( 52 )
'Tis not the poet's rapture feign'd
swells here the vain to please;
The mind most sober kindles most
at truths sublime as these;
swells here the vain to please;
The mind most sober kindles most
at truths sublime as these;
They warm ev'n me.———I dare not say,
divine ambition strove
Not to bless only, but confound,
nay, fright us with its love;
divine ambition strove
Not to bless only, but confound,
nay, fright us with its love;
And yet so frightful what, or kind,
as that the rending rock,
The darken'd sun, and rising dead,
so formidably spoke?
as that the rending rock,
The darken'd sun, and rising dead,
so formidably spoke?
And are we darker than that sun?
than rocks more hard, and blind?
We are;———if not to such a God
in agonies resign'd.
than rocks more hard, and blind?
We are;———if not to such a God
in agonies resign'd.
Yes, ev'n in agonies forbear
to doubt almighty love;
Whate'er endears eternity,
is mercy from above;
to doubt almighty love;
Whate'er endears eternity,
is mercy from above;
What most imbitters time, that most
eternity endears,
And thus, by plunging in distress,
exalts us to the spheres;
eternity endears,
And thus, by plunging in distress,
exalts us to the spheres;
Joy's
