The Poetical Works of the Ingenious and Learned William Meston ... The Sixth edition |
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A holy ODE, from Mount
Alexander.
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 | The Poetical Works of the Ingenious and Learned William Meston |  |
A holy ODE, from Mount Alexander.
When we survey this mighty frame,
With all its orbs around,
Tho' still in motion, still the same,
In space without a bound;
The various seasons of the year,
In beauteous order fall,
Which to our reason makes it clear,
A God must govern all.
With all its orbs around,
Tho' still in motion, still the same,
In space without a bound;
The various seasons of the year,
In beauteous order fall,
Which to our reason makes it clear,
A God must govern all.
Yet do we find, to our disgrace,
Of miscreants profane
A crooked, perverse, stubborn race,
Who scoffingly maintain,
Because they prosper in their lust,
And virtue's force defy,
That Heav'n approves of the unjust,
Or there's no God on high.
Of miscreants profane
A crooked, perverse, stubborn race,
Who scoffingly maintain,
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And virtue's force defy,
That Heav'n approves of the unjust,
Or there's no God on high.
Thus haughty man, in reason low,
Compar'd with the All-wise,
Presumes he can the secrets know,
Are hid from human eyes.
Could shallow man thy depths explore,
Thy God-head were but small,
Thy sovereign care need be no more,
And man might rule the ball.
Compar'd with the All-wise,
Presumes he can the secrets know,
Are hid from human eyes.
Could shallow man thy depths explore,
Thy God-head were but small,
Thy sovereign care need be no more,
And man might rule the ball.
But, oh! the providential spring,
That's hid from human ken,
Extends to the minutest thing,
That moves, as well as men.
Permitting, or commanding still,
In each thy power's exprest,
And all perform their good or ill,
As suits thy glory best.
That's hid from human ken,
Extends to the minutest thing,
That moves, as well as men.
Permitting, or commanding still,
In each thy power's exprest,
And all perform their good or ill,
As suits thy glory best.
Why, then, should troubles of mankind,
Which thou dost here bestow,
Exalt a sublunary mind,
Or yet depress it low?
The wicked thou permit'st to reign,
And bloom but for a while;
The righteous only drag their chain,
Till Heav'n think fit to smile.
Which thou dost here bestow,
Exalt a sublunary mind,
Or yet depress it low?
The wicked thou permit'st to reign,
And bloom but for a while;
The righteous only drag their chain,
Till Heav'n think fit to smile.
O! sacred J---, let not thy lot,
Tho' seemingly severe,
Make thee suspect thy cause forgot;
Thy crosses nobly bear.
He, who thy heart has in his hand,
(Trust thou his sacred skill),
Has too the people's at command,
And turns them at his will.
Tho' seemingly severe,
Make thee suspect thy cause forgot;
Thy crosses nobly bear.
He, who thy heart has in his hand,
(Trust thou his sacred skill),
Has too the people's at command,
And turns them at his will.
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But thou, who sit'st upon the throne
Of S---'s ancient race,
Abandoning thy rightful own,
To fill another's place,
A Crown's but a precarious thing,
Thy fate thou dost not see,
They who betray'd their native King,
Will ne'er be true to thee.
Of S---'s ancient race,
Abandoning thy rightful own,
To fill another's place,
A Crown's but a precarious thing,
Thy fate thou dost not see,
They who betray'd their native King,
Will ne'er be true to thee.
O! great eternal source of love,
Extend thy gracious hand,
And hasten justice from above,
To this unhappy land.
O! let our panting hearts have peace,
And innocence restore,
Then shall our senate act with grace,
Offending thee no more.
Extend thy gracious hand,
And hasten justice from above,
To this unhappy land.
O! let our panting hearts have peace,
And innocence restore,
Then shall our senate act with grace,
Offending thee no more.
| The Poetical Works of the Ingenious and Learned William Meston | |