Its Sacred majefty thro' all depends On using second means to work his ends : 'Tis thus, withdrawn in ftate from human eye, The Pow'r exerts his attributes on high, What ftrange events can strike with more surprize, The great, vain man, who far'd on coftly food, Has, with the cup, the graceless custom loft, And still he welcomes, but with lefs of coft. The mean, fufpicious Wretch, whose bolted door, Ne'er mov'd in duty to the wand'ring Poor; With him I left the cup, to teach his mind. That heav'n can blefs, if mortals will be kind. Conscious of wanting worth, he views the bowl, And feels compaffion touch his grateful foul. Thus artifts melt the fullen oar of lead, With heaping coals of fire upon its head; Long had our pious friend in virtue trod, But God, to fave the father, took the fon. Had that falfe fervant fped in fafety back? And what a fund of charity would fail ! Thus Thus heav'n inftructs thy mind: this trial o'er, Depart in peace, refign, and fin no more. On founding pinions here the Youth withdrew, The Sage stood wond'ring as the Seraph flew. Thus look'd Elifha, wher to mount on high, His mafter took the chariot of the sky; The fiery pomp ascending left the view; The Prophet gaz'd, and wish'd to follow too. The bending Hermit here a pray'r begun, Lord! as in heav'n, on earth thy will be done. Then gladly turning, fought his ancient place, And pafs'd a life of piety and peace. PIETY, or the VISION*. TWAS when the night in filent sable fled, When chearful morning fprung with rising red, When dreams and vapours leave to croud the brain, And best the vision draws its heavenly scene; 'Twas then, as flumb'ring on my couch I lay, A fudden fplendor feem'd to kindle day, A breeze came breathing in a sweet perfume, Blown from eternal gardens, fill'd the room; And in a void of blue, that clouds invest, Appear'd a daughter of the realms of reft; Her head a ring of golden glory wore, Her honour'd hand the facred volume bore, Her This, and the following poem, are not in the octavo. editions of Dr. PARNELL'S Poems published by Mr. POPE. They were first communicated to the public by the late ingenious Mr. JAMES ARBUCKLE, and published in his HIBERNICUS'S LETTERS, N° 62. Her raiment glift'ring feem'd a filver white, Straight as I gaz'd, my fear and wonder grew, Fear barr'd my voice, and wonder fix'd my view; When lo! a cherub of the fhining croud That fail'd as guardians in her azure cloud, Fan'd the soft air, and downward feem'd to glide, And to my lips a living coal apply'd. Then while the warmth o'er all my pulfes ran Diffufing comfort, thus the maid began. • Where glorious manfions are prepar❜d above, The feats of mufic, and the feats of love, • Thence I defcend, and PIETY my name, To warm thy bofom with celestial flame, To teach thee praises mix'd with humble pray'rs, And tune thy foul to fing feraphic airs. Be thou my Bard.' A vial here fhe caught, (An Angel's hand the crystal vial brought) And as with awful found the word was faid, She pour'd a facred unction on my head; |