On Reason

Reason, the glory of the human frame,
Eye of the mind, the stamp of heav'n impressed
On man alone, of all the various ranks
Of being, which the great Creator form'd,
To people numberless this earthly globe,
To man alone he gave this ray divine,
This emanation of the deity:
A gift of countless value! rais'd by this
Above his fellow worms, and taught to view
His maker's hand in all his wonderous works;
To trace his glories, his divine perfections,
And worship with accepted adoration:
Fitted by this for converse with his God.
Amazing thought! the distance, how immense,
Betwixt infinity, and humble clay!

Yet, thus exalted, man, ungrateful man
Rebell'd, and spurn'd his Maker's righteous law;
And, in his just resentment, God withdrew
His blissful presence from his wretched offspring.
Then reason, heav'nly flame, with faded lustre
Glow'd faintly, its primaeval brightness gone,
Sullied and clouded with surrounding guilt;
And, feebly glimm'ring with uncertain light,
No more it mounts sublime, to earth confin'd.
Weak, erring guide, no more it points the way
To happiness, but leaves the mind bewilder'd,
And lost in paths of danger, guilt, and death.

But light divine breaks from the sacred word,
And cheers the darksome gloom; while heav'n-born
The dawning glory views, and soars aloft.

Borne on her wings, Hope cheerful smiles; and lo
The clouds disperse, the prospect brightens round;
A glimpse of heav'n appears, of bliss immortal
Reserv'd for mortal man; and joys unknown,
Blest fruit of the Redeemer's dying pains,
Pardon, and peace, and life, laid up in him
For guilty rebels! Reconcil'd through him,
With his bright presence God revisits earth!
Transporting view! lost happiness restor'd!

Weak-sighted reason upward rises too,
Thus aided, and pursues the shining tract
With cheerful wing, though slow; and glad adores
The dazzling glories, which she cannot reach
With steady light: yet with delightful toil
By gradual steps ascends, and joyful sees
The bright perfections of the Deity,
In humbler scenes display'd, where'er she turns
Her raptur'd eye; and blest employment finds
For never-ceasing praise and grateful homage.

Rekindled now from heav'n, her dying lamp
Glows with increasing lustre: Grace assisting.
Her empire o'er the mind she now resumes;
Her gentle sway the warring passions own;
Her voice their wildest tumults can controul,
And tune them all to harmony and peace.

Nor is her pow'r to single minds confin'd;
Senates and nations own her sov'reign rule,
And boast their different governments and laws
Inspir'd by her, and founded on her dictates.
The bliss of civil and of social life
Depends on her; without her all would sink
To discord, anarchy, and wild confusion.
Each individual, through the various ranks,
Whether of public or of private life,
To her his safety, peace and pleasure owes.
Her influence soothes the cares of life, and shews
The use and value of its num'rous blessings.

Robb'd of her cheering light, what woes attend
On helpless wretched man! self-preservation.
By gracious heav'n implanted in his frame,
Oft in the hand of providence a guard
Amid surrounding dangers, then forsakes him.

Were reason's beam withdrawn, life would be death.
Existence a mere blank; — the sweets of life
Be tasteless, and its blessings unenjoy'd;
Fame, pleasure, riches, useless all, and vain;
And health and friends, (dearest of comforts!) sink
O'erwhelm'd in dark oblivion: dreadful state,
Recoiling nature trembles at the thought!
O may my soul with gratitude sincere,
And constant praise, adore the God of mercy,
Who gives this blessing still to shine on me.
Lord, raise my gratitude, and tune my praise
To thy almighty goodness, which bestows
On me this gift of reason, and continues
Its cheering ray; and may thy pow'rful grace
Assist me, O my God, still to devote
Reason, and life, and all my pow'rs to thee,
Till this frail transient scene shall close in death,
Then may I rise, by angel-guards convoy'd,
To the bright mansions of eternal bliss.
There nobler praise, and worship all refin'd,
Unnumber'd hearts, unnumber'd tongues employ;
And joys unknown to mortals. — Reason there
Shall shine with perfect and unclouded lustre
And all my pow'rs, exalted and renew'd,
Glow with immortal vigour. — There my voice?
Tun'd to the strains of paradise, shall join
With saints and seraphs, in transporting songs
To thee, the source of everlasting joy.