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Look down on vulgar mortals, who revere

A Caufe Supreme, fhould their proud building rear
Without one prop the ponderous pile to bear!
How much the Judge, who does in Heaven prefide
Re-mocks the fcoffer, and contemns his pride!
Behold, the fad unfufferable hour

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Advances near, which will his error cure;
When he compell'd shall drink the wrathful bowl,
And ruin'd feel immortal vengeance roll
Through all his veins, and drench his inmoft foul.
O'erwhelm'd with horror, funk in deep despair,
And loft for ever, will the wretch forbear
To curfe his madnefs, and blafpheme the power
Of his juft Sovereign, which he mock'd before?
Hail, King Supreme! of Power Immense Abyss!
Father of Light! Exhauftlefs Source of Blifs!
Thou uncreated, Self-exiftent Caufe,
Control'd by no fuperior Being's laws,
Ere infant light effay'd to dart the ray,
Smil'd heavenly sweet, and try'd to kindle day :
Ere the wide fields of æther were display'd,
Or filver stars coerulean fpheres inlaid;

Ere
yet
the eldest child of Time was born,
Or verdant pride young Nature did adorn;
Thou art; and didst eternity employ
In unmolefted peace, in plenitude of joy,

In its ideal frame the world, defign'd
From ages paft, lay finish'd in thy mind.
Conform to this divine imagin'd plan,
With perfect art th' amazing work began.

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Thy

Thy glance furvey'd the folitary plains,
Where shapeless shade inert and filent reigns;
Then in the dark and undistinguish'd space,
Unfruitful, uninclos'd, and wild of face,

Thy compass for the world mark'd out the deftin'd place.

Then didft Thou through the fields of barren Night
Go forth, collected in Creating Might.

Where Thou almighty vigour didft exert,
Which emicant did this and that way dart
Through the black bofom of the empty space :
The gulphs confefs th' omnipotent embrace,
And, pregnant grown with elemental feed,
Unfinish'd orbs and worlds in embryo breed.
From the crude mafs, Omnifcient Architect,
Thou for each part materials didft felect,
And with a mafter-hand thy world erect.
Labour'd by Thee, the globes, vaft lucid buoys,
By Thee uplifted, float in liquid fkies:
By Thy cementing word their parts cohere,
And roll by Thy impulfive nod in air.
Thou in the vacant didit the earth fufpend,
Advance the mountains, and the vales extend;
People the plains with flocks, with beasts the wood,
And store with fcaly colonies the flood.

Next, Man arofe at Thy Creating Word,
Of Thy terreftial realms vicegerent lord.
His foul, more artful labour, more refin'd,
And emulous of bright Seraphic Mind,
e

Ennobled

Ennobled by Thy Image, Ipotlefs fhone, hai

Prais'd Thee her author, and ador'd Thy throne F
Able to know, admire, enjoy her God,
She did her high felicity applauds 570

Since Thou didst all the fpacious worlds display, > Homage to Thee let all obedient pay.

Let glittering stars, that dance their destin'd ring A
Sublime in sky, with vocal planets fing

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Confederate praise to Thee, O Great Creator King!
Let the thin diftricts of the waving air,
Conveyancers of found, Thy fki!l declare.
Let winds, the breathing creatures of the skies,
Call in each vigorous gale, that roving flies.
By land or fea; then one loud triumph raise,
And all their blafts employ in fongs of praife.

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While painted herald-birds Thy deeds proclaim, A
And on their spreading wings convey Thy fame :
Let Eagles, which in Heaven's blue concave foar,
Scornful of earth fuperior feats explore,

And rife with breasts erect against the fun,
Be minifters to bear Thy bright renown,
And carry ardent praifes to Thy throne.
Ye fish, affume a voice; with praises fill
The hollow rock, and loud reactive hill.
Let lions with their roar their thanks express,
With acclamations fhake the wilderness.

Let thunder clouds, that float from pole to pole,
With falvos loud falute Thee as they roll.
Ye monsters of the sea, ye noisy waves,
Strike with applaufe the repercuffive caves.

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Let

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Let hail and rain, let meteors form'd of fire,
And lambent flames, in this bleft work confpire.
Let the high cedar and the mountain pine~
Lowly to thee, Great King, their heads incline,
Let every fpicy odoriferous tree

Prefent its incenfe and its balm to Thee.

And thou, Heaven's viceroy o'er this world below,
In this blest task fuperior ardour show:
To view thyfelf, inflect thy reason's ray,
Nature's replenish'd theatre furvey;
Then all on fire the Author's skill adore,
And in loud fongs extol Creating Power.
Degenerate minds, in mazy error lost,
May combat Heaven, and impious triumphs boaft;
But, while my veins feel animating fires,
And vital air this breathing breaft inspires,
Grateful to Heaven, I'll stretch a pious wing,
And fing His praise, who gave me power to fing.

CONTENTS.

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