University of Virginia Library

When, thus, your fleeting Farce of Life shall close,
And all your feelings pant to find repose,
What grinding Griefs Your Minds must undergo
From present Pains, and fears of future Woe!
While all your hopes of Happiness must die,
When Honours, Riches, Pomp, and Influence, fly;
And Conscience, with convicting Terrors, comes
To point the passage to your horrid Homes!
To tell of all your vain, and vicious, Joys,
For Time, nor Strength, support or Hope supplies—
Both banish'd, now—no more to be renew'd!
Yet—like unholy Spectres, oft intrude
To harrass Memory—rob the Heart of rest—
Thrusting barb'd poniards thro' the throbbing breast!
Repeating how You spent Your hapless hours—
How exercis'd Your Heav'n-deputed Pow'rs—
How wasted Wealth, Pride, Passions, Lusts, to feed—
Heav'n lent You to alleviate Pain, and Need—
Against his Grace still barring every door,
While frequent warn'd by Conscience long before!

Who could contemplate calmly, such dark Scene,
Conscious what shame—remorse—pains—miseries mean!
What horrors haunt each Culprit's parting breath—
What nameless woes, and miseries after Death—
Who knows the Worth of Man's immortal Soul,
Can see such Fools approach Life's final Goal,
And, with a callous, cold, indifference, view
The dreadful exit of such Dupes as You!
Can tender Fellow-feeling mute remain,
Nor sympathize with Sinners' poignant Pain?
Ne'er long, with ardour, e'er it be too late,
Each Culprit warn to 'scape such woeful fate?
Who would not promptly wish to interpose
Ere such affecting Scenes for ever close!
To draw aside Eternity's dark veil,
Exposing prospects Worlds unseen conceal;
And take their better Angel's blessed part
By whispering warnings to each heedless heart!
Some serious hint; some sanative advice;
To turn their thoughts, in Time, to happier choice;
The love of Him, with warmth to recommend,
The Sinner's Saviour! the Believer's Friend!
The only Friend whose Favour can secure
Pleasures, which past all date, and bound endure!
Who only can commute each mortal Crime,
And quiet Conscience by true Faith, sublime!
Transfusing thro' the breast that blissful Hope
Past Reason's reach, and Fancy's fullest scope,
Imparting that pure influence from the sky,
That forms and fits the Heart for genuine Joy!
Bestowing on the Soul a second Birth,
With new capacities, to taste, on Earth,
Those purer pleasures none but Spirits know,
Who find that choice, and feel that change, below;
That Faith—Repentance—Peace—Hope—Joy, and Love,
Which furnish foretastes of the bliss above!
A bliss, increasing—most abundant found
Where Christians' growing Graces most abound—
Whose Hearts, engag'd in Christ's most glorious Cause,
Obedient bow to all Heav'n's holy Laws!
By Making Him their Pattern—Path—and Guide;
Still stripping Pomp, and mortifying Pride,
And planting pure Humility instead
To ease the heart, and tranquilize the head!
Well-fenc'd from fleshly Lusts, and worldly Cares;
From Custom's traps—from Satan's cunning snares,
And foolish Fashion's ever-varying Whim
To come, like Children, and be school'd by Him.