The Works of John Sheffield Earl of Mulgrave, Marquis of Normanby, and Duke of Buckingham. In two volumes ... The third edition, Corrected |
 | I. |
|
On the DEITY.
|
 |
|
 | The Works of John Sheffield |  |
On the DEITY.
Wretched Mankind! void both of Strength and Skill!
Dextrous at nothing but at doing Ill!
In Merit humble, in Pretension high;
Among them none, alas! more weak than I;
And none more blind: tho' still I worthless thought
The best I ever spoke, or ever wrote.
Dextrous at nothing but at doing Ill!
In Merit humble, in Pretension high;
Among them none, alas! more weak than I;
209
The best I ever spoke, or ever wrote.
But zealous Heat exalts the humblest Mind;
Within my Soul such strong Impulse I find
The Heav'nly Tribute of due Praise to pay:
Perhaps 'tis sacred, and I must obey.
Within my Soul such strong Impulse I find
The Heav'nly Tribute of due Praise to pay:
Perhaps 'tis sacred, and I must obey.
Yet such the Subjects, various, and so high!
Stupendous Wonders of the Deity!
Miraculous Effects of boundless Pow'r!
And that as boundless Goodness shining more!
All these, so numberless, my Thoughts attend,
Oh where shall I begin, or ever end?
Stupendous Wonders of the Deity!
Miraculous Effects of boundless Pow'r!
And that as boundless Goodness shining more!
All these, so numberless, my Thoughts attend,
Oh where shall I begin, or ever end?
But on that Theme which ev'n the Wise abuse,
So sacred, so sublime, and so abstruse,
Abruptly to break off, wants no Excuse.
So sacred, so sublime, and so abstruse,
Abruptly to break off, wants no Excuse.
While others vainly strive to know Thee more,
Let me in silent Reverence adore;
Wishing that human Pow'r were higher rais'd,
Only that Thine might be more nobly prais'd!
Thrice happy Angels in their high Degree;
Created worthy of extolling Thee!
Let me in silent Reverence adore;
210
Only that Thine might be more nobly prais'd!
Thrice happy Angels in their high Degree;
Created worthy of extolling Thee!
FINIS.
| The Works of John Sheffield | |