Why fhould they, then, that veffel overload,
In which their everlafting all is ftow'd?
Or fuperfluities why fhould they crave,
When they muft fwim, their lives alone to fave?
Yet fo prepoft'rous is the life of those,
Who their chief blifs on affluence repofe;
Who full of industry, time's trifles hoard,
Yet fcarce wifh for the riches of the LORD.

O! may we walk through those toys' glitt'ring

train,

With wife indiff'rence, if not with difdain!

May we fuperior to fuch baubles rife,

And caft them henceforth from our wond'ring eyes!

Having conveniences enough for life,

For wordly treasure let us wage no ftrife.

Let us accommodate ourselves below,

And let from heav'n our greatest bleffings flow.
Whereas, if we indulge an anx'ous care,

Or lavish hopes on tranfitory ware,
So firm an union they'll in us create,
That keeneft pangs the parting stroke await.
By fuch a warm attachment to the joy,
Which will be ravifh'd from us certainly:
Woe 'gainft the agonizing hour we'll gain,

And plant, aforehand, our death's couch with pain.

Some got to feventy years, as I perceive, Before they 1 their lodgings in the grave;

Some few refigned not their breath before They of revolving harvefts faw fourfcore. Thefe, I would hope, by rev'rend duty fway'd, "In youth due homage to their GoD have paid;" Ere their strength did to toil and forrow turn; Ere nature languishing began to mourn; When keepers of the house tremble thro' fear, And lookers at the window darken'd are: When ev'n the little grafshoppers fmall weight, To bending fhoulders feems a burthen great; And in lethargic, liftlefs fouls, defire Raifes a faint, and quickly fleeting fire; Before thole tire fome hours approach us nigh; Before thofe heavy moments clofer fly;

In which there's too much reafon to complain, "No pleasure nor improvement they contain."

If, then, their lamps were deftitute of oil,
And they expos'd to Satan's fnares meanwhile;
In fuch decripit circumftances, fure,

At market they're unfit fome to procure.
For, befides great varieties of woe,

Which from enfeebled conftitutions flow;

47

All their corruptions must have gain❜d great force,
By irreligion's uncheck'd, lengthen'd course.
Ill habits muft the deepest roots ftill find,
And twist them with each fibre of the mind;

They must be all as thoroughly ingrain'd
In their affections, as the foot which stain'd
Th' Ethiop's vifage of a dufky hue;

Or spots which in the leopard's skin we view.
If one who under fuch misfortunes lies,
Should above each oppofing hardship rife;
And, fpight of all, to glory onwards flee,
It must indeed a great falvation be.
If fuch a one, thro' all temptations pass'd,
Free from deftruction fhould escape at last,
It must be as if he thro' fire was cast.

This is the feafon that does comfort afk,
And is improper to begin the task.

The husbandman fhould now his hook prepare,
Or of the fruit of his hard labor fhare;
Not now begin to furrow up the earth,

Or fcatter feed to bring forth a new birth.
'Tis true, GoD brings all that he wills to pafs;
"Let there be light, he faid, and light there was :"
Light inftantaneous, as quick as thought,
A paffage thro' primeval darkness wrought,
At his command a leprofy moft foul,

Of longeft ftay, is inftantly made whole.

He, in the greatness of his ftrength, can raife
Not only finners that are dead four days;
But at his word, restor❜d to life, appears

The wretch deceas'd for even fourscore years.

Yet do not points of such vast moment try,
Nor truft fo dreadful an uncertainty.

GOD may his help withdraw, his pow'r fufpend:
May in his wrath fwear that those who offend,
And to abuse his tender mercy dare,

Shall never his eternal comforts fhare.”

Ye that are strong in health, in bloom of days, The prec'ous opportunity now feize, Improve your golden hours, be wife in time,

And to the nobleft purpose strive to climb;
Tread in thofe paths which may fecure your right
To the inheritance of faints in light:

By which you cndlefs youth may call your own,
And gain of glory an immortal crown.

O! ftand not idle all the prime of day,
Nor trifle immenfe, offer'd blifs away;

But hafte, oh! hafte, nor ftill inactive fleep;
Be always ready GoD's commands to keep.
Ev'n while in gay infenfibility,

Loit'ring in feafclefs cafe, repos'd you lie;
Juft in that moment death his bow may bend,
And, quick as thought, his killing arrows fend,
Not long ago a thoughtlefs jay I fpy'd,.
Its pretty feathers drefs with bufy pride;
Or hopping carelessly from fpray to fpray,
Infenfible that danger near it lay.

Just then a fportiman paling by beholds
The bird, as it its gaudy plumes unfolds;

F

The hollow tube he raises inftantly,

And takes his aim with an unerring eye..
Swifter than whirlwinds flies the leaden death,
And straight deprives the filly bird of breath.
Such may the fate of those be who delay
The fair occasion to get grace to-day;
Who wantonly poftpone their happy state,
And for improvement 'till to-morrow wait.
Death in their foolishness may them surprise,
While they dream of hereafter being wife.

Some came, no doubt, to this their last retreat, With length of days and piety replete ; "As fhocks of corn in blooming vigor blow,

And, fill'd with plenty, ripe in harvest grow." Thefe were the children of true light, and who God's wifdom in their generation knew; Who were wife in what fhould them moft employ, Wife for that happinefs they now enjoy.

They richer and more honourable were,

Than all the votaries of Mammon are,

Swift wings were furnish'd for the wealth of one,
Which is now irrecoverably gone;

While the poor gatherers are fent away,
Thro' fields of want and penury to ftray;

Where not one drop of water they can gain,
To cool their tongue, or ease their scorching pain.
Whereas, the others always are supply'd
With riches, which fhall with them ftill abide ;