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 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 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; And prove the Sabbath a delightful reft, ToWisdom's voice a fix'd attention give: "Forfake the foolish, and thy foul shall live." Allur'd by vanity's fantastic fhow, How vain is all their reftlefs fearch to find Till grace divine reannimate his breaft. But, while the giddy herd with careless "My powerful arm fhall all thy foes controul, And endless glory crown thy heav'n- Yield then thy heart to him, no longer rove Seek firit the Saviour's grace if thou True peace with God, or happiness below; Sav'd from the pow'r of fin's detefted reign, Thy gracious Comforter fhall lead thee on There thall be fhining hofts unite to fing The reigning grace of Christ, their God, and King; And with increafing joy the theme pro- While ceafclefs hallelujahs fwell the fong! "O fay, can all of ye fuftain I fearch'd the learned schools in vain, And fome would pious grief deride; I try'd by arduous works anew To make for paft defects amends, Each vow in fruitless forrow ends; I drank of pleasure's sparkling cup, And overwheim'd my heart with care. 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, "I can alone thy fins forgive. I faw the purple current Яow; ALIQUIS, ERRATA-IN fome copies of our last Number the following errata efcaped cor rection. for Ged read God. 69 read the name of the Otaheitan Deity uniformly Eatora. 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. |