Wild sparkling rage inflames the Father's eyes, He bursts the bands of fear, and madly cries, Detested wretch! but scarce his speech began When the strange partner seem'd no longer man ; His youthful face grew more serenely sweet, His robe turn'd white, and flow'd about his feet: Fair rounds of radiant points invest his hair; Celestial odours breathe through purpled air; And wings, whose colours glitter'd like the day, Wide at his back the dazzling plumes display The form ethereal bursts upon his sight, And moves in all the majesty of light.

Tho' loud at first the pilgrim's passion grew;
Sudden he gaz'd and wist not what to do:
Surprise in secret chains his words suspends,
And in a calm his settling temper ends.
But silence here the beauteous angle broke,
The voice of music ravish'd as he spoke.
"Thy prayer, thy praise, thy life to vice un-
known,

In sweet memorial rise before the throne ;
These charms success in our bright region find,
And force an angel down to calm thy mind;
For this commission'd, I forsook the sky;

Nay, cease to kneel-thy fellow servant, I.
Then know the truth of government divine,
And let these scruples be no longer thine.
The Maker justly claims that world he made;
In this the right of Providence is laid;
Its sacred majesty through all depends,
On using second means* to work his ends :
"Tis thus withdrawn in state from human eye,
The power exerts his attributes on high :
Your actions uses, nor controls your will,

And bids the doubting sons of men be still.

What strange events can strike with more surprise

Than those which lately struck thy wond'ring eyes ?

Yet taught by these, confess th' Almighty just, And, where you can't unriddle, learn to trust!

"The great vain man, who fared on costly food, Whose life was too luxurious to be good;

*Second means-God often appoints wicked and abandoned wretches to be his instruments of justice upon others, for some ends tending to public good, though unperceived by human eyes.

Who made his iv'ry stands with goblets shine, And forc'd his guests to morning draughts of wine, Has with the cup, the graceless custom lost,

And still he welcomes, but with less of cost. "The mean suspicious wretch, whose bolted door

Ne'er mov'd in pity to the wand'ring poor :
With him I left the cup to teach his mind
That Heav'n can bless, if mortals will be kind;
Conscious of wanting worth, he views the bowl,
And feels compassion touch his grateful soul.
Thus artists melt the sullen ore of lead,
With heaping coals of fire upon its head;
In the kind warmth the metal learns to glow,
And loose from dross the silver runs below.

66

Long had our pious friend in virtue trod, But now the child half wean'd his soul from God; Child of his age,* for him he liv'd in pain, And measured back his steps to earth again. To what excesses had his dotage run! But God, to save the father, took the son, To all but thee, in fits he seem'd to go, And 'twas my ministry to deal the blow.

* Child of his age.-A child born to him when in years, on which he doated too fondly.

The poor fond parent, humbled in the dust,
Now owns in tears the punishment was just.

"But how had all his fortune felt a wrack,
Had the false servant sped in safety back!
This very night, by secret plot contriv'd,
Of life and wealth his master he'd depriv'd!
Had he in this conspiracy prevail'd,

What funds of charity would then have fail'd!
"Thus Heaven instructs thy mind: this trial
o'er,

Depart in peace, resign, and sin no more."
On sounding pinions here the youth withdrew,
The sage stood wond'ring as the seraph flew.
Thus look'd Elisha, when to mount on high,
His master took the chariot of the sky :
The fiery pomp, ascending, left the view;
The prophet gaz'd and wish'd to follow too.

The bending Hermit here a prayer begun,
"Lord! as in heaven, on earth thy will be done."
Then gladly turning, sought his ancient place,
And pass'd a life of piety and peace."

4 H