True Pleasure in Divine Meditation

Come, sacred contemplation, heavenly guest,
And bring the muse to bless the lonely hour.
Unbind my fetter'd thoughts, and bid them rise
Above these low, dull, tiresome, empty scenes,
To nobler objects; spread the mental feast,
A rich variety. The heaven -born mind
Should never meanly stoop to feed on trash,
Nor mingle with the appetites of sense.
The heaven-born mind requires immortal food?
Such food as earth, with all her fancied sweets.
Can never furnish; all her fancied sweets
Are bitterness; her most substantial food
Is airy chaff, and only starves the mind.
Ye happy spirits, blest inhabitants
Of paradise, Oh! could you aid my flight
To your abodes, or bring a blissful taste
Of your divine enjoyments down to earth;
How would my soul disdain the joys of sense,
And look on all the good below the skies
Unworthy of her care! — alas, in vain
My thoughts extend their feeble flutt'ring wings;
A misty gloom hangs heavy all around;
I sink to earth — which yet my soul disclaims,
Unworthy of her birth!—.see while I gaze
Intent, its scenes in quick succession pass;
Each gay delusive form, which seem'd to please,
Is gone; and nought remains but sad reflection.
And is there nothing permanent but grief?
No real good in all the varied scenes,
Which tire and pain the disappointed heart?
Yes, sad reflection, though in sable robe
Array'd, with mournful aspect, is my friend,
And brings me real good; else my fond heart
Might still pursue in vain these empty shews,
Nor stay to ask for pleasures more sincere.
Then let me listen to her friendly lore,
And learn the just, the real estimate
Of all below the skies. — But O let faith,
And hope, celestial visitants, be here;
And cheer my soul with some delightful views
Of true, substantial, undecaying good
In fair perspective; distant scenes of bliss
Immortal, far beyond the reach of sense.
Let faith ascend with heaven-directed flight,
And smiling hope sit fast upon her wings,
And bear my thoughts, and bear my heart on high.

O thou supreme, eternal source of good!
Of good, which knows no shadow of decay!
Wilt thou, all-gracious, beam one heavenly smile,
Break through the gloom, and raise my grov'ling soul;
And with resistless, sweet attraction, draw
To thee, the centre of immortal joys!
O bid my faith, and bid my hope ascend;
For on thy vital smile alone, they live,
Thy favour is the food, the life of souls;
This only can afford sincere delight,
And give a relish to inferior sweets:
Without it, all creation is a blank
A dreary void! — O could my spirit dwell
Beneath thy cheering smiles, feast on thy love,
And in full view adore thy bright perfections;
This would be life indeed, a heaven below!
This only can refine the joys of earth,
And sweeten all its cares; thus nature's charms
Would wear a pleasing aspect, while my soul
Should trace the radiant footsteps of her Lord
In every lovely scene which nature yields;
And all that charms the eye, the ear, or taste.
Be fairer, sweeter, as it flows from thee.