The Path of Life

What is this world with all its gay delights?
A gloomy wilderness of wide extent,
Where many winding paths perplex the choice,
And lead the unwary traveller's feet astray.
Here smiles an easy smooth-descending road,
In verdure cloath'd, and spread with blooming flow'rs
The scene how fair! — but ruin waits its end.
There rugged looks the path, thick set with thorns,
Where many toil their weary hours away
In search of happiness amid the dust.
What crouds of wretched, erring minds I see,
Still disappointed, yet persisting still,
All strangers to the way which leads to rest!
A thousand dangers, and a thousand snares
Attend their steps; before them is a scene
Of various grief; a labyrinth of woe;
A dark, damp vale of tears. Though now and then
Prosperity's gay flatt'ring sunshine smiles,
Its brightest day is short, declining fast,
If not o'ercast with sable clouds at noon.
And oft its brightest day more fatal proves
Than dark adversity's tempestuous night.
It shines with sickly ray, and spreads around
Malignant ills; malignant to the mind,
Stubborn disease, which med'cine cannot cure.
And if adversity's cold, wintry blast
Invade the shiv'ring heart, then comfort dies,
And solitary hope just lives, to warm
With some faint gleams of possible relief.

Thus pond'ring o'er the gloomy scenes of life,
The pensive muse attun'd her plaintive song.
Her eye dejected fix'd upon the ground,
Where thorny cares spontaneous rise, she sigh'd,
And wish'd a fairer prospect! smiling hope
Soft-whisp'ring, bids her lift her downcast eye,
And view the wild attentive. Now she sees
A beam etherial, dawning o'er the gloom
With cheering lustre, permanent and mild.
'Tis mercy! saving mercy! she can shield
From every ill, the trembling, trusting soul.
Beneath the shelter of her guardian wing
Not gay prosperity's malignant glow
Shall scorch, nor cold adversity shall freeze.
Amid the devious labyrinth she marks
The path divine, where heav'nly wisdom leads
Her favour'd vot'ries; narrow path, but safe.
There real pleasures rise, and sacred peace
Attend their steps; if thorny cares too near
Inflict a wound, kind mercy instant pours
A sovereign balm, to ease the burning pain.
There walks humility with cautious step;
On wisdom, gracious guide, she leans secure.
A thousand lurking snares her feet escape,
And o'er her head a thousand dangers fly,
Fly harmless. Patience there, and cheerful hope
Walk hand in hand; and faith with piercing eye
Looks forward through the shades, and joyful marks
Her journey's end, the radiant seats of day.

"Here fix your choice;" immortal wisdom cries:
"To you, O sons of men, to you I call:
"O turn from erring folly. Fatal guide;
"Her way is danger, and it ends in death.
"Turn to my path, here only can you find
"Content, which wretched thousands seek in vain.
"My path is safety; and it leads to life,
"To life immortal, in the realms of bliss."

Indulgent mercy wafts the heav'nly sound,
Reviving to my heart. Yes, glorious guide,
To thy unerring conduct I resign
My steps, and bless the ever-gracious pow'r,
Which beam'd a ray of heav'n o'er this dark wild,
And led my feet to thy celestial path,
The path of peace, and life, and endless joy.