Or ever the filver cord be loosed, or the golden

bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Ecclefiaftes, chap. xii. verf. 6.

The fun ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and

hafteth to his place where he arose. Ecclesiastes, chap. I. verf. 5.

The wind goeth towards the fouth, and turneth

about unto the north. It whirleth about continually; and the wind returneth again, according to his circuit. Verf. 6.

All the rivers run into the sea: yet the sea is not

full. Unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. Verf. 7.

Then shall the dust return to the earth, as it was :

and the spirt shall return unto God who gave it. Ecclefiaftes, chap. xii. vers. 7.

F

Now

VOL. II.

Now when Solomon had made an end of praying,

the fire came down from Heaven, and consumed the burnt-offering, and the facrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house. II. Chronicles, chap. vii. verf. 1.

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down; yea

we wept, when we remembered Sion, &c. Psalm cxxxvii. verf. 1.

I said of laughter, it is mad; and of mirth, what

doth it? Ecclefiaftes, chap. ii. verfe 2.

No man can find out the work that God maketh,

from the beginning to the end. Ecclefiaftes, chap. iii. verf. 11.

Whatsoever God doth, it shall be for ever; nothing

can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. Vers. 14.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter;

Fear God and keep his Commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. Ecclesiastes, chap.

xii. Vers. 13

POWER:

Τ Η Ε Α R G U Μ Ε Ν Τ.
Solomon confiders man through the several stages

and conditions of life; and concludes in general,
that we are all miserable. He reflects more par-
ticularly upon the trouble and uncertainty of
greatness and power; gives some instances thereof
from Adam down to himself; and still concludes,
that all is Vanity. He reasons again upon life,
death, and a future being; finds human wisdom
too imperfect to resolve his doubts; has recourse
to religion; is informed by an Angel, what shall
happen to himself, his family, and his kingdom,
'till the redemption of Israel: and, upon the
whole, resolves to submit his enquiries and anxie-
ties to the will of his Creator,

Come then, my soul : I call thee by that name,

,

E then, my
Thou busy thing, from whence I know I am:
For, knowing what I am, I know thou art;
Since that must needs exift, which can impart.

F 2

But

But how cam’lt thou to be, or whence thy spring? For various of thee priests and poets fing.

Hear'st thou submisive: but a lowly birth, Some separate particles of finer earth, A plain effect which nature must beget, As motion orders, and as atoms meet; Companion of the body's good or ill; From force of instinct more than choice of will; Conscious of fear or valour, joy or pain, As the wild courses of the blood ordain; Who as degrees of heat and cold prevail, In youth doft Aourish, and with age shalt fail; 'Till mingled with thy partner's latest breath Thou Ay'st dissolv'd in air, and loft in death.

Or if thy great existence would aspire To causes more sublime; of heavenly fire Wer't thou a spark ftruck off, a separate ray, Ordain'd to mingle with terrestrial clay? With it condemn’d for certain years to dwell, To grieve its frailties, and its pains to feel; To teach it good and ill, disgrace or fame; Pale it with rage, or redden it with shame: To guide its actions with informing care, In peace to judge, to conquer in the war; Render it agile, witty, valiant, fage, As fits the various course of human age; 'Till, as the earthly part decays and falls, The captive breaks her prison's mouldering walls;

Hovers

}

Hovers a-while upon the sad remains,
Which now the pile, or fepulchre contains ;
And thence with liberty unbounded flies,
Impatient to regain her native skies.

Whate'er thou art, where-e'er ordain’d to go
(Points which we rather may dispute, than know)
Come on, thou little inmate of this breast,
Which for thy fake from passions I diveft:
For these, thou fay'ft, raise all the stormy strife,
Which hinder thy repose, and trouble life.
Be the fair level of thy actions laid,
As temperance wills, and prudence may persuade:
Be thy affections undifturb'd and clear,
Guided to what may great or good appear;
And
try

if life be worth the liver's care. Amass’d in man, there juftly is beheld What thro' the whole creation has excell'd: The life and growth of plants, of beasts the sense, The angel's forecast and intelligence: Say from these glorious feeds what harvest flows: Recount our blessings, and compare our woes, In its true light let clearest reason fee The man dragg’d out to act, and forc'd to be; Helpless and naked on a woman's knees To be expos'd or rear'd as she may please ; Feel her neglect, and pine from her disease. His tender eye by too direct a ray Wounded, and flying from unpractis'd day; His heart assaulted by invading air, And beating fervent to the vital war;

}