What is this mighty Breath, ye sages, say,
That, in powerful language, felt, not heard,
Instructs the fowls of heaven; and through their breast
These arts of love diffuses? What, but God?
Inspiring God! who, boundless Spirit all,
And unremitting Energy, pervades.
Adjusts, sustains, and agitates the whole.
_The Seasons: Spring_. J. THOMSON.
The Somewhat which we name but cannot know,
Ev'n as we name a star and only see
Its quenchless flashings forth, which ever show
And ever hide him, and which are not he.
_Wordsworth's Grave, I_. W. WATSON.
A Deity believed, is joy begun;
A Deity adored, is joy advanced;
A Deity beloved, is joy matured.
Each branch of piety delight inspires.
_Night Thoughts, Night VIII_. DR. E. YOUNG.
Thou, my all!
My theme! my inspiration! and my crown!
My strength in age! my rise in low estate!
My soul's ambition, pleasure, wealth!--my world!
My light in darkness! and my life in death!
My boast through time! bliss through eternity!
Eternity, too short to speak thy praise!
Or fathom thy profound of love to man!
_Night Thoughts, Night IV_. DR. E. YOUNG.
Happy the man who sees a God employed
In all the good and ill that checker life.
_The Task, Bk. II_. W. COWPER.
O thou, whose certain eye foresees
The fixed event of fate's remote decrees.
_Odyssey, Bk. IV_. HOMER. _Trans. of_ POPE.
From thee, great God, we spring, to thee we tend,--
Path, motive, guide, original, and end.
_The Rambler, No. 7_. DR. S. JOHNSON.
Whatever is, is in its causes just.
_Oedipus, Act. iii. Sc. 1_. J. DRYDEN.
He that doth the ravens feed
Yea, providently caters for the sparrow,
Be comfort to my age!
_As You Like It, Act. ii. Sc. 3_. SHAKESPEARE.
Who sees with equal eye, as God of all,
A hero perished, or a sparrow fall,
Atoms or systems into ruin hurled,
And now a bubble burst, and now a world.
_Essay on Man, Epistle I_. A. POPE.
Yet I shall temper so
Justice with mercy, as may illustrate most
Them fully satisfied, and Thee appease.
_Paradise Lost, Bk. X_. MILTON.
God, from a beautiful necessity, is Love.
_Of Immortality_. M.F. TUPPER.
Forth from his dark and lonely hiding-place,
(Portentous sight!) the owlet Atheism,
Sailing on obscene wings athwart the noon,
Drops his blue-fringed lids, and holds them close,
And, hooting at the glorious Sun in Heaven,
Cries out, "Where is it?"
_Fears in Solitude_. S.T. COLERIDGE.
God sendeth and giveth, both mouth and the meat.
_Points of Good Husbandry_. T. TUSSER.
'T is Providence alone secures
In every change both mine and yours.
_A Fable_. W. COWPER.
Give what thou canst, without thee we are poor;
And with thee rich, take what thou wilt away.
_The Task: Winter Morning Walk_. W. COWPER.
That God, which ever lives and loves,
One God, one law, one element,
And one far-off divine event,
To which the whole creation moves.
_In Memoriam; Conclusion_. A. TENNYSON.