O should the inclement lightning strike me dead,

United sheets of sulphurous flames my bed
Surely must deck, where I must justly bear

E ternal torments, horrors, and despair;

O may we ne'er see that infernal place,
No solace there, no glimmering rays of grace ;—
E ternity! I tremble at the word,

Venture yourselves, my friends, upon the Lord,
A lenient balm he has to heal our smart,
Nought but his love can melt th' obdurate heart,
S eek fervently in time his free rich grace,.
His love implore, his righteousness and peace;
Embrace my friends the glorious gospel plan,
A Saviour came to rescue sinful man,

The bless'd Redeemer who from sin was free,

H as died to save vile wretches such as we

we,

Delight in him ye saints, admire his pow'r

Unite to praise, in every trying hour,

Revere heaven's sov'reignty and yet rejoice,
Incline your ear to this majestic voice,

No more may guilty fears the mind molest,

Grace when prevailing cheers the languid breast, 'T is time to seek for mercy and repent,

Heaven's threat'ning voice may make hard hearts relent
A gift some have received, and it misus'd,

Talents some had, but greatly them abus'd,
Dreadful's the great supreme Almighty power,
Indeed we are but creatures of an hour,

Soon can he crush a num'rous throng to dust,
My soul adore his power,-in Jesus trust.

A las! one potent word might strike us dead,
Lifeless and cold t'embrace our pulverous bed.
The lucid flashes how they strike the eye!

Hark! how loud bursts of thunder rend the sky,
Unusual scene, yet why thus droops my heart?
None can us harm but sin's delusive art.

D read sov'reign take these gloomy fears away,

Enlighten us with an all-cheering ray,

Reverse

the scene and change the night to day;

Should storms of seven-fold thunder then arise,
Tear the strong pillows of the vaulted skies,

Or from its centre should this earth remove,.

May rev'rence deep possess my thoughtful breast,

Replete with zeal and true poetic fire,

May every sentiment be well express'd.

I'd chant the wonders of that power supreme,

Who fram'd the earth and spread the starry sky,

That power by which, lost sinners to redeem,

Emanuel came, and even deign'd to die.

Th' eternal deity great power exerts,

In saving souls from the devouring lake,
And O what horrors seize poor trembling hearts,
When from on high it does in thunder speak..

The ninth of August! O tremendous thought!
What words the horrors of that night can paint ?
Such wonders by that mighty power were wrought,

As almost caus'd the stoutest heart to faint.

The lucid flashes with resplendid blaze,

Loud sounds succeeding, shone o'er Halstead town,

Which struck the mind with tremor and amaze,

While vivid fire with rapid speed came down;

With such velocity it did descend,

It seized a new built barn with hay well stor'd,

Neighbours alarm'd soon came to assist their friend, But left the event to the all-powerful Lord.

A dreadful conflagration t'was indeed,

Th' dismal sight a numerous concourse view'd, Who with much work and engines did proceed, Till they at length the raging fire subdu'd.

Supplied his well-proved friends with liquors clear,

While gazing multitudes around him throng'd.

The Author though at Evans-Heath that night, Had thoughts some days revolving in his breast, To walk to Halstead at the dawn of light,

And in that barn his usual place to rest;