EPISTLE to JAMES CRAGGS, Efq; Secretary of State.

Soul as full of worth as void of pride,

A of

Which nothing feeks to fhew, or needs to hide,
Which not to guilt, nor fear, its caution owes,
And boafts a warmth that from no paffion flows:
A face untaught to feign! a judging eye,
That darts fevere upon a rifing lie,

And ftrikes a blufh through frontlefs flattery.

All this thou wert, and being this before,
Know, kings and fortunes cannot make thee more.
Then fcorn to gain a friend by fervile ways,
Nor with to lofe a foe thefe virtues raife;
Be candid, free, fincere, as you began,
Proceed a Minifter, but still a man;

Be not (exalted to whate'er degree)
Afhamed of any friend, not even of me.
The Patriot's plain, but untrod path pursue;
If not, 'tis I must be afhamed of you.

The HAPPINESS of God's CHILDREN.

And I will be a Father unto you, and ye fhall be my fons and daughters, faith the Lord Almighty, 2 Cor. vi. 18..

EXTENSIVE promife! O what hopes divine,

What rich delight, the gracious words impart !
My Father! when my faith can call thee mine,
A ray of heaven illuminates my heart.

Lord, if thy word confirms my heavenly birth,
And bids me fay, "My Father," then I live;
Not all the tendèreft, dearest names on earth,
Can half the pleasure, half the transport give.

The

The Lord Almighty deigns (amazing thought!)
To call us children (once the heirs of woe :)
Sweet words of confolation, richly fraught
With all the bleflings mercy can bestow.

His eye, attentive marks his children's way,

He guides them fafe, though dangers lurk unfeen: Though forrow's gloomy clouds o'erfhade the day, Secure on his almighty arm they lean.

His ear, indulgent to their feeble prayer,
Receives each rifing with, each plaintive figh;
His kind, compaffionate, paternal care
Knows all their wants, and will thofe wants fupply.

When foes unnumbered rife, and fear alarms,
His conftant love immediate fuccour lends;
Encircled in their father's guardian arms,
Foes rife in vain-Omnipotence defends.

All, all they want on earth his hand provides!
But what their future portion? Angels tell.
(For mortal language fails) where he refides,
What blooming joys, what boundlefs rapture dwel!!

O could those diflant feats of joy impart,
A moment of their blifs! how would it raife,
How would it animate this languid heart,
In thefe dark regions to begin his praife!

Yet from his word a bright, enlivening ray

Shines on my heart, while all my powers adore ; Jefus, whofe wonderous love marked out the way,

Jefus, the heavenly Friend, is gone before.

Fair

Fair manfions in his Father's bleft abode,

That heavenly Friend prepares, and joys unknown: By him prefented to their Father-God,

His children bow before the eternal throne.

In his prevailing, his accepted Name,

Father, my foul adores beneath thy feet; Let his full merits plead my humble claim, And raise my hope to joy divinely fweet.

An O D E. .

No glory I covet, no riches I want,
N° Ambition is nothing to me:

The one thing I ask of kind Heaven to grant,
Is a mind independent, and free.

With paffion unruffled, untainted with pride,
By reafon my life let me fquare;

The wants of my nature are cheaply supplied,
And the reft is but folly and care.

The bleffings which Providence freely has lent
I'll juftly, and gratefully prize,

Whilft fweet Meditation and cheerful Content,
Shall make me both healthy and wife.

In the pleafures the great man's poffeffions difplay,
Unenvied I challenge my part;

For every fair object my eyes can survey,
Contributes to gladden my heart.

How vainly through infinite trouble and strife
The many their labours employ!
Since all that is truly delightful in life,

Is what all, if they will, may enjoy.

MAHENRY FOSTER.

Etatis 40.

T