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His friends around the deep affliction mourn'd,
Felt all his pangs, and groan for groan return’d:
In anguish of their hearts their mantles rent,
And seven long days in solemn silence spent:
A debt of rev'rence to distress so great!

Then Job contain'd no more; but curs'd his fate,
His day of birth,-its inauspicious light,
He wishes sunk in shades of endless night,
And blotted from the year; nor fears to crave
Death, instant death; impatient for the grave.
His words were daring, and displeased his friends;
His conduct they reprove, and he defends:
So high, at length, their arguments were wrought,
They reach'd the last extent of human thought:
A pause ensu'd.-When, lo! Heav'n interpos'd,
And awfully the long contention clos'd.
Full o'er their heads, with terrible surprise,
A sudden whirlwind blacken'd all the skies:
(They saw, and trembled!) From the darkness
broke

A dreadful voice, and thus th' ALMIGHTY spoke:
"Who gives his tongue a loose so bold and vain,
"Censures my conduct, and reproves my reign?
"Can thine arm measure with an arm divine?
"And can'st thou thunder with a voice like
mine?

"Of late so brave, now lift a dauntless eye, "Face my demand, and give it a reply:

"Where didst thou dwell at nature's early birth?

"Who laid foundations for the spacious earth? "Who on its surface did extend the line,

"Its form determine, and its bulk confine?

"Who fix'd the corner-stone? What hand, de

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clare,

Hung it on nought, and fasten'd it on air?

"When the bright morning stars in concert sung, "When heav'n's high arch with loud Hosannas rung,

"When shouting sons of GOD the triumph crown'd,

"And the wide concave thunder'd with the sound?

"Who, stretching forth his sceptre o'er the deep, "Can that wild world in due subjection keep? "I broke the globe, I scoop'd its hollow'd side, "And did a bason for the floods provide; "I chain'd them with my word; the boiling sea, "Work'd up in tempests, hears my great decree; Thus far, thy floating tide shall be convey'd; "And here, O main, be thy proud billows stay'd.' "Who taught the rapid winds to fly so fast, "Or shakes the centre with his eastern blast? "Who from the skies can a whole deluge pour? "Who strikes through nature with the solemn

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roar

"Of dreadful thunder, points it where to fall, "And in fierce lightning wraps the flying ball? "Not he who trembles at the darted fires, "Falls at the sound, and in the flash expires. "Who did the soul with her rich pow'rs invest, "And light up reason in the human breast? "To shine with fresh increase of luster bright; "When stars and sun are set in endless night 2

"To these my various questions make reply." Th' ALMIGHTY Spoke; and, speaking, shook the

sky.

What then, Chaldæan Sire, was thy surprise!

Thus thou, with trembling heart, and downcast

eyes:

"Once and again, which I in groans deplore, "My tongue has err'd; but shall presume no

more.

"Thou canst accomplish all things, LORD of might:

"And every thought is naked to Thy sight. "But, oh! Thy ways are wonderful, and lie

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Beyond the deepest reach of mortal eye.

"Oft have I heard of Thine Almighty Pow'r, "But never saw Thee till this dreadful hour. "O'erwhelm'd with shame, the LORD of Life I

see,

"Abhor myself, and give my soul to Thee: "Nor shall my weakness tempt Thine anger

more :

"Man is not made to question, but adore."

DAVID'S LAMENTATION FOR THE DEATH OF SAUL AND JONATHAN.

MOURN, Israel, mourn, on Gilboa's lofty plain,
Thy honours blasted and thy heroes slain.
How are the mighty fallen! his country's pride,
Great Saul, by impious hands ignobly died.

Let none in Gath the mournful tidings tell,
Nor Ascol hear how Israel's glory fell,
Lest proud Philistia, with exulting voice,
At our distress, in barbarous songs rejoice.

Ill-fated Gilboa ! may henceforth no rains,
No fostering dews, e'er fertilize thy plains!
No more thy pastures fat oblations bring,—
For there the shield of our anointed king,
The shield of Saul, was vilely cast away;
His arms, like vulgar spoils, neglected lay.

O Jonathan, how oft the slaughter'd foe
Stain'd with his gore the arrow from thy bow !
Ne'er did thy weapon ineffectual fall,

Nor e'er, undrench'd with blood, the sword of
Saul.

Thro' life we saw the sire and honoured son

In friendship's sacred bonds united run ;
And oh! in death each weeping friend shall tell,
How both, too fatally united, fell.

In war and peace they shared an equal fame,
Their courage and their active strength the same.
Not lions in their rage more strength display,
For swifter darts the eagle on his prey.

Nor Saul, in sable weeds, ye damsels, mourn,
Who oft with spoils, from captive princes torn,
With chains of gold, or bracelets, deck'd your

arms,

And grac'd with purple robes your native charms.

"How are the mighty fall'n!" on Gilboa's plain
Young Jonathan, the pride of war, was slain.
O Jonathan, my friend, for thee distress'd,
As for a brother, bleeds my tortur'd breast.
In all my joys thy friendship bore a part;
In all my griefs, thy sympathetic heart.
Thy love to me more tenderness display'd,
Than for her lover feels the amorous maid.
"How are the mighty fall'n!" O Saul, how

vain

Is all the pomp of war, since thou art slain!

THE SEVENTH CHAPTER OF PROVERBS.

By Mr. Pope.

My son, th' instruction that

my

words impart

'Grave on the living tablet of thy heart;
And all the wholesome precepts that I give
Observe with strictest reverence, and live.

Let all thy homage be to Wisdom paid,
Seek her protection, and implore her aid;
That she may keep thy soul from harm secure,
And turn thy footsteps from the harlot's door;
Who, with curs'd charms, lures the unwary in,
And soothes with flattery their souls to sin.

Once, from my window, as I cast mine eye
On those that passed in giddy numbers by,
A youth among the foolish youths I spy'd,
Who took not sacred Wisdom for his guide.

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