THE UNIVERSAL PRAYER. BY POPE. FATHER of all! in every age, By saint, by savage, and by sage, Thou great First Cause, least understood; Yet gave me, in this dark estate, What conscience dictates to be done, Or warns me not to do, This, teach me, more than hell, to shun, That, more than heaven, pursue. What blessings thy free bounty gives, Let me not cast away; For God is paid when man receives, Yet not to earth's contracted span Let not this weak, unknowing hand If I am right, thy grace impart, Save me alike from foolish pride, At aught thy wisdom has denied, Teach me to feel another's wo, To hide the faults I see: Mean though I am, not wholly so, Through this day's life to death. This day, be bread and peace my lot: To thee, whose temple is all space, THE CREATOR'S WORKS PROCLAIM HIM. BY ADDISON. THE spacious firmament on high, With all the blue, ethereal sky, And spangled heavens-a shining frame, Their great original proclaim. The unwearied sun, from day to day, Soon as the evening shades prevail, Whilst all the stars that round her burn, What, though in solemn silence all nto day uttereth speech, and ge. There is no speech nor heard. Their line is gone out rds to the end of the world. or the sun, which is as a brideand rejoiceth as a strong man from the end of the heaven, t: and there is nothing hid E the Lord is perfect, convertLord is sure, making wise the are right, rejoicing the heart: pure, enlightening the eyes. uring for ever: the judgments altogether. More to be demuch fine gold: sweeter also Moreover by them is thy serthem there is great reward. cleanse thou me from secret lso from presumptuous sins; me: then shall I be upright, great transgression. Let the ation of my heart, be acceptngth, and my redeemer. CHAP. XII. the days of thy youth, while rs draw nigh, when thou shalt while the sun, or the light, or kened, nor the clouds return ekeepers of the house shall all bow themselves, and the use the preacher was wise, he still taugh ge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out any proverbs. The preacher sought to find s: and that which was written was upright, The words of the wise are as goads, an by the masters of assemblies, which are g herd. And further, by these, my son, b making many books there is no end: and iness of the flesh. the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear ommandments: for this is the whole duty of bring every work into judgment, with every s - it be good, or whether it be evil. ISAIAH, CHAP. LV. one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, an money; come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, k without money and without price. Wherefo ey for that which is not bread? and your la h satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, hich is good, and let your soul delight itself in e your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your nd I will make an everlasting covenant with e mercies of David. Behold, I have given him the people, a leader and commander to the pe 1 shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and new not thee shall run unto thee because of the d for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glo he Lord while he may be found, call ye upon righteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the firtree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle-tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. MATTHEW, CHAP. VI.-VII. AND seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain : and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: and he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit; for their's is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for their's is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that |