THE PROSPEROUS MAN.*

DIVINELY blest is he whose cautious feet

Far from the devious paths of sin depart,

And far from sordid sinners. He alike
Detests their counsels, and their evil deeds;
Nor holds with them, nor fills the scorner's chair.
GoD's holy law supremely he esteems;

This guides his practis'd feet throughout the day;
And in the silent watches of the night

His waking meditations this employs.

He, like a stately palm, + whose spreading roots Upon the banks of Jordan's sacred stream, Strike deep; imbibing oft the pearly dews On the green foliage of its fragrant leaves, Abundant fruit shall gratefully supply Throughout the varied seasons of the year: The good man so shall prosper in his ways, And all his works shall Heaven's acceptance find. Not so the wicked man; nor such the fate Which soon betides him : he, like summer's dust,

* As characterised in the First Psalm.

The palm tree is once mentioned by the Royal Psalmist as the peculiar emblem of prosperity. Psal. xcii. 12.'

A Striking Contrast.

v. 20.

Rais'd in a vortex by the whirlwind's rage,
And swept in whelming torrents to the deep,
On earth soon finds no place: nor yet for him
Shall mercy's lenient voice in judgment plead.
The Righteous Judge the just man will approve,
When sinners sink beneath his awful ire.

ANATOLE.

Επι γῇς ειρηνη.

SCENE-The Precincts of Bethlehem.-The Morning sweetly solemn and serene.-The congregated Stars* shed unwonted lustre.-A Band of Shepherds advance to the Suburbs singing, and are saluted at the Gate by a Train of Associated Virgins -The Celestial Choir having closed the Anthem, Gloria in altissimis Deo, they carol their glad Responses, as they proceed through the Town of David.

RECITATIVE.

SHEPHERD.

O! on this happy morn a Saviour

To his own assumes our nature:

Let us all the way, the music play

Cherubic bands now chaunt glad anthems;
We will join the sacred choirs, and say,
Happy, happy, happy day.

* Astronomers have calculated, that, at the period of our Saviour's birth, a very extraordinary position and tonjunction of the Heavenly bodies concurred, as if in notification of the great event.

Shepherds and Virgins,

v. 7.

SEMI-CHORUS OF VIRGINS.

O! on this glorious morn, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to bless us all is born: Let us sing his praises all the day;

Let th' angelic harps strike higher; We will join the sacred choir, and say, Happy, happy, happy day.

DUET.*

He.-Cease every meaner joy-No beauty
She.-Hark! how the welkin rings-Tis duty,
He.-E'er shall tempt me from my duty,
She. And the charms of heavenly beauty,
He.-Let them all the day their charms display;
She. That on this happy day we will display;
Both.--While the glad angels strike their lyres,
We will join the sacred choirs, and say,

Happy, happy, happy day.

The AIR, accompanied with Pastoral Music. Hebrews, awake, salute the happy morn In which the promis'd "Prince + of Peace" is born; "Rise to adore the mystery of love,

Which hosts of Angels chaunted from above:

The music of the duet in Coleman's Mountaineers, has, when performed on the Welsh harp, so tender an affect, that, under its impression, the Author has been led to adapt these lyrics to the music, and partly to parody some of the lines. + Isai. ix. 7.

With them the joyful tidings first begun
Of God incarnate, and the Virgin's son."*

Magi, arise! your grateful offerings bring,
In honour of Heaven's uncreated King.
The long expected Saviour on this morn
Is sprung to light, and of a Virgin born:
Let every sex, and every age adore

The fruit of Love Supreme and boundless Power.

CHORUS.

Strike all at once triumphant shouts of praise,

And all at once your joyful voices raise ;
With clarion shawms, and silver trumpet's sound,
Echo the tidings of Salvation round:

Let every land in harmony conspire,

Till Heaven unites the full and perfect choir.

AIR.

Ye sacred sons of Levi, lead the band,
And chaunt the tidings to each list'ning land:
Ye tender youths, and virgins ever fair,
Your joyful hallelujahs all prepare:

While happy souls advanc'd in riper grace,
Still louder chaunt JEHOVAH's swelling praise.

* A similar stanza is set to music in one of Dr. Miller's Selections, beginning "Christians, awake!"