But the monitory strain, Oft repeated in your ears, Seems to sound too much in vain, Can a truth, by all confess'd Of such magnitude and weight, Grow, by being oft impress'd, Trivial as a parrot's prate? Pleasure's call attention wins, Death and judgment, heaven and hell- O then, ere the turf or tomb Spirit of instruction, come, Make us learn that we must die. ON A SIMILAR OCCASION, FOR THE YEAR 1792. Felix, qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas, Happy the mortal who has traced effects To their first cause, cast fear beneath his feet, THANKLESS for favours from on high, But he, not wise enough to scan To ages in a world of pain, VIRG. where he goes Gall'd by affliction's heavy chain, And hopeless of repose. Strange fondness of the human heart, Strange world, that costs it so much smart, Whence has the world her magic power? Why deem we death a foe? Recoil from weary life's best hour, The cause is Conscience-Conscience oft Her tale of guilt renews: Then anxious to be longer spared 'Tis judgment shakes him: there's the fear That prompts the wish to stay: He has incurr'd a long arrear, Pay!-follow Christ, and all is paid; ON A SIMILAR OCCASION, FOR THE YEAR 1793. De sacris autem hæc sit una sententia, ut conserventur. CIC. DE LEG. But let us all concur in this one sentiment, that things sacred be inviolate. He lives who lives to God alone, And all are dead beside; To live to God is to requite But life, within a narrow ring Is falsely named, and no such thing, Can life in them deserve the name, Who only live to prove For what poor toys they can disclaim Who, much diseased, yet nothing feel; Who deem his house a useless place, Who trample order; and the day If scorn of God's commands, impress'd Such want it, and that want uncured Sad period to a pleasant course! Yet so will God repay Sabbaths profaned without remorse, And mercy cast away. |