To please him none would foolishly forbear Or food, or rest, or itch in shirts of hair, Or deem it merit to believe or teach What reason contradicts, within its reach; None would fierce zeal for piety mistake, Or malice for whatever tenet's sake, Or think salvation to one sect confined, And Heaven too narrow to contain mankind. * * * * * No servile tenets would admittance find Destructive of the rights of humankind; Of power divine, hereditary right, And non-resistance to a tyrant's might. For sure that all should thus for one be cursed, Is but great nature's edict just reversed. No moralists then, righteous to excess, Would show fair Virtue in so black a dress, That they, like boys, who some feigned sprite array, First from the spectre fly themselves away: No preachers in the terrible delight, But choose to win by reason, not affright; Not, conjurors like, in fire and brimstone dwell, And draw each moving argument from Hell. * * * * * No more applause would on ambition wait, And laying waste the world be counted great, But one good-natured act more praises gain, Than armies overthrown, and thousands slain; No more would brutal rage disturb our peace, But envy, hatred, war, and discord cease; Our own and others' good each hour employ, And all things smile with universal joy; Virtue with Happiness, her consort, joined, Would regulate and bless each human mind, And man be what his Maker first designed. PHILIP DODDRIDGE SURSUM Ye golden lamps of heaven, farewell, With all your feeble light; Farewell, thou ever-changing moon, Pale empress of the night. And thou refulgent orb of day, In brighter flames arrayed; My soul that springs beyond thy sphere, No more demands thine aid. Ye stars are but the shining dust Of my divine abode, The pavement of those heavenly courts Where I shall reign with God. The Father of eternal light Shall there His beams display; Nor shall one moment's darkness mix With that unvaried day. No more the drops of piercing grief Shall swell into mine eyes; Nor the meridian sun decline Amidst those brighter skies. WILLIAM SOMERVILLE FROM THE CHASE