LXXXVIII. Life the Day of Grace and Hope, Ecclef. ix. 4, 5, 6, 10.

L

IFE is the Time to ferve the LORD,
The Time t' insure the great Reward,
And while the Lamp holds out to burn,
The vileft Sinner may return.

2 [Life is the Hour that God hath giv'n
To 'scape from Hell, and fly to Heav'n;
The Day of Grace, and Mortals may
Secure the Bleffings of the Day.]

3 The Living know that they must die;
But all the Dead forgotten lie;
Their Mem'ry and their Senfe is gone,
Alike unknowing and unknown.

4 Their Hatred and their Love is loft,
Their Envy bury'd in the Dust;
They have no Share in all that's done
Beneath the Circuit of the Sun.]

5 Then what my Thoughts defign to do,
My Hands, with all your Might pursue ;
Since no Device nor Work is found,
Nor Faith nor Hope, beneath the Ground.
6 There are no A&s of Pardon past
In the cold Grave to which we hafte;
But Darkness, Death and long Despair,
Reign in eternal Silence there.

H

I

LXXXIX. Youth and Judgment,
Ecclef. xi. 9.

E Sons of Adam, vain and young,

YE

Indulge your Eyes, indulge your Tongue;

Taste the Delights your Souls defire,

And give a Loofe to all your Fire:

2 Pursue the Pleasures you defign,

3

And cheer your Hearts with Songs and Wine;
Enjoy the Day of Mirth; but know,
There is a Day of Judgment too.

GOD from on high beholds your Thoughts;
His Book records your fecret Faults;

The Works of Darkness you

have done

Muft all appear before the Sun.

4 The Veng'ance to your Follies due,

Should ftrike your Hearts with Terror thro': How will ye ftand before his Face,

Or anfwer for his injur'd Grace ?

5 Almighty God, turn off their Eyes
From thefe alluring Vanities:

And let the Thunder of thy Word
Awake their Souls to fear the LORD.

XC. The fame.

LO, the young Tribes of Adam rise,

And thro' all Nature rove,

Fulfil the Wishes of their Eyes,
And taste the Joys they love.

2 They give a Loofe to wild Defires;
But let the Sinners know,

The ftrict Account that God requires
Of all the Works they do.

3 The Judge prepares his Throne on high, The frighted Earth and Seas

Avoid the Fury of his Eye,

And flee before his Face..

4 How fhall I bear that dreadful Day,
And stand the fiery Teft!

I'd give all mortal joys away.
To be for ever bleft.

XCI. Advice to Youth: or, Old Age and Death in an unconverted State, Ecclef. xii. 1, 7.Ifa. lxv. 20.

No

OW in the Heat of youthful Blood,
Remember your Creator, GoD:

Behold, the Months come haft'ning on
When you shall say, My Joys are gone."

Laden with Guilt and heavy Woes,

Down to the Regions of the Dead ;
With endless Curfes on his Head.

3 The Duft returns to Duft again; The Soul in Agonies of Pain

Afcends to GOD; not there to dwell,
But hears her Doom, and finks to Hell.
4 Eternal King! I fear thy Name:
Teach me to know how frail I am ;'
And when my Soul muft hence remove,
Give me a Manfion in thy Love.

1

2

3

5

XCII. CHRIST the Wisdom of GOD,
Prov. viii. 1, 22—32.

HALL Wifdom cry aloud,
And not her Speech be heard?
The Voice of GOD's Eternal Word,
Deferves it no Regard?

"I was his chief Delight,

"His everlasting Son,

"Before the firft of all his Works,

"Creation was begun.

["Before the flying Clouds,

"Before the folid Land,

"Before the Fields, before the Floods,

"I dwelt at his right Hand.

"When he adorn'd the Skies,

"And built them, I was there,
"To order when the Sun fhould rife,
"And marshal ev'ry Star.

"When he pour'd out the Sea,
"And spread the flowing Deep;
" I gave the Flood a firm Decree,
"In its own Bounds to keep.]

6 "Upon the empty Air

7

8

"The Earth was balanc'd well; "With Joy I faw the Manfion where "The Sons of Men fhould dwell.

"My bufy Thoughts at firft

"On their Salvation ran,

"Ere Sin was born, or Adam's Duft "Was fashion'd to a Man.

"'Then come, receive my Grace,
"Ye Children, and be wife;

Happy the Man that keeps my Ways,
"The Man that fhuns them, dies."

XCIII. CHRIST, or Wisdom obeyed or refifted, Prov. viii. 34-36.

Word;

THUS faith the Wisdom of the LORD,
"Blefs'd is the Man that hears my
Keep daily Watch before my Gates,
"And at my Feet for Mercy waits."

2 "The Soul that feeks me, fhall obtain, "Immortal Wealth and heav'nly Gain "Immortal Life is his Reward,

3

"Life, and the Favour of the LORD. O

"But the vile Wretch that flies from me,

"Doth his own Soul an Injury;

"Fools that against my Grace rebel,

"Seek Death, and love the Road to Hell."