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 | The complete works, poetry and prose, of the Rev. Edward Young prefixed, a life of the author, by John Doran ... With eight illustrations on steel, and a portrait. In two volumes |  |
Why this to thee?—thee yet perhaps in doubt
Of second life? But wherefore doubtful still?
Eternal life is Nature's ardent wish:
What ardently we wish, we soon believe:
Thy tardy faith declares that wish destroy'd:
What has destroy'd it?—Shall I tell thee what?
When fear'd the future, 'tis no longer wish'd;
And when unwish'd, we strive to disbelieve.
“Thus infidelity our guilt betrays.”
Nor that the sole detection! Blush, Lorenzo
Blush for hypocrisy, if not for guilt.
The future fear'd?—An infidel, and fear!
Fear what? a dream? a fable? How thy dread,
Unwilling evidence, and therefore strong,
Affords my cause an undesign'd support!
How disbelief affirms what it denies!
“It, unawares, asserts immortal life.”—
Surprising! Infidelity turns out
A creed, and a confession of our sins:
Apostates, thus, are orthodox divines.
Of second life? But wherefore doubtful still?
Eternal life is Nature's ardent wish:
What ardently we wish, we soon believe:
Thy tardy faith declares that wish destroy'd:
What has destroy'd it?—Shall I tell thee what?
When fear'd the future, 'tis no longer wish'd;
And when unwish'd, we strive to disbelieve.
“Thus infidelity our guilt betrays.”
Nor that the sole detection! Blush, Lorenzo
Blush for hypocrisy, if not for guilt.
The future fear'd?—An infidel, and fear!
Fear what? a dream? a fable? How thy dread,
Unwilling evidence, and therefore strong,
148
How disbelief affirms what it denies!
“It, unawares, asserts immortal life.”—
Surprising! Infidelity turns out
A creed, and a confession of our sins:
Apostates, thus, are orthodox divines.
| The complete works, poetry and prose, of the Rev. Edward Young prefixed, a life of the author, by John Doran ... With eight illustrations on steel, and a portrait. In two volumes | |