Paraphrases From Scripture. MATT. vii. 12.

Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.     Precept divine! to earth in mercy given,     O sacred rule of action, worthy heaven!     Whose pitying love ordain'd the bless'd command     To bind our nature in a firmer band;     Enforce each human suff'rer's strong appeal,     And teach the selfish breast what others feel;     Wert thou the guide of life, mankind might know     A soft exemption from the worst of woe;     No more the powerful would the weak oppress,     But tyrants learn the luxury to bless;     No more would slav'ry bind a hopeless train,     Of human victims, in her galling chain;     Mercy the hard, the cruel heart would move     To soften mis'ry by the deeds of Jove;     And av'rice from his hoarded treasures give     Unask'd, the liberal boon, that want might live!     The impious tongue of falshood then would cease     To blast, with dark suggestions, virtue's peace;     No more would spleen, or passion banish rest     And plant a pang in fond affection's breast;     By one harsh word, one alter'd look, destroy     Her peace, and wither every op'ning joy;     Scarce can her tongue the captious wrong explain,     The slight offence which gives so deep a pain!     Th' affected ease that slights her starting tear,     The words whose coldness kills from lips so dear;     The hand she loves, alone can point the dart,     Whose hidden sting could wound no other heart -     These, of all pains the sharpest we endure,     The breast which now inflicts, would spring to cure. -     No more deserted genius then, would fly     To breathe in solitude his hopeless sigh;     No more would Fortune's partial smile debase     The spirit, rich in intellectual grace;     Who views unmov'd from scenes where pleasures bloom,     The flame of genius sunk in mis'ry's gloom;     The soul heav'n form'd to soar, by want deprest,     Nor heeds the wrongs that pierce a kindred breast. -     Thou righteous Law! whose clear and useful light     Sheds on the mind a ray divinely bright;     Condensing in one rule whate'er the sage     Has proudly taught, in many a labour'd page;     Bid every heart thy hallow'd voice revere,     To justice sacred, and to nature dear!