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POETRY.

LINES

Addreffed to a Youth on his entrance into the World.

AS when a trav'ller on his way, attains A height which overlooks the neighb'ring plains,

While Sol declining gilds the ample fcene
With fplendid rays, enliv'ning and ferene,
His mind revives as he pursues his way,
In hopes t'attain his home by close of day;
And there to his lov'd family impart
The joys which cheer'd, and pains which
pierc'd his heart.

So I, long wand'ring in this vale of tears, Tho' oft afful'd by threat'ning foes and fears,

With home in view, would thankfully furvey

The toils and comforts of life's chequer'd way;

And whilst with glowing gratitude I raife An Eben-ezer to my Saviour's praise, Would point to erring inexperienc'd youth The path which leads to happinefs and

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And thro' the Mediator's precious blood Implore the grace and blefling of thy God. Thrice happy they who venture near his throne,

And in the furety claim him for their own; Their Father, Portion, Counsellor, aud Friend,

Whofe mercy, like his nature, knows no

end.

Dear to the foul be ev'ry facred page, Youth's noblest monitor-the staff of age. Whate'er the scoffing infidel may fay, "Retire and read thy Bible to be gay." To guide thy feet, perufe each facred line, To cheer thy heart, its promifes divine.

With holy rev'rence keep God's hallow'd day,

Nor in forbidden paths with finners ftray;
With willing feet to Zion's gates repair,
Where kindred spirits join in praise and
pray'r;

And prove the Sabbath a delightful reft,
Of all our days the brightest and the best;
Wherein the faints, with ecftacy of heart,
Can "fing together, tho' they dwell apart."

ToWisdom's voice a fix'd attention give: "Forfake the foolish, and thy foul shall live."

Allur'd by vanity's fantastic fhow,
They grafp the fhade, and let the fubftance
go.

How vain is all their reftlefs fearch to find
A good to fatisfy th' immortal mind!
Man form'd for God at first, can know no
reft

Till grace divine reannimate his breaft.

But, while the giddy herd with careless

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"My powerful arm fhall all thy foes controul,

And endless glory crown thy heav'n-
"born foul."

Yield then thy heart to him, no longer rove
From the bleft centre of eternal love;
Acknowledge him in all thy future ways,
And be thy life devoted to his praise.

Seek firit the Saviour's grace if thou
would't know

True peace with God, or happiness below;
That grace enjoy'd, thou wilt he truly bleft
Howe'er by men defpis'd, or forrow preft;
United to the Lord by faith divine,
Pardon, and life, and righteoufnefs are
thine.

Sav'd from the pow'r of fin's detefted reign,
Nor longer bound by Satan's cruel chain,
The favour'd foul true liberty fhall prove,
And gladly urge its way to joys above.
Thro' devious waltes, and dangers yet un-
known,

Thy gracious Comforter fhall lead thee on
Till, the last conflict won, thy spirit rife
To join the holy triumphs of the skies!

There thall be fhining hofts unite to fing The reigning grace of Christ, their God, and King;

And with increafing joy the theme pro-
long,

While ceafclefs hallelujahs fwell the fong!
J.A. K.

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"O fay, can all of ye fuftain
"A finner's punishment and pain ?

I fearch'd the learned schools in vain,
My cafe perplex'd the cafuift's pride;
Some faid religion turns the brain,

And fome would pious grief deride;
Some faid, "You over righteous are, "
And fome, "Your guilt has brought de-
fpair."

I try'd by arduous works anew

To make for paft defects amends,
But as the fun dries up the dew,

Each vow in fruitless forrow ends;
And prove my best of doings frail.
Corruptions strong would oft prevail,

I drank of pleasure's sparkling cup,
But found the dregs of poifon there'
I hoarded wealth infatiate up,

And overwheim'd my heart with care.
I fought the foothing charm of fame,
And reap'd applaufe with confcious thames
Thus felf-condemn'd and felf-abhor'd,

And fhudd'ring o'er the pit beneath, "Ah! who (I cry'd) can aid afford

"To fnatch a finking foul from death? "To refcue from the fearful doom "Of endless fiery wrath to come?”

Love whifper'd to my inmoft foul,
"The promife broken heart believe,
"I can alone thy fins control,

"I can alone thy fins forgive.
"Lift up thy weeping eyes to me,
"Thy bleeding victim on the tree.
I faw the agonizing pains,

I faw the purple current Яow;
The blood that wafh'd away my ftains,
The stripes that heal'd my finful woe ;
The conqueft that my foes fubdu'd,
The death thar gave me life renew'd.
Peace brought my troubled confcience rest,
And gratitude inspir'd my praise;
Love warm'd with holy flame my breast,
And fweet obedience claim'd my days,
And now, my God, I gladly own,
Thou freely fav'st, and thou alone.

ALIQUIS,

ERRATA-IN fome copies of our last Number the following errata efcaped cor

rection.

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for Ged read God.

69 read the name of the Otaheitan Deity uniformly Eatora.
86, line 19, for praying, read proving.

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Rev George Townsend ; Rousgate

Published by T. Chapman, 134 Fleet Street, March 31 1798.

THE

Evangelical Magazine,

FOR APRIL, 1798.

BIOGRAPHY.

MEMOIRS

OF THE

LIFE OF THE REV. JOSEPH MILNER, A. M.

VICAR OF THE PARISH OF THE HOLY TRINITY, HULL.

THAT God, who raifes up paftors according to his own

heart, and qualifies them for the important ftations they are defigned to fill, having employed them for the accomplishment of his good defign, in the advancement of the empire of Jefus Chrift, has a right, at what season he fees beft, to difmifs them from their fervice on earth, and introduce them to their everlasting reft in Heaven. Sometimes he does this, while his people are looking up to them with high expectations, concluding that a very large fphere of usefulness is yet before them. "God," fays one, "gives men of the most eminent abilities their difmiffion, at a time when the Church can least spare them, that the dependence and truft of the Churches may be wholly in himfelf." While, therefore, we remember those who once preached to us the word of life, and while we call to mind their holy converfation and exemplary conduct, may we never forget that it was with Chrift's gifts they were enriched, with his grace they were adorned, and that it was in the brightnefs of his truth they fhone! When these ftars are removed, we fhould be concerned to dwell under the beams of the Sun of Righteousness, who is "the same yefterday, and to-day, and for ever."

The Rev. Jofeph Milner, the subject of these memoirs, was born at Leeds, in the Weft Riding of the county of VOL. VI.

T

York.

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