No useless splendour know at the expense Of those they govern. Yet such state as serves T'impress respect upon the subject's mind— That gives due weight to regal pow'r, and speaks The king-in each department is display'd.
What were the feelings of the godlike man, When he beheld the cultivated world Beneath just laws, one universal scene Of happiness become, and sweet content? Pleasure unutterable fill'd his breast!
Such as the good, who in an humble sphere Their saving help to wretchedness extend, May guess at; but the selfish ne'er can know, As thus he speaks the fulness of his heart.
O GOD! who made me what I am! and gave This goodly frame, with all the thoughts that fill My mind that made me feel the highest blissWas pow'r to give to others happiness; And taught my soul that virtue only could;— O hear me now pour forth my ardent praise, When I behold the human race to smile, And health, and happiness dispens'd to all, Thro' me. O what my suff'rings in the scale Compar'd to this! Ten thousand deaths had been
Cheap purchase to redeem a world deceiv'd:- By Satan taught to think that vice could give Pleasures beyond what virtue yields. But now Convinc'd that real bliss from virtue flows. O Father! teach my thoughts due thankfulness For this great bounty undeserv'd, that I
May, in thy sight, true gratitude confess ;- And, as I feel superior bliss to all,
O teach me how, superior, to adore!
THUS, for one thousand years, Messiah reign'd, And peace and happiness dispens'd below. But now th'Almighty bids, and Satan's loos'd; Who, to his nature true, in various shapes Incites to vice. Variety he paints, Instead of mutual love. Wishes for wealth Not wanted-pow'r and rank unmerited Are rais'd in many fickle minds. Envy, And false ambition in their breasts are felt, Whilst real bliss and sweet contentment fly.
Thus, in suggestions, Satan spreads his wiles Amongst those nations where Messiah rules ;But farther off he hastes to levy war,
And try, once more, what human arms can do.
The savage tribe of cannibals, scarce known In these our times, revolving years had spread
O'er all those countries just discover'd now,
And parts as yet conceal'd. They own'd not Christ, Tho' oft Messiah would his truths have taught By reason, not by force;-for, force destroys Free-will, and free-will gone, all merit's o'er. These wretches, once before, tho' strange to tell, In other times had liv'd-for all do live In diff'rent periods to themselves unknown.(12) Their former state was in enlighten'd days When printing's wondrous art had well diffus'd Knowledge and learning; and th'historic page Most fully had disclos'd those sacred truths Which Moses taught, and Mary's Son confirm'd. But they, all Revelation had despis'd- All, but the light of Reason, they disdain'd, And now, unknowingly, they fill that state Which they so oft had boasted-soon, alas ! To be reveal'd to their eternal shame.
Thither the Devil speeds, and with him takes A few, who falsely own'd Messiah's sway. In their first states they had to vice so fall'n As now to be incapable of good:- And tho' the wonders of Messiah's reign Were faithfully foretold—the massacre Of nations, and their unbelieving kings-
Yet all was disbeliev'd, because not seen
By them-so void of faith their worthless hearts. These tell the wealth and culture of the land From whence they came. Its ornaments they paint, Its gold and silver, and its precious stones— Its cities, villas, herds-delicious fruits- Its people, tho' corrupt, yet still unarm'd— A certain, unresisting, easy prey.
Thus the adventurers that gain'd the shore Of Mexico, on their return, display'd Samples of gold and wealth, and fir'd the minds Of Anti-Christians-Christians ne'er could take By force what sacred justice must deny- And as the kings of Spain attended then, So listen'd Gog and Magog to the tale.
Their light of reason fails, and they behold Messiah's kingdoms as their lawful spoil. Their light of reason bids them to procure Whate'er their appetites require, nor care Tho' millions upon millions fall, so they By slaughter can enjoy what earth affords. Their light of reason shows no other life ;— Nor is it strange-as death to them appears
Their end-that here their will should be their law.
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