in time, to undertake the bold attempt of climbing a little way up the hill, though at the fummit fhe well knows she never can arrive. I implore not a decifion partially deftitute of juftice; but request that thofe who examine the "beams" which are difcoverable in "my eyes," may confider that "motes" are, peradventure, lodged in "their own;" and that

"Whoever thinks a faultlefs piece to fee,

"Thinks what ne'er was, nor is, nor e'er will be."

I pretend not to that fublimity of diction, or luxuriancy of invention, fo evidently incompatible with my limited fphere of action; but which would, without doubt, evince themfelves with confpicuous elegance in a more elevated ftation; and phrafes which, falling from me, might be condemned as bombaftic and affe&ted; would, when flowing from the pen of a right reverend or right honourable author, be accounted eafy and natural. Among the many fynonimous terms with which the English language fully abounds, perhaps I have been always fo unlucky as to prefer the leaft eligible word; but had I ftudied to conform to the caprigious choice or humour of every petty, felf-created critic; the endlefs variety of clafhing-judgments which, in fuch a cafe, muft have been confulted,

a

Hervey's Meditations among the Tombs,

Chrift's Sermon on the Mount,

Page

I

Ιού

Advice to the Non-obfervers of the Sabbath,

175

HERVEY'S MEDITATIONS

AMONG THE

TOMB S.

IN A LETTER TO A LADY,

VERSIFIED.

MEMENTO MORI!

As I to Cornwall lately went abroad,

I stopp'd at a large village on the road;
And being forc'd a fhort time there to stay,
Unto the neighb'ring church I bent my way.
The facred doors, like heav'n, to which they guide,
Were for a worthlefs ftranger open'd wide.
Glad, fuch an opportunity to find,

To spend some minutes there I was inclin’d.

The folemn place, fo awfully retir'd,

With pleafing, mournful thoughts my foul infpir'd;

B

Which useful were, I truft, in fome degree,
While they poffeffed and enliven❜d me,
From which if any good you can receive,
The narrative fresh happiness will give.

The ancient pile was rais'd and beautify'd,
By hands of men who ages fince have dy'd ;
And fituated in a large grave-yard,

Whence tumult, noise, and hurry were debarr'd:
The body fpacious, the ftructure great,
The whole in grand fimplicity complete.
A row of pillars in the midst appear'd,
Whereon the nobly-modest roof was rear'd,
Each object grave and venerable feem'd,

From the dim light which through the windows gleam'd.

The filent, gloomy affect of the place,
Did with folemnity the scene increase.
My mind with pious terror was poffefs'd,
As penfive thro' the inmoft aile I prefs'd;
Which ev'ry ruder paffion wholly quell'd,
And all th' allurements of the world repell❜d.

Having due praise to God Almighty paid,
Who in eternal Majefty array'd,

Has heav'n his throne, the earth his footstool made;

On a fine altar-piece I fix'd my eye,

Which once Stow's master-builders did employ;

And which with fervent gratitude was giv❜n,
An humble present to the LORD of Heav'n ;
Who graciously a helping-hand did lend,
Enabling them with joy their work to end.
How lovely, Gratitude! doft thou appear;
When great JEHOVAH is the object dear!
Gratitude's the best principle that can
With real virtue fill the foul of man:
Something difinterested it fhows forth,
And, grant the term, of noble, gen'rous worth.
Pray'r chiefly doth regard our future ftate,
Repentance our fall'n Nature indicate;

But Gratitude in Eden held its reign,
When for no crime our parents could complain;
And will in Heav'n perpetuated be,

Where God's inthron'd to all eternity.

This temper fweet, in accents such as these, Its fenfe of benefits receiv'd displays;

"I am oblig'd; nor know I how to prove
"My ardent thanks for your furpaffing love."
Surely we thus most properly declare,
Our praises for God's goodness are fincere ;
Our great Creator's courts to decorate,
And with due honours beautify his feat.
His dwelling-place was glorious heretofore,
Let it not now be fordid, mean, or poor.
A mind ingenuous will feel great woe,
And ev'ry people deep reproach must know j