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POETRY.

ON THE BOOK OF JOB.

A FRAGMENT.

PURE Friendship once had mingled all their hearts;
Each soul entwin'd, and brac'd with mutual love,
The circling band; - each liv'd for all: the sun
Ne'er shone on happier friends! No solemn oath
Had bound them; - fickle barrier! sport of fools,
Unknown to virtuous breasts,· - a worthless pledge
To bind the knave, whom int'rest leads astray!
Religious views had mark'd their love sincere:
One hope, one God, one Heav'n their only aim!
Their aim was noble, Faith attempts none less;
Leaves to the feeble trav'ller lonely roads
And weary toilsome paths, which Chance presents
Uncertain and impair'd; and boldly dares
To venture forth, and bravely climb the rock
To seize on certain bliss! There myriads wait,
Cloth'd in Heav'n's bright array, and shout aloud,
And bid him welcome to their happy climes.
In purest light enthron'd on high, he sees
Him whom he lov'd below, Jehovah's self!

He smiles, and crowns him there, and tells aloud

His title to the skies: he sees him there,

Unveil'd, whom wond'ring Heav'n and Earth once saw
Bleeding and dying for a guilty world!
Amazing love! he dy'd to save his foes,

And bore himself, in that eventful day,

Unnumber'd deaths! Mysterious love divine!

lle dy'd to conquer Death: conquering he rase,
And left the dark abode to reign on high,

And claim his rans m'd sons. Wond'ring he sees,
Gazes on endless bliss, and sings aloud

His dear Redeemer's love! Thus faith: to those
Who aim at Heav'n, Faith spreads the picture forth,
And bids them follow. 'Tis a trackless chart
To those who know not God!

B. B. L.

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THE

CHRISTIAN'S MEDITATIONS

during his Summer's Excursion.

LET the worldling, amus'd with his toys,

Endeavour to feed upon wind;

I covet the rational joys

Which charm the contemplative mind!

The features of Nature in view,

Present a significant face;

And ever remind me anew

Of the God of creation and grace.

A pure intellectual delight

May be gather'd from fields and from woods,

While a prospect engages the sight, Interspers'd with meandering floods. In the mountains that lift up their brow,

To dare the æthereal fire;

In the valleys which humbly below
With no such ambition aspire;

In the meadows that wave with the corn, Or are graz'd by the herds and the flocks; +

In the hedge- rows, which flow'rets

adorn;

In the sea-waves and caverny rocks; In the birds, those blithe tenants of air,

Or the fish that inhabit the main; In the lions which couch in their lair, And the deer that bound over the plain;

Thro' the thunders, and lightnings, and storms,

Thro' the sun-shine and clouds tipt
with gold,

Thro' creation in each of its forms, -
The Father of all I behold!

Yes! 'tis He who created them ail,

By the word of omnipotent pow'r; And sustaineth the great and the small During every fugitive hour!

It is he who, in infinite love,

Did pity the ruin of man;
And stoop'd from the heavens above
To execute Harmony's plan!

Who teaches in mystical sound,
And enlivens with quick'ning breath,
The soul in obscurity found,

And bury'd in error and death!

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Trinted by G. AULD, Greville Street, London.

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THE

EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE.

NOVEMBER, 1806.

་་།

MEMOIR

OF

THE LATE MR. THOMAS PASCO.

MR. THOMAS PASCO was, in his early years, together with his pious mother, a constant hearer of the late Dr. Gifford, under whose ministry he received those serious impressions which extended their influence through the whole of his life. At the usual age, he passed through a regular course of educa tion in surgery and medicine; and competent judges have always spoken highly of his professional attainments.

In the year 1777, he removed from London to Oxford, where he settled as a Chemist and Druggist, and soon obtained, by his integrity and obliging attentions in business, that high degree of confidence and respect which he ever afterwards preserved.

In the city which now became his place of residence, the interest of serious godliness, and especially among the Protestant Dissenters, had sunk into a very low state; and Mr. Pasco was evidently directed thither by Providence, as the mean of cherishing and reviving it. In 1780 he became a member, and soon after, a deacon, of a Baptist Society at Oxford; in both which characters he was highly honourable and useful for a period of twenty-six years. He often declared that he considered the few services which he was enabled to render to the cause of Christ, as by far the most important end of his existence; yet he had a just view of the importance of general character, as necessary to sustain with effect that of a professor of serious piety.

In bis habitual conduct, Mr. P. combined great integrity with singular wisdom; and a steady avowal of religion with Courtesy and gentleness of manners. His professional knowledge introduced him to the acquaintance of many characters of great respectability; and his general knowledge of the interests of society, united with an accurate judgment and indefatigable activity, rendered him a friend whose aid was eagerly coveted 3 Q

XIV,

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