LYING AT A REVEREND FRIEND'S HOUSE ONE NIGHT, THE AUTHOR LEFT THE FOLLOWING

VERSES,

IN THE ROOM WHERE HE SLEPT.

I.

O Thou dread Pow'r, who reign'st above!
I know thou wilt me hear :

When for this scene of peace and love,
I make my pray'r sincere.

II:

The hoary sire-the mortal stroke,
Long, long, be pleas'd to spare!

To bless his little filial flock,
And show what good men are.

III.

She, who her lovely offspring eyes
With tender hopes and fears,
O, bless her with a mother's joys,
But spare a mother's tears!

IV.

Their hope, their stay, their darling youth,
In manhood's dawning blush;

Bless him, thou God of love and truth,
Up to a parent's wish!

V.

The beauteous, seraph sister-band,
With earnest tears I pray,

Thou know'st the snares on ev'ry hand,
Guide thou their steps alway!

VI.

When soon or late they reach that coast.
O'er life's rough ocean driv❜n,
May they rejoice, no wand'rer lost,
A family in Heav'n!

THE FIRST PSALM.

THE man, in life wherever plac'd,
Hath happiness in store,

Who walks not in the wicked's way,
Nor learns their guilty lore!

Nor from the seat of scornful pride

Casts forth his eyes abroad,

But with humility and awe

Still walks before his God.

That man shall flourish like the trees.
Which by the streamlets grow;
The fruitful top is spread on high,
And firm the root below.

But he whose blossom buds in guilt
Shall to the ground be cast,.

And, like the rootless stubble, tost
Before the sweeping blast.

For why? that God the good adore
Hath giv❜n them peace and rest,
But hath decreed that wicked men
Shall ne'er be truly blest.

A PRAYER,

UNDER THE PRESSURE OF VIOLENT ANGUISH.

O THOU Great Being! what thou art

Surpasses me to know:

Yet sure I am, that known to thee

Are all thy works below.

Thy creature here before thee stands,
All wretched and distrest;

Yet sure those ills that wring my soul.
Obey thy high behest.

Sure thou, Almighty, canst not act
From cruelty or wrath!

, free my weary eyes from tears,
Or close them fast in death!

But if I must afflicted be,

To suit some wise design;

Then man my soul with firm resolves,
To bear and not repine!

THE FIRST SIX VERSE

OF THE

NINETIETH PSALM.

O THOU, the first, the greatest Friend
Of all the human race!

Whose strong right hand has ever been
Their stay and dwelling place!

Before the mountains heav'd their heads...

Beneath thy forming hand,

Before this pond'rous globe itself

Arose at thy command;

That pow'r which rais'd and still upholds

This universal frame,

From countless, unbeginning time

Was ever still the same.

Those mighty periods of years.

Which seem to us so vast, Appear no more before thy sight Than yesterday that's past.

Thou giv'st the word: Thy creature, many-
Is to existence brought :

Thou layest them, with all their cares,
In everlasting sleep;

As with a flood thou tak'st them off
With overwhelming sweep.

They flourish like the morning flow'r,
In beauty's pride array'd;
But long ere night cut down, it lies
All wither'd and decay'd.

TO A MOUNTAIN DAISY,

ON TURNING ONE DOWN WITH THE PLOUGH,

In April, 1786.

WEE, modest, crimson-tipped flow'r,
Thou's met me in an evil hour ;

For I maun crush amang the stoure

To

Thy slender stem;

spare thee now is past my pow'r,
Thou bonnie gem.

Alas! it's no thy neebor sweet, The bonnie Lark, companion meet! Bending thee 'mang the dewy weet!

Wi' spreckl'd breast,

When upward-springing, blithe, to greet

The purpling east.