 | Poems of Freneau |  |
REFLECTIONS on the Constitution, or Frame of Nature.
From what high source of being came
This system, Nature's aweful frame;
This sun, that motion gives to all,
The planets, and this earthly ball:
This system, Nature's aweful frame;
This sun, that motion gives to all,
The planets, and this earthly ball:
This sun, who life and heat conveys,
And comforts with his cheering rays;
This image of the God, whose beam
Enlivens like the GREAT SUPREME,
And comforts with his cheering rays;
This image of the God, whose beam
Enlivens like the GREAT SUPREME,
We see, with most exact design,
The WORLD revolve, the planets shine,
The nicest order all things meet,
A structure in ITSELF complete.
The WORLD revolve, the planets shine,
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A structure in ITSELF complete.
Beyond our proper solar sphere
Unnumbered orbs again appear,
Which, sunk into the depths of space,
Unvarying keep their destined place.
Unnumbered orbs again appear,
Which, sunk into the depths of space,
Unvarying keep their destined place.
Great Frame! what wonders we survey,
In part alone, from day to day!
And hence the reasoning, human soul
Infers an author of the whole:
In part alone, from day to day!
And hence the reasoning, human soul
Infers an author of the whole:
A power, that every blessing gives,
Who through eternal ages lives,
All space inhabits, space his throne,
Spreads through all worlds, confin'd to none;
Who through eternal ages lives,
All space inhabits, space his throne,
Spreads through all worlds, confin'd to none;
Infers, through skies, o'er seas, o'er lands
A power throughout the whole commands;
In all extent its dwelling place,
Whose mansion is unbounded space.
A power throughout the whole commands;
In all extent its dwelling place,
Whose mansion is unbounded space.
Where ends this world, or when began
This spheric point displayed to man?—
No limit has the work divine,
Nor owns a circumscribing line.
This spheric point displayed to man?—
No limit has the work divine,
Nor owns a circumscribing line.
Beyond what mind or thought conceives,
Our efforts it in darkness leaves;
Existing in the eternal scheme,
Vast, undivided, and supreme.
Our efforts it in darkness leaves;
Existing in the eternal scheme,
Vast, undivided, and supreme.
Here beauty, order, power behold
Exact, all perfect, uncontrouled;
All in its proper place arranged,
Immortal, endless, and unchanged.
Exact, all perfect, uncontrouled;
All in its proper place arranged,
Immortal, endless, and unchanged.
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Its powers, still active, never rest,
From motions, by THAT GOD impressed,
Who life through all creation spread,
Nor left the meanest atom dead.
From motions, by THAT GOD impressed,
Who life through all creation spread,
Nor left the meanest atom dead.
1809
| Poems of Freneau | |