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S. AUGUST.

The sufficiency of my merit is to know that my merit is not sufficient.

ANON.

The ray of hope that breaks upon the benighted soul, is cheering as the morning star to the sick prisoner languishing for the time of the warder's rising ; he hopes once again to be placed under the canopy of heaven.

ISAIAH, chap. 9, v. 19.

Through the wrath of the Lord of Hosts is the land darkened.

IB. chap. 59, v. 6.

Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works.

IB. chap. 60, v. 1.

Arise, shine; for thylight is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.

1 JOHN, chap. 2, v. 8.

Darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
EPH. chap. 2, v. 9.

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

EPIG.

What though thy sun gives warmth and light and life!

Does he not hatch the dying maggot-fly?

My Sun revives benighted souls! which rife

Live through a bliss-prepared eternity!

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EMBLEM II.

MARK, chap. 8, v. 36.

What shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

I.

WHITHER away, fond Boy?-thy fling of pleasure Thou hast enjoyed-without control or measure : Thy whim exhausts not !—and the World but seems A willing agent, to thy waking dreams.

But will it always prove as willing as it seems?

II.

Though calm and sunshine-and the gentle breezes
Attending, fan thee-and the gliding pleases-
Though confidence be buoyant, and thy skill

Be surety 'gainst a common chance of ill :

A blast may rend thy sail—a wave thy fortunes spill.

C

III.

Unthwarted hankerings sure have turn'd thy brain—
What! seek new pleasures o'er so foul a main?
Thy hollow bark—should zephyrs turn to gusts,
Will shift its ballast-and the fool that trusts
Its specious loyalty-be overwhelmed in lusts.

IV.

And art thou still of mind to venture out

Beyond thy ken? Young Steersman! put about

Before the Pharos sinks-be not so keck!

Thy unrestrained career may meet a check

I'th' sea-although on land thou could'st not break thy

neck.

V.

Poor, blind, inflated Boy! thou dost not see
The rocks and shoals, that almost stare at thee;
Charybdis yawns—and Scylla's iron shore

In vain rejects the waves, with loudest roar—
Thou hast no ear; no eye, to shun or to explore.

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