stretched in the gloomy hearse he lies,
While mourning friends attend the obfequies,
'He must on this take up his refting-place,
Nor ever change it " 'till the heavens cease."
In vain the yielding fair her dress puts on,
And lacks for nothing but her spouse alone.
Did fhe not like Sifera's mother peep
Out of the lattice, wond'ring what could keep
Her much-defired, long-expected love,

Or "make his chariot wheels fo flowly move?"
Little fufpecting her intended mate
Had done with all his transitory state!
That everlasting cares his mind employ,
None of Lucinda, once his chiefeft joy

Go, difappointed virgin! weep, and know
All is uncertainty of blifs below!

Go, teach thy foul afpiring to pursue

Felicity, immutable and true!

Fidelio once gay and gallant rests,

And Death, his mistress, clafps him to her breasts; She holds him in her icy arms, while he

Forgets, fore'er forgets the world-and thee.

Thus far 'gainst death one's tempted to exclaim, And him capriciously cruel name.

By thus beginning with the register,

We think all nature's laws inverted are.
He paffing o'er decrepit age's bed,

The bud of infancy has oft ftruck dead;
Youth he has blafted ere to manhood come,
And torn up manhood in its fulleft bloom.
Dreadful these providences muft appear;
Yet not unfearchable the counfels are.

Such strokes the relatives not only grieve,
From them the neighbourhood surprise receive.
A powerful alarm they loudly found,

To roufe frail mortals from their fleep profound; And are intended as a remedy,

Against our carnal, rash security.

Such paffing-bells in strongest terms proclaim,

The admonition which from Jesus came ; *