7 Resign the honours of their form at Winter's stormy blast, And leave the naked, leafless plain, a desolated waste. 8 Yet soon reviving plants and flow'rs anew shall deck the plain: The woods shall hear the voice of Spring, and flourish green again. 9 But shall succeeding Springs revive, When man forsakes this earthly scene, 10 The mighty flood that rolls along, Can ne'er recal its waters lost, 11 So, days and years, and ages past, Can henceforth never more return 12 Nor shall the race of man return 13 Yet shall that day of pow'r arise, When ruin'd man shall be restor❜d, 14 And till the great deliv'rance comes, Where dwell the spirits of the just, 15 Cheer'd by such hopes, with patient mind, I'll wait heaven's high decree, Till the appointed period come, 10. JOB XVI. 22. 1 BEHOLD the path that mortals tread 2 Our kindred and our friends are gone, 3 From vital air, from cheerful light, Important journey! awful view, How great the change, the scenes how new; 5 Awake, my soul! thy way prepare, With steady feet, pursue the road 11. JOB xxvi. 6, to the end. 1 WHILE Nature's universal frame, its Maker's pow'r reveals, His throne, remote from mortal eyes, 2 From where the rising day ascends, He compasses the floods with bounds, and checks their tow'ring might. 3 The pillars that support the sky tremble at his rebuke; Through all its caverns quakes the earth, as though its centre shook. 4 He bring the waters from their beds, although no tempest blows; And smites the kingdom of the proud, without the hand of foes. 5 Few of his works can we survey; these few our skill transcend; But the full thunder of his pow'r, what heart can comprehend? 12. PSALM xix. 1-3. 1 THE spacious firmament on high, With all the blue ethereal sky, And spangled heavens, a shining frame, 2 Th' unweary'd sun, from day to day, 3 Soon as the ev'ning shades prevail, 4 While all the stars that round her burn, 5 What though in solemn silence all Move round the dark terrestrial ball? 6 In reason's ear they all rejoice, 13. PSALM Xxiii. 1 THE Lord my pasture shall prepare, And feed me with a shepherd's care; His presence shall my wants supply, And guard me with a watchful eye: My noon-day walks he shall attend, And all my midnight hours defend. 2 When in the sultry glebe I faint, Or on the thirsty mountain pant, To fertile vales and dewy meads, My weary wand'ring steps he leads; Where peaceful rivers, soft and slow, Amid the verdant landscape flow. 3 Though in the paths of death I tread, With gloomy horrors overspread; My stedfast heart shall fear no ill, For thou, O Lord! art with me still: Thy friendly crook shall give me aid, And guide me through the dreadful shade, 4 Though in a bare and rugged way, 1 14. PSALM liv. 11. ETERNAL Source of every joy, Whose goodness crowns the circling year. 2 The sun is taught by thee to rise, And darkness when to veil the skies; And as the wheels of nature roll Thy hand supports the steady pole. |