With years oppress’d, with sorrows worn, Dejected, harass’d, sick, forlorn, To Thee, O _God_, I pray; To Thee my withered hands arise; To Thee I lift my failing eyes: Oh! cast me not away! _Sir R. Grant._ Who spoke creation into birth, Arch’d the broad heavens, and spread the rolling earth; Who form’d a pathway for the obedient sun, And bade the seasons in their circles run; Who fill’d the air, the forest, and the flood, And gave man all for comfort, or for good. _Charles Sprague._ GOLD. But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as _gold_.--Job, xxiii. 10. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than _gold_, yea, than much fine _gold_.--Psalm xix. 9, 10. The trial of your faith, being much more precious that of _gold_ that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ.--I. Peter, i. 7. I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure _gold_, like unto clear glass.--Revelation, xxi. 2, 18. Never exceed thy income. Youth may make Even with the year; but age if it will hit, Shoots a bow short, and lessens still its stake, As the day lessens, and his life with it. Thy children, kindred, friends, upon thee call; Before thy journey fairly part with all. Yet in thy thriving still misdoubt some evil; Lest gaining gain on thee, and make thee dim To all things else. Wealth is the conjurer’s devil; Whom when he thinks he hath, the devil hath him. _Gold_ thou mayest safely touch; but if it stick Unto thy hands, it woundeth to the quick. _Herbert._ To purchase heaven has _gold_ the power? Can _gold_ remove the mortal hour? In life can love be bought with _gold_? Are friendship’s pleasures to be sold? No--all that’s worth a wish--a thought-- Fair virtue gives, unbrib’d, unbought. Cease then on trash thy hopes to bind, Let nobler views engage thy mind. _Dr. Johnson._ Oh, bane of man! seducing cheat! Can man, weak man, thy power defeat? _Gold_ banish’d honour from the mind, And only left the name behind; _Gold_ sow’d the world with ev’ry ill, _Gold_ taught the murderer’s sword to kill; ’Twas _gold_ instructed coward hearts In treachery’s more pernicious arts. _Gay._