"Father, forgive them,' Jesus cries, They know not what they do." Give us, great God, a soul like his, To love our enemies. SECTION XXIII. The dangers and snares of life. AWAKE, my soul! lift up thine eyes; Here giant danger threat'ning stands, See where rebellious passions rage, Has thousands and ten thousands slain, Thou tread'st upon enchanted ground; WATTS. Come then, my soul, now learn to wield The weight of thine immortal shield: Of heav'nly truth and heav'nly love. The terror and the charm repel, SECTION XXIV. BARBAULD. The Divine Being knows and sees every thing. LORD, thou hast search'd and seen me through: My heart and flesh, with all their pow'rs. My thoughts, before they are my own, Within thy circling pow'r I stand; Amazing knowledge, vast and great! What large extent! what lofty height! O may these thoughts possess my breast, Nor let my weaker passions dare Could I so false, so faithless prove, If up to heav'n I take my flight, If, mounted on a morning ray, Or should I try to shun thy sight O may these thoughts possess my breast, Nor let my weaker passions dare Consent to sin, for God is there. SECTION XXV. All nature attests the great Creator. HAST thou beheld the glorious sun, And when he beam'd his noontide ray? Say, didst thou e'er attentive view Or, after rain, the wat❜ry bow Rise in the east, a beauteous show? When darkness had o'erspread the skies, Hast thou e'er seen the moon arise; And, with a mild and placid light, Shed lustre o'er the face of night? Hast thou e'er wander'd o'er the plain, Hast thou e'er trod the sandy shore, And heard the restless ocean roar, WATTS. When, rous'd by some tremendous storm, Hast thou beheld the lightning stream, Through night's dark gloom with sudden gleam; While the bellowing thunder's sound, Roll'd rattling through the heav'ns profound? Hast thou e'er felt the cutting gale, The sleeting show'r, the biting hail; Hast thou the various beings seen, That shoot along the briny deep, Hast thou the wond'rous scenes survey'd, 'Twas GOD who form'd the concave sky, And all the shining orbs on high: |