"Tis judgment shakes him; there's the fear, That prompts the wish to stay: He has incurr'd a long arrear, And must despair to pay. Pay!-follow Christ, and all is paid; ON A SIMILAR OCCASION, FOR THE YEAR 1793. De sacris autem hæc sit una sententia, ut conserventur. CIC DE LEG. But let us all concur in this one sentiment, that things sacred be inviolate. He lives, who lives to God alone, And all are dead beside; For other source than God is none To live to God is to requite But life, within a narrow ring Is falsely nam'd, and no such thing, But rather death disguis'd. Can life in them deserve the name. For what poor toys they can disclaim An endless life above? Who, much diseas’d, yet nothing feel; Much menac'd, nothing dread; Have wounds, which only God can heal Yet never ask his aid? Who deem his house an useless place, Who trample order; and the day, If scorn of God's commands, impress'd On word and deed, imply The better part of man unbless'd With life that cannot die; Such want it, and that want, uncur'd Till man resigns his breath, Speaks him a criminal, assur'd Of everlasting death. Sad period to a pleasant course! Sabbaths profan'd without remorse, And mercy cast away. INSCRIPTION FOR THE TOMB OF MR. HAMILTON. PAUSE here, and think; a monitory rhime And many a tomb, like HAMILTON's, aloud Exclaims, "Prepare thee for an early shroud." |