Religion--always lovely-- Appear'd more lovely still, While with its heavenly spirit, She strove my heart to fill. Of vice the awful features Her faithful pencil drew, And from the horrid image My frighted eyes withdrew. O! had I wisely cherish'd These seeds, so timely sown, The tears of vain repentance These eyes had never known. In all the charms of virtue, Unfallen I had stood, By keen remorse unwither'd, Respected by the good. O! false, alluring phantoms, Which led my feet astray, In paths to ruin leading, From wisdom's peaceful way. Yet is maternal culture Most salutary still; The frost of vice may wither The germ it cannot kill. The tide of sinful pleasure Its poisonous wave may roll, And long the blighting tempest May chill the youthful soul; It cannot kill--no, _never_-- (Then, mothers, don't despair!) The seeds of moral virtue, So early planted there. Some heaven-directed sun-beams Will shine around, and then, Warm'd by its genial influence, They'll vegetate again. My subject, how it brightens! Be fired, my soul, anew, In numbers sweet as heaven, The ope'ning theme pursue. Farewell, my sinful murmurs. Farewell, my sighs and tears; Farewell, thou night of horror, The morn of joy appears! The beams of heavenly goodness, How bright they shine around, A sea of living pleasure, Where all my griefs are drown'd! From this glad hour, for ever, Be gratitude my song; My moments, fraught with transport, Shall joyful dance along. The mercy of my Saviour, What angel tongue can tell, It blazes thro' creation, And cheers the night of hell! Around his throne in glory It wakes immortal song, And rolls its boundless ocean Eternity along. In all my wand'rings from Him, This mercy held me up, And in my hours of sorrow Pour'd nectar in my cup. And when that stingless pleasure Which satisfies the mind, Thro' devious paths _forbidden_, I'd rov'd in vain to find; His Spirit linger'd round me, And prompted my return, And with a sense of pardon Inspir'd my heart to burn. O! love, all thought transcending! Love, boundless as the sea! Encircling every creature, Throughout eternity! On this I'll dwell for ever, Nor sigh for freedom more-- My heart, my tongue--all nature, This boundless love adore! My heart shall be a temple Of never ceasing praise, And ev'ry morn and evening Repeat the gladsome lays. O! thou great Source of being, In whom alone I live, Accept my heart; tho' sinful, 'Tis all a wretch can give.