Why fhould they, then, that veffel overload, 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. Or lavish hopes on tranfitory ware, 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, At market they're unfit fome to procure. Which from enfeebled conftitutions flow; 47 All their corruptions must have gain❜d great force, They must be all as thoroughly ingrain'd Or spots which in the leopard's skin we view. This is the feafon that does comfort afk, The husbandman fhould now his hook prepare, Or fcatter feed to bring forth a new birth. Of longeft ftay, is inftantly made whole. He, in the greatness of his ftrength, can raife The wretch deceas'd for even fourscore years. Yet do not points of such vast moment try, GOD may his help withdraw, his pow'r fufpend: 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; By which you cndlefs youth may call your own, O! ftand not idle all the prime of day, But hafte, oh! hafte, nor ftill inactive fleep; Loit'ring in feafclefs cafe, repos'd you lie; Just then a fportiman paling by beholds F The hollow tube he raises inftantly, And takes his aim with an unerring eye.. 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, While the poor gatherers are fent away, Where not one drop of water they can gain, |