Who on their houfes fuch expence employ,
In cedar wainscot and vermillion dye;
While Gop's own building, fhameful to relate,
Stands quite neglected, in a filthy ftate.
With Solomon's addrefs my foul was pleas'd,
When for God's use a temple he had rais’d.
He had erected, with vast skill and charge,
A noble structure, exquifitely large;
But he his work review'd, and, ftruck with awe,
The pow'r tranfcendent of the GODHEAD faw.
The building was too elegant and bless'd,
By the most mighty king to be poffefs'd;
For entrance to unhallow'd feet, too clean,
Yet for God's dwelling infinitely mean.
The wife King own'd it was furprising grace,
That God Almighty "there his name should place.”
The paffage, with true delicacy fraught,
Difplays a grand fublimity of thought:
Therefore I fhall not hesitate to fhow
The pious fentiments which thro' it flow.
"Will GOD, indeed, vouchfafe to dwell on earth, "The place which gives to wretched mortals birth? "Behold the Heav'n of Heav'ns can't thee con
"Sure in this houfe much lefs thou can't remain !" Unequall'd words! and worthy of his pen,
Whose wisdom fhone o'er all the fons of men!
Who would not choose, then, rather to poffefs
Such elevated piety and grace,
Than all the costly furniture to own,
With which his facred dome fuperbly shone?
With admiration we are apt to praise
The costly edifice at which we gaze ;
And while with joy its grandeur we behold,
The merit of the architect is told.
Perhaps the ancient temple having feen,
The difciples' remark our own had been,
Which they have fuperficially made,
"What stones and workmanship are here display'd!" But much more noble feelings we shall show,
To pay, with Solomon, the thanks we owe;
With joy our celebrating voices raise,
JEHOVAH'S great benignity to praise,
That Gon, the High and Mighty, whom we trace,
In boundless glory thro' the rounds of space;
Should will in fpecial manner there to live,
A mortal building for his house receive;
Should manifeft a wonderful degree
Of benedictive grace and majesty ;
His prefence fhow to finners, and declare
He'd make them joyful in his house of pray'r !"
This fhould our hearts more fenfibly delight,
Than coftly ftructures gratify the fight.
Nay, the eternal God does not refufe
Our fouls his fpirit's dwelling-place to choose;
And of ourselves a fanctuary make,
And ev❜n our bodies for his temple take.
Ye who rely on critics' catching wings,
And nicely weigh the difference of things;
Quickly approach, and by your judgments fhow
"Whether of joy or wonder more we owe."
Himself he humbleth, as the fcriptures tell,
To view the beings that in Heaven dwell,
'Tis a moft condefcending proof of love,
Of angels and archangels to approve;
When lowly from their heav'nly thrones they all
In homage to their great Creator fall.
And will He poor, polluted dust regard,
And with a gracious union us reward?
Unrivall'd honor! Privilege divine!
Be this inestimable portion mine!
Then will I not for regal titles ftrive,
Or keep the haughty claim for pow'r alive.
But let me think what fanctity of mind,
And upright converfation is enjoin'd,
Of fuch relations to raise my weak voice;
Remember this, "and tremblingly rejoice."
Durst I, whilst thro' these hallow'd courts I walk,
Contract iniquity in deed or talk ?
Or could Jerufalem's High-priest permit
Himself a known tranfgreffion to commit;
While he into th' holy of holies made
His yearly folemn entrance; and array'd
In facred robes, with reverence beftow'd
Becoming worship to Almighty GOD?
In fuch circumstances, fure
No thinking man could poffibly endure
Temptations, the remotest, to affail,
And o'er his probity of heart prevail.
I all indecency of carriage dread,
Left I by it to evil fhould be led.
Why is not, then, this jealous, holy ftrife,
Carry'd thro' all our ordinary life?
Why to ourselves is not just honor shown,
As beings fanétify'd to GoD alone?
Whom living temples of himself he makes,
As the unerring word of fcripture speaks?
If we our conduct as true Chriftians guide,
Gon fays he dwells in us," and will abide.
That this one doctrine of religion would
With ftrength abiding on our fouls intrude!
Instead of countless laws 'twould regulate
Our lives, and holinefs in us create.
From fuch convictive pow'r we would defire
A purity of purpofe to acquire;
To walk and live deferving of his care,
Who makes us his paternal kindness share;
And who, with majefty tranfcendent crown'd,
Our union with himself and fon has own'd.
I caft my eyes next on the letter'd floor, Which, like Ezekiel's roll, was written o'er.
I foon perceiv'd that the similitude
Held also in another manner good;
And the infcriptions usher'd in a train
Of vary'd lamentations, woe, and pain."
My observation they did much excite,
And to perufe them filently invite.
And what would these dumb monitors relate,
If I fhould on them fome time contemplate?
"That under their circumferences lay
"Such and fuch pieces of deceased clay,
"Which once had liv'd, could play, converse, and
"And thro' life's various fcenes of action rove;
"That to preferve their names they had the care, "And of their memories the trustees were."
Now being rouz'd from deep contemplation,
Ah! cry'd I, is fuch my fituation !
The everlasting God doth me furround,
And bones of fellow-creatures laid in ground!
With the revering Patriarch, fure Ì,
"How terrifying is this place !" fhould cry,
Devotion, and a fober frame become,
To all eternity, this holy dome.
I never enter lightly here,
But with an awe profound, and godly fear!
From all irreverence may I be free,
And banish ev'ry fign of levity!
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