For though with judgment we on things reflect,
Our will determines, not our intellect.
Slaves to their passion, reason men employ
Only to compass what they would enjoy.
His fear to guard us from ourselves we need,
And Sacred Writ our reason does exceed;
For though Heav'n shows the glory of the Lord,
Yet something shines more glorious in his Word;
His merey this, (which all his work excels!)
His tender kindness and compassion tells :
While we inform’d, by that celestial Book,.
Into the bowels of our Maker, look...
Love there reveald, (which never shall liave end,
Nor had beginning) shall our song.commend ;,
Describe itself, and warm us with that flame
Which first from Heav'n, to make us happy, came.

CANTO II. The fear of hell, or aiming to be blest, Savonrs too much of private interest. This mov'd not Moses, nor the zealous Paul, Who for their friends abandon'd soul and all : A greater yet from Heav'n to hell descends, To save and make his enemies his friends, What line of praise can fathom such a love, Which reach'd the lowest bottom from above? The royal prophet', that extended grace From Heav'n to earth, measur'd but half that space. The law was regnant, and confin’d his thought; Hell was not conquer'd when that poet wrote:

3

Heav'n was scarce heard of until He came down, To make the region where love triumphs known.

That early love of creatures yet uumade, To frame the world the Almighty did persuade; For love it was that first created light, Mov'd on the waters, chas'd away the night From the rude Chaos, and bestow'd new grace On things dispos'd of to their proper place: Some to rest here, and some to shine above; Earth, sea, and Heav'n, were all the effects of love. And love would be return'd: but there was none That to themselves or others yet were known: The world a palace was without a guest, Till one appears that must excel the rest: One! like the Author, whose capacious mind Might, by the glorious work, the Maker find; Might measure Heav'n, and give each star a name; With art and courage the rough ocean tame; Over the globe with swelling sails might go, And that 'tis round by his experience know: Make strongest beasts obedient to his will, Aud serve his use the fertile earth to till. When by his word God had accomplish'd all, Man to create he did a council call; Employ'd his hand, to give the dust he took A graceful figure and majestic look ; With his own breath convey'd into his breast Life, and a soul fit to command the rest; Worthy alone to celebrate his name For such a gift, and tell from whence it came. Birds sing his praises in a wilder note, But not with lasting numbers and with thought, Man's great prerogative! but above all His grace abounds in his new favourite's fall.

If he create, it is a world he makes; If he be angry, the creation slakes : From bis just wrath our guilty parents fled; He curs'd the earth, but bruis’d the serpent's head. Amidst the storm his bounty did exceed, In the rich promise of the Virgin's seed : Though justice death, as satisfaction, craves, Love finds a way to pluck us from our graves.

CANTO III.

Not willing terror should his image move;-
He gives a pattern of eternal love;
His Son descends to treat a peace with those
Which were, and must have ever been, his foes.
Poor he became, and left his glorious seat
To make us humble, and to make us great :
His business here was happiness to give
To those whose malice could not let him live.

Legions of angels, which he might have us’d, (For us resolv'd tu perish) he refus'd: While they stood ready to prevent his loss, Love took him up, and nail'd him to the cross. linmortal love! which in his bowels reign'd, That we might be by such great love constrain'd To make return of love. Upon this pole Dar duty does, and our religion, roll. To love is to believe, to hope, to know; 'Tis an essay, a taste of Heav'n below!

He to proud potentates would not be known; Of those that lov’d him he was hid from none. Till love appear we live in anxious doubt; But smoke will vanish when that flame breaks out

VOL. I.

This is the fire that would consume our dross,
Refine, and make us richer by the loss.

Could we forbear dispute, and practise love,
We should agree as-angels do above.
Where love presides, not vice alone does find
No entrance there, but virtues stay behind :
Both faith; and hope, and all the meaner train
Of mortal 'virtues, at the door remain.
Love only enters as a native there,
For born in Heav'n, it does but sojourn here.

He that alone would wise and mighty be,
Commands that others love as well as he.
Love as he lov'd!--How can we soar so high?
He can add wings when he' commands to fly.
Nor should we be'with this command dismay'd;
He that examples gives will give his aid:
For he took tjesh, that' where his precepts fail,
His practice, as a pattern, may prevail.
His love at once, and dread, instruct our thought ;
As man he sufferd, and as God he taught.
Will for the deed he takes : 'we' may with ease
Obedient be, for if we love 'we please.
Weak though we are, to love is no hard task,
And love for love is all that Heav'n does ask.
Love! that would all men just and temperate make,
Kind to themselves and others for his sake.

"Tis with our minds as with a fertile ground, Wanting this love they must with' weeds abound, (Unruly passions) whose effects are worse Than thorns and thistles springing from the curse.

a

CANTO IV.

To glory man, or misery, is born,
Of his proud foe the envy, or the scorn:
Wretched he is, or happy, in extreme;
Base in himself, but great in Heaven's esteem:
With love, of all created things the best ;
Without it, more pernicious than the rest;
For greedy wolves unguarded sheep devour
But while their hunger lasts, and then give o'er :
Man's boundless avariee his want exceeds,
And on his neighbours round about him feeds.

His pride and vain ambition are so vast,
That, deluge-like, they lay whole nations waste.
Debauches and excess (though with less noise)
As great a portion of mankind destroys.
The beasts and monsters Hercules opprest,
Might in that age some provinces infest;
These more destructive monsters are the bane
Of every age, and in all nations reign;
But soon wonld vanish, if the world were bless'd
With sacred love, by which they are repress'd.

Impendent death and guilt that threatens hell, Are dreadful guests, which here with mortals dwell; And a vex'd conscience, mingling with their joy Thoughts of despair, does their whole life annoy; But love appearing, all those terrors fly; We live contented, and contented die. They in whose breast this sacred love has place, Death as a passage to their joy embrace. Clouds and thick vapours, which obscure the day, The sun's victorious beams may chase away: