Of vulgar Error, and her Fetters broke; Where Patriots, who to fix the publick Good, In Fields of Battle sacrific'd their Blood; Where pious Priests, who Charity proclaim'd, And Poets whom a virtuous Muse enflam'd; Philosophers who strove to mend our Hearts, And such as polish'd Life with useful Arts, Obtain a Place; when by the Hand of Death Touch'd, they retire from this poor Speck of Earth; Their Spirits freed from bodily Alloy, 269 Perceive a Fore-tast of that endless Joy, Which from Eternity hath been prepar'd, To crown their Labours with a vast Reward. While to these Orbs my wand'ring Thoughts aspire, A falling Meteor shoots his lambent Fire; Thrown from the heav'nly Space he seeks the Earth, From whence he first deriv'd his humble Birth. The Mind advis'd by this instructive Descending sudden from th' aerial Height, Blest with few joys, perplex'd with num'rous Cares. In the dim Twilight of our Infancy, Scarce can the Eye surrounding Objects And suffer me my leisure Hours to spend, With chosen Books, or a well-natur'd Friend, Thus journeying on, as I advance in Age May I look back with Pleasure on my Stage; And as the setting Sun withdrew his Light To rise on other Worlds serene and bright, Cheerful may I resign my vital Breath, Nor anxious tremble at th' Approach of Death; Which shall (I hope) but strip me of my Clay, And to a better World my Soul convey. 330 Thus musing, I my silent Moments spend, Till to the River's Margin I descend. From whence I may discern my Journey's End: And sunk in humble Silence I appeal; Take me, my great Creator, to Thy Care, And gracious listen to my ardent Prayer! Supreme of Beings, omnipresent Pow'r, My great Preserver from my natal Hour, Fountain of Wisdom, boundless Deity, Omniscient God, my wants are known to Thee, With Mercy look on mine Infirmity! Whatever State thou shalt for me ordain, Whether my Lot in Life be Joy or Pain; Patient let me sustain thy wise Decree, And learn to know myself, and honour Thee. 390 1730. |