LI. PRAISE. HE firft-born rofe of vernal prime, In gentle fighs of fragrant breath The Summer bird, on raptured wing, Rich Autumn, with her fruitful hoard, Each Winter, in its Sabbath reft, And every fnow-flake fpeaks of Him, Thou art His fervant, O my foul, Yea, prove it as each paffing day By deeds of love, by thoughts of prayer, Make this brief life a fong of praise, And learn the language here below MRS. SIGOURNEY. LII. HOLY SCRIPTURE. ON cottager, who weaves at her own Pillow and bobbins all her little ftore,- not gay, Shuffling her threads about the live-long day,- O happy peafant! O unhappy bard! His the mere tinfel, hers the rich reward; COWPER. LIII. HOLY SCRIPTURE. HE Spirit breathes upon the Word, A glory gilds the facred page, The hand that gave it ftill fupplies Let everlasting thanks be thine As makes a world of darkness shine My foul rejoices to pursue, The fteps of Him I love, Till glory breaks upon my view In brighter worlds above. COWPER. LIV. HOLY SCRIPTURE. JERE is the fpring whence waters flow, Here is the tree, where truth doth grow, To lead our lives therein. Here is the Judge that ftints the ftrife, When men's devices fail; Here is the bread, that feeds the life, The tidings of falvation dear, Then be not like the Hog, that hath Yet takes more pleasure in the trough, Read not this book in any cafe, But with a fingle eye; Read not, but firft defire God's grace To understand thereby. Stay ftill in faith, with this refpect, To fructify therein; That knowledge may bring this effect, Then happy thou, in all thy life, Yea, doubly happy fhalt thou be, A LV. THE REDEEMER. ND who is He? the vaft, the awful form, Girt with the whirlwind, fandal'd with the storm; A western cloud around His limbs is fpread, His crown a rainbow, and a fun His head. Lo! cherub hands the golden courts prepare ; God is their temple, and the Lamb their light; * These lines are to be found in the "Bishop's Bible" of 1568. |