Page:Moral Pieces in Prose and Verse.pdf/277

 Lulls all the vexing cares of earth to rest, My soul once more from vain delusions free, Lifts up her hopes and her desires to thee; Low at thy much lov'd name her spirits bend, Eternal Father, and eternal Friend! Still as thine hand my op'ning journey gilds, Thine arm supports me, and thy favour shields; My hoard supplies, my downy couch prepares, Gives all my gifts, and comforts all my cares. How can my heart such deeds of love forget? How turn away from its increasing debt? How hang on earthly hopes with fruitless pain, And wounded oft, so oft return again? Yet while these scenes of joy around me rise, My conscious bosom heaves repentant sighs, Some turbid springs the chrystal fount pollute, Some noxious roots, display their bitter fruit, And ere the glow of grateful joy can rise, At memory's stern demand it fades and dies; "Have not thine eyes been blind, thy feelings cold? Hast thou not wander'd from thy shepherd's fold?" Oh, raise again thy suppliant! let her see, Her hope renew'd, her pardon seal'd by thee, Her foot made firm to press this troubled soil, Her arm made strong, for each appointed toil, And when the heart shall ask, the knee shall bend, Still to those prayers thy favouring ear extend.

Oh, break these ties of vanity, that bind In sway so strict the free, immortal mind,