On A Similar Occasion. For The Year 1793.

De sacris autem hc sit una sententia, ut conserventur.     - Cic. de Leg.     But let us all concur in this one sentiment, that things sacred be inviolate.     He lives who lives to God alone,     And all are dead beside;     For other source than God is none     Whence life can be supplied.     To live to God is to requite     His love as best we may:     To make his precepts our delight,     His promises our stay.     But life, within a narrow ring     Of giddy joys comprised,     Is falsely named, and no such thing,     But rather death disguised.     Can life in them deserve the name,     Who only live to prove     For what poor toys they can disclaim     An endless life above?     Who, much diseased, yet nothing feel;     Much menaced, nothing dread;     Have wounds, which only God can heal,     Yet never ask his aid?     Who deem his house a useless place,     Faith, want of common sense;     And ardour in the Christian race,     A hypocrites pretence?     Who trample order; and the day     Which God asserts his own     Dishonour with unhallowd play,     And worship chance alone?     If scorn of Gods commands, impressd     On word and deed, imply     The better part of man unblessd     With life that cannot die;     Such want it, and that want uncured     Till man resigns his breath,     Speaks him a criminal, assured     Of everlasting death.     Sad period to a pleasant course!     Yet so will God repay     Sabbaths profaned without remorse,     And mercy cast away.