From this abyfs of exemplary vice Refolv'd, as time might aid my thought, to rife; Bid her exalt her melancholy wing, And, rais'd from earth, and fav'd from paffion, fing Of human hope by crofs event destroy'd, Of useless wealth and greatnefs unenjoy'd, Of luft and love, with their fantastic train, 990 Their wishes, fimiles, and looks, deceitful all, and vain. TEXTS CHIEFLY ALLUDED TO IN BOOK III. "Or ever the filver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl "be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, "or the wheel broken at the ciftern." Eccl. xii. 6. "The fun arifeth, and the fun goeth down, and hafteth "to his place where he arose." Ch. i. 5. "The wind goeth towards the fouth, and turneth about "unto the north. It whirleth about continually; "and the wind returneth again, according to his cir"cuit." Ver. 6. "All the rivers run into the sea: yet the fea is not full. "Unto the place from whence the rivers come, thi "ther they return again.” Ver. 7. "Then fhall the duft return to the earth, as it was: and "the fpirit fhall return unto GOD who gave it." Ch. xii. 7. "Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the "fire came down from Heaven, and confumed the "burnt-offering, and the facrifices; and the glory of "the LORD filled the house." 2 Chron. vii. 1. 66 "By the rivers of Babylon, there we fat down; yea we wept, when we remembered Sion," &c. Pfalm cxxxvii. 1. "I faid of laughter, it is mad; and of mirth, what "doth it?" Eccief. ii. 2. "No man can find out the work that GOD maketh, "from the beginning to the end." Ch. iii. 11. "Whatfoever GOD doeth, it fhall be for ever; nothing 66 'can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and GoD "doeth it, that men should fear before him." Ver. 14. "Let us hear the conclufion of the whole matter; fear "GOD, and keep his commandments; for this is the "whole duty of man." Ch. xii. 13. PO W E R: THE THIRD BOOK. THE ARGUMENT. Solomon confiders man through the feveral ftages and conditions of life; and concludes in general, that we are all miferable. He reflects more particularly upon the trouble and uncertainty of Greatnefs and Power; gives fome inftances thereof from Adam down to himself; and still concludes that all is Vanity. He reasons again upon life, death, and a future being; finds human wisdom too imperfect to refolve his doubts; has recourse to Religion; is informed by an angel, what shall happen to himself, his family, and his kingdom, till the redemption of Ifrael; and, upon the whole, refolves to fubmit his enquiries and anxieties to the will of his Creator. OME then, my Soul: I call thee by that name, COM Thou bufy thing, from whence I know I am : For, knowing what I am, I know thou art; 5 Hear'ft Hear'ft thou fubmiffive, but a lowly birth, Some feparate particles of finer earth, A plain effect which nature must beget, As motion orders, and as atoms meet; From force of instinct, more than choice of will; As the wild courfes of the blood ordain; Impatient to regain her native skies? 10 15 20 25 30 35 What Whate'er thou art, where-e'er ordain'd to go, Be the fair level of thy actions laid, As temperance wills, and prudence may perfuade: Guided to what may great or good appear; And try if life be worth the liver's care. Amass'd in man, there juftly is beheld What through the whole creation has excell❜d: 2 45 40 The life and growth of plants, of beasts the fenfe, 50 Say from thefe glorious feeds what harveft flows; The man dragg'd out to act, and forc'd to be; To his young fenfe how various forms appear, M 4 55 } 60 65 Till |