Page:Memoir and poems of Phillis Wheatley, a native African and a slave.djvu/55

Rh Father of mercy! 't was thy gracious hand

Brought me in safety from those dark abodes.

Students, to you 't is given to scan the heights

Above, to traverse the etherial space,

And mark the systems of revolving worlds.

Still more, ye sons of science, ye receive

The blissful news by messengers from heaven,

How Jesus' blood for your redemption flows.

See him, with hands outstretched upon the cross!

Immense compassion in his bosom glows;

He hears revilers, nor resents their scorn.

What matchless mercy in the Son of God!

He deigned to die, that they might rise again,

And share with him, in the sublimest skies,

Life without death, and glory without end.

Improve your privileges while they stay,

Ye pupils; and each hour redeem, that bears

Or good or bad report of you to heaven.

Let sin, that baneful evil to the soul,

By you be shunned; nor once remit your guard:

Suppress the deadly serpent in its egg,

Ye blooming plants of human race divine,

As Ethiop tells you, 't is your greatest foe;

Its transient sweetness turns to endless pain,

And in immense perdition sinks the soul.

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