III.

The Venus whofe ftatue delights all mankind
Shrinks modeftly back from the view,
And kindly shou'd seem by the artist design'd
To serve as a model for you.

Then learn with her beauties to copy her air,
Nor venture too much to reveal;

Our fancies will paint what you cover with care,
And double each charm you conceal.

IV.

The blushes of Morn, and the mildness of May,
Are charms which no art can procure;
Oh! be but yourselves, and our homage we pay,
And your empire is folid and fure.

But if Amazon-like you attack your gallants,
And put us in fear of our lives,
You may do very well for fifters and aunts,
But believe me you'll never be wives.

Y

The BENEDICITE Paraphrafed.
By the Rev. Mr. MERRICK.

I.

E works of God, on him alone,

In earth his footstool, heaven his throne,
Be all your praise bestow'd;

Whofe hand the beauteous fabrick made,

Whose eye the finish'd work furvey'd,

And faw that all was good.

VOL. IV.

M

H. Ye

II.

Ye angels, that with loud acclaim
Admiring view'd the now-born frame,
And hail'd th' eternal King ;
Again proclaim your Maker's praife,
Again your thankful voices raise,
And touch the tuneful ftring.

III.

Praise him, ye blefs'd ætherial plains,
Where, in full majefty, he deigns
To fix his awful throne:

Ye waters, that above him roll,
From orb to orb, from pole to pole,

Oh! make his praises known!

IV.

Ye thrones, dominions, virtues, pow'rs,
Join ye your joyful fongs with ours,

With us your voices raise ;

From age to age extend the lay,
To heav'n's eternal Monarch pay
Hymns of eternal praise.

V.

Cœleftial orb !-whofe pow'rful ray
Opes the glad eyelids of the day,

Whose influence all things own;
Praise him, whofe courts effulgent fhine
With light, as far excelling thine,

As thine the paler moon,

VI. Ye

VI.

Ye glitt'ring planets of the sky,
Whose lamps the absent sun supply,
With him the fong purfue;

And let himself fubmiffive own,
He borrows from a brighter Sun,

The light he lends to you..

VII.

Ye fhow'rs, and dews, whofe moisture shed,
Calls into life the op'ning feed,

To him your praises yield;

Whose influence wakes the genial birth,
Drops fatnefs on the pregnant earth,

And crowns the laughing field.

VIII.

Ye winds, that oft' tempeftuous sweep

The ruffled furface of the deep,

With us confeís your God;

See, through the heav'ns, the King of kings,

Up-borne on your expanded wings,

Comes flying all abroad.

IX.

Ye floods of fire, where-e'er ye flow,
With juft fubmiffion humbly bow

To his fuperior pow'r ;
Who flops the tempeft on its way,
Or bids the flaming deluge ftray,
And gives it ftrength to roar.

X. Ye

M 2

X.

Ye fummer's heat, and winter's cold,
By turns in long fucceffion roll'd,
The drooping world to chear ;

Praise him, who gave the fun and moon,
To lead the various feasons on,

And guide the circling year.

XI.

Ye frofts, that bind the wat'ry plain,
Ye filent show'rs of fleecy rain,

Pursue the heav'nly theme;

Praise him who sheds the driving fnow,
Forbids the harden'd waves to flow,

And stops the rapid stream.

XII.

Ye days and nights, that swiftly born,
From morn to eve, from eve to morn,
Alternate glide away;

Praise him, whofe never-varying light,

Absent, adds horror to the night,

But present gives the day.

XIII.

Light,from whofe rays all beauty springs,
Darkness,whofe wide-expanded wings

Involve the dusky globe;

Praise him, who, when the heav'ns he spread,
Darkness his thick pavillion made,

And light his regal robe.

XIV. Praise

XIV.

Praise him, ye light'nings, as ye fly,
Wing'd with his vengeance through the sky,
And red with wrath divine;

Praise him, ye clouds, that wand'ring stray,
Or fix'd by him in close array,

Surround his awful shrine.

XV.

Exalt, O earth! thy heav'nly king,
Who bids the plants, that form the spring,

With annual verdure bloom ;

Whofe frequent drops of kindly rain,
Prolifick fwell the rip'ning grain,

And bless thy fertile womb.

XVI.

Ye mountains, that ambitious rife,

And heave your fummits to the skies,

Revere his awful nod;

Think how ye once affrighted fled,

When Jordan fought his fountain-head,

And own'd th' approaching God.