SPECIMENS

OF

ENGLISH POETRY.

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10

PROVIDENCE.

A HYMN.

THE Lord my pasture shall prepare,
And feed me with a shepherd's care;
His presence shall my wants supply,

And guard me with a watchful eye:
My noon-day walks he shall attend,
And all my midnight hours defend.

When in the sultry glebe I faint,
Or on the thirsty mountain pant;
To fertile vales and dewy meads
My weary wandering steps he leads,
Where peaceful rivers, soft and slow,
Amid the verdant landscape flow.
Though in the paths of death I tread,
With gloomy horrors overspread,
My steadfast heart shall fear no ill,
For thou, O Lord, art with me still;
Thy friendly crook shall give me aid,
And guide me through the dreadful shade.

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Though in a bare and rugged way,
Through devious lonely wilds I stray,
Thy bounty shall my pains beguile :
The barren wilderness shall smile,
With sudden greens and herbage crown'd,
And streams shall murmur all around.

ADDISON.

GRATITUDE.

WHEN all thy mercies, O my God,
My rising soul surveys;
Transported with the view, I'm lost
In wonder, love, and praise.

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That glows within my ravish'd heart!

But Thou canst read it there.

Thy providence my life sustain'd,

And all my wants redrest, When in the silent womb I lay,

And hung upon the breast.

To all my weak complaints and cries
Thy mercy lent an ear,

Ere yet my feeble thoughts had learn'd
To form themselves in prayer.

Unnumber'd comforts to my

Thy tender care bestow'd,

soul

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Before my infant heart conceived

From whom those comforts flow'd.

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When in the slippery paths of youth
With heedless steps I ran,

Thine arm unseen convey'd me safe,
And led me up to man;

Through hidden dangers, toils, and death, 25
It gently clear'd my way,

And through the pleasing snares of vice,

More to be fear'd than they.

When worn with sickness, oft hast thou

With health renew'd my face;

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And when in sins and sorrows sunk,

Revived my soul with grace.

Thy bounteous hand with worldly bliss

Has made my cup run o'er,

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And in a kind and faithful friend
Has doubled all my store.

Ten thousand thousand precious gifts

My daily thanks employ,

Nor is the least a cheerful heart,

That tastes those gifts with joy.

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Through every period of my life

Thy goodness I'll pursue,
And after death in distant worlds,
The glorious theme renew.

When nature fails, and day and night
Divide thy works no more,

My ever-grateful heart, O Lord,
Thy mercy shall adore.

Through all eternity, to Thee
A joyful song I'll raise,
But oh! Eternity's too short

To utter all thy praise.

ADDISON.