Yet, with recovering mind, commands

Silence, and deep attention, through the Hebrew bands.

Hark! from the centre of the flame,

All arm'd and feather'd with the same, Majestic sounds break through the smoky cloud: Sent from the all-creating tongue,

A flight of cherubs guard the words along, And bear their fiery law to the retreating crowd.

"I am the Lord: 'tis I proclaim
"That glorious and that fearful name,
"Thy God and King: 'twas I that broke
"Thy bondage, and the Egyptian yoke:
"Mine is the right to speak my will,
"And thine the duty to fulfil.

"Adore no God beside me, to provoke mine eyes; "Nor worship me in shapes and forms that men

"devise:

"With reverence use my name, nor turn my words "to jest:

"Observe my sabbath well, nor dare profane my "rest:

"Honour and due obedience to thy parents give; "Nor spill the guiltless blood, nor let the guilty live: "Preserve thy body chaste, and flee the unlawful "bed;

"Nor steal thy neighbour's gold, his garment, or "his bread:

"Forbear to blast his name with falsehood or

❝ deceit ;

"Nor let thy wishes loose upon his large estate."

REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR, &c.

ECCLES. XII.

CHILDREN, to your Creator, God,
Your early honours pay,
While vanity and youthful blood
Would tempt your thoughts astray.

The memory of his mighty name,
Demands your first regard;
Nor dare indulge a meaner flame,
Till you have lov'd the Lord.

Be wise, and make his favour sure,
Before the mournful days

When youth and mirth are known no more,
And life and strength decays.

No more the blessings of a feast
Shall relish on the tongue,
The heavy ear forgets the taste

And pleasure of a song.

Old age, with all her dismal train,

Invades your golden years

With sighs, and groans, and raging pain, And death, that never spares.

What will you do when light departs, And leaves your withering eyes Without one beam to cheer your hearts, From the superior skies?

How will you meet God's frowning brow, Or stand before his seat,

While nature's old supporters bow,

Nor bear their tottering weight?

Can you expect your

feeble arms

Shall make a strong defence, When death, with terrible alarms, Summons the prisoner hence?

The silver bands of nature burst,
And let the building fall;

The flesh goes down to mix with dust,
Its vile original.

Laden with guilt, (a heavy load!)

Uncleans'd, and unforgiven,
The soul returns to an angry God,
To be shut out from heaven.

SUN, MOON, AND STARS, PRAISE YE THE LORD.

FAIREST of all the lights above,

Thou sun, whose beams adorn the spheres, And with unwearied swiftness move,

To form the circles of our years;

Praise the Creator of the skies,
That dress'd thine orb in golden rays;
Or may the sun forget to rise,
If he forget his Maker's praise.

Thou reigning beauty of the night,

Fair queen of silence, silver moon,
Whose gentle beams, and borrow'd light,
Are softer rivals of the noon;

Arise, and to that Sovereign Power,
Waxing and waning, honours pay,
Who bid thee rule the dusky hour,
And half supply the absent day.

Ye twinkling stars, who gild the skies
When darkness has its curtains drawn,
Who keep your watch, with wakeful eyes,
When business, cares, and day are gone:

Proclaim the glories of your Lord, Dispers'd through all the heavenly street, Whose boundless treasures can afford

So rich a pavement for his feet.

Thou heaven of heavens, supremely bright, Fair palace of the court divine,

Where, with inimitable light,

The Godhead condescends to shine;

Praise thou thy great Inhabitant,
Who scatters lovely beams of grace
On every angel, every saint,
Nor veils the lustre of his face.

O God of glory, God of love,
Thou art the sun that makes our days;
With all thy shining works above,
Let earth and dust attempt thy praise.

THE WELCOME MESSENGER

LORD, when we see a saint of thine
Lie gasping out his breath,
With longing eyes, and looks divine,
Smiling and pleas'd in death;