“Eternal Spirit ! universal God! Power inaccessible to human thought, Save by degrees and steps which thou hast deigned To furnish ; for this effluence of thyself, To the infirmity of mortal sense Vouchsafed ; this local transitory type Of thy paternal splendours, and the pomp Of those who fill thy courts in highest heaven, The radiant Cherubim ;-accept the thanks Which we, thy humble Creatures, here convened, Presume to offer; we, who—from the breast-Of the frail earth, permitted to behold The faint reflections only of thy faceAre yet exalted, and in soul adore ! Such as they are who in thy presence stand Unsullied, incorruptible, and drink Imperishable majesty streamed forth From thy empyreal throne, the elect of earth Shall be-divested at the appointed hour Of all dishonour, cleansed from mortal stain.

- Accomplish, then, their number; and conclude Time's weary course! Or if, by thy decree, The consummation that will come by stealth Be yet far distant, let thy Word prevail, Oh ! let thy Word prevail, to take away The sting of human nature. Spread the law, As it is written in thy holy book, Throughout all lands : let every nation hear The high behest, and every heart obey;

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Both for the love of purity, and hope
Which it affords, to such as do thy will
And persevere in good, that they shall rise,
To have a nearer view of thee, in heaven.-
-Father of good! this prayer in bounty grant,
In mercy grant it to thy wretched sons.
Then, nor till then, shall persecution cease,
And cruel wars expire. "The way is marked,
The guide appointed, and the ransom paid.
Alas! the nations, who of yore received
These tidings, and in Christian temples meet
The sacred truth to acknowledge, linger still ;
Preferring bonds and darkness to a state
Of holy freedom, by redeeming love
Proffered to all, while yet on earth detained.

So fare the many ; and the thoughtful few, Who in the anguish of their souls bewail This dire perverseness, cannot choose but ask, Shall it endure ?—Shall enmity and strife, Falsehood and guile, be left to sow their seed ; And the kind never perish? Is the hope , Fallacious, or shall righteousness obtain A peaceable dominion, wide as earth, And ne'er to fail ? Shall that blest day arrive When they, whose choice or lot it is to dwell In crowded cities, without fear shall live Studious of mutual benefit; and he, Whom Morn awakens, among dews and flowers

Of every clime, to till the lonely field,
Be happy in himself ?-The law of faith
Working through love, such conquest shall it gain,
Such triumph over sin and guilt achieve ?
Almighty Lord, thy further grace impart !
And with that help the wonder shall be seen
Fulfilled, the hope accomplished ; and thy praise
Be sung with transport and inceasing joy.

Once," and with mild demeanour, as he spake,
On us the venerable Pastor turned
His beaming eye that had been raised to Heaven,

Once, while the Name, Jehovah, was a sound
Within the circuit of this sea-girt islo
Unheard, the savage nations bowed the head
To Gods delighting in remorseless deeds ;
Gods which themselves had fashioned, to promote
Ill purposes, and flatter foul desires.
Then, in the bosom of yon mountain-cove,
To those inventions of corrupted man
Mysterious rites were solemnized; and there
Amid impending rocks and gloomy woods,-
Of those terrific Idols some received
Such dismal service, that the loudest voice
Of the swoln cataracts (which now are heard
Soft murmuring) was too weak to overcome,
Though aided by wild winds, the groans and shrieks
Of human victims, offered up to appease
Or to propitiate. And, if living eyes

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Had visionary faculties to see
The thing that hath been as the thing that is,
Aghast we might behold this crystal Mere
Bedimmed with smoke, in wreaths voluminous,
Flung from the body of devouring fires,
To Taranis erected on the heights
By priestly hands, for sacrifice performed
Exultingly, in view of open day
And full assemblage of a barbarous host;
Or to Andates, female Power ! who gave
(For so they fancied) glorious victory.

A few rude monuments of mountain-stone
Survive; all else is swept away.—How bright
The appearances of things! From such, how changed
The existing worship; and with those compared,
The worshippers how innocent and blest !
So wide the difference, a willing mind
Might almost think, at this affecting hour,
That paradise, the lost abode of man,
Was raised again : and to a happy few,
In its original beauty, here restored.

Whence but from thee, the true and only God,
And from the faith derived through Him who bled
Upon the cross, this marvellous advance
Of good from evil ; as if one extreme
Were left, the other gained.-0 ye, who come
-To kneel' devoutly in yon reverend Pile,
Called to such office by the peaceful sound

Of sabbath bells; and ye, who sleep in earth,
All cares forgotten, round its hallowed walls !
For
you,

in presence of this little band Gathered together on the green hill-side,

-,
Your Pastor is emboldened to prefer
Vocal thanksgivings to the eternal King;
Whose love, whose counsel, whose commands, have made
Your very poorest rich in peace of thought
And in good works; and him, who is endowed
With scantiest knowledge, master of all truth
Which the salvation of his soul requires.
Conscious of that abundant favour showered
On
you,

the children of my humble care,
And this dear land, our country, while on earth
We sojourn, have I lifted up my soul,
Joy giving voice to fervent gratitude.
These barren rocks, your stern inheritance ;
These fertile fields, that recompense your pains ;
The shadowy vale, the sunny mountain-top;
Woods waving in the wind their lofty heads,
Or hushed; the roaring waters, and the still-
They see the offering of my lifted hands,
They hear my lips present their sacrifice,
They know if I be silent, morn or even :
For, though in whispers speaking, the full heart
Will find a vent; and thought is praise to him,
Audible praise, to thee, omniscient Mind,
From whom all gifts descend, all blessings flow!"