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His great Original; scans the dread laws
That rule his FATHER'S universe, and holds
High converse with transcendent Deity!
See, how triumphant Reason soars above
The clouds of life! How Virtue calmly braves
The taunts of Vice! How all that earth affords
Delight no more! How every pleasure fails
That pleas'd the childhood of our ceaseless race,
Till Reason's MANHOOD points to nobler things!
How oft fair Science, deeply musing, stays
Her weary wing, and, ripening for the skies,
Unites with Faith and Knowledge, till the hopes
And joys of Glory burst upon her view!
Shall these bright scenes of being pass away?
Shall all the honoured names of old renown,
Our hopes, our vices, virtues, ever die?
Shall MILTON live no more, and NEWTON's eye
No more behold the wonders of his God-
Dull, cold, and loathsome clay with all our race?
Shall dread Annihilation seal the doom
Of MAN, and close upon the dreams of life?
Then is the creeping insect, and the worm
That coils his ringlets on the dewy earth,
A being happier than the reasoning man;
And Faith and Hope are vain, and GOD unjust!
We shall NOT mingle with the insensate clay-
Mind is the ruling principle that smiles
At Death, and all its terrors ;-prompts, presides,
Inspires, or mourns, or contemplates, or moves
The obedient body by resistless power,
In spite of sorrow, comfort, pain, or joy,
To spurn the rolling globe, and rest in heaven!
Torn from his weeping bride, the youth recalls
The fond remembrance of affection's tear;
The liquid lustre of the azure eye,

And all the endearing graces that adorn
His absent love, while Fancy paints the scene
Of rapture when they meet to part no more!
So Faith delights to dwell on scenes of bliss
Where we shall live for ever! Time may spoil

The blooming honours of our youth, and grave
His mournful impress on our fading forms;
And Death may claim his victims, but the soul,
Swift from the cold and solitary tomb,

On eagle pinions mounting, seeks its source,
Its GoD! the common Father of mankind!
Yes, we shall live for ever! Life's short years
May bring their destin'd trials, cares, and joys,
And strew the thorns and roses in our way;
But we shall follow where the mighty Lord
Of man's redemption, rising from the grave
Ascended, pointing to our promis'd home
Above, where spirits of the just abide
In IMMORTALITY, and PERFECT LOVE!

Thus have I commenced this Introduction with pointing out the peculiar nature and distinguished excellency of the Writings of SHAKSPEARE; then illustrating the character of the melancholy moralizing JACQUES, out of whose mouth flows the most picturesque representation of HUMAN LIFE that we have on record; and lastly, I have mentioned Young and Johnson, as having depicted this present state, in colours not very favourable to enjoyment. I then conclude, by striking the balance between the good and evil of MORTALITY, adducing a portion of the interesting Vision of Mirzah, by the amiable Addison; and an extract from the Poem of Armageddon, by a living clergyman, the Reverend Mr. Townsend: both happily illustrative of ANO

THER AND A BETTER WORLD.

SEVEN AGES.

SEVEN AGES.

All the WORLD's a Stage,

And all the MEN and WOMEN merely Players ;
They have their exits, and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His Acts being SEVEN AGES!

THE Life of Man is a most important period of existence. It is important to the individual himself, and important in the relations which it bears to society. Considered as the gift of God, it should be regarded as the precious boon of Hea

ven.

Viewed as the groundwork of enjoyment, it is susceptible either of exquisite pleasure, or of the most distressing sensations. Formed in the image of HIS MAKER, man assumes a dignified aspect, and his ambition should be to render the impress of Heaven the source of rational enjoyment. When the human faculties and passions are regarded as leading, by proper culture and appropriate management, to the elevated joys of a future life, the present period of existence terminates in a BLESSED IMMORTALITY

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