cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

Render to all their due, tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Study to be quiet, and to do your own business. Set your affections on things above, and not on things on the earth. Strive to enter in at the strait gate. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Yes, he cometh, he cometh quickly; to call all men to account for the deeds done in the body. And be assured the question then will be, not whether you were an aristocrat or a democrat, whether you were for this or that form of government, or were of this or that political party; but whether you have been a faithful servant of God, a meek disciple of Christ, a well-wisher to all men, and a friend to your own immortal soul?" Such should be my sermon. And I re

peat it again, the generality if not all of them, would, I am persuaded, cordially say, Amen.

The Churchman replied, I am satisfied, Sir, with your account of the Dissenters, and am fully convinced that their principles are founded in reason, and are in perfect unison with the doctrines and precepts of Christianity. You yield then, said the rest of the company the palm. I do, said he, with great cheerfulness. And whatever may have been my former prejudices against the Dissenters, I assure you, Sir, whenever in future I shall fall in company with any one of that persuasion, I shall presume, till I have full evidence to the contrary, that he is a sensible, peaceable, and pious man. The rest of the company with great good nature joined in this conclusion. And so our discourse on Dissenting-politics closed.

Thus you have, my friend, the issue of this business, and I am persuaded that with the reasoning thus stated to you, though a Churchman, you will not protest against the award given. If these long letters, on a subject perfectly new to you, have afforded you any amusement and instruction, I shall be happy; and you are at liberty to make what use of them you please.

I am yours, &c.

THE

BIRD OF PARADISE.

Ан me! I've lost my liberty;

And in this cage

My active mind

Is close confin'd:
Nor can I hope again

My birthright to obtain,
Till this my gilded tenement shall be

Destroy'd by some disaster or by age.

But-how came I here?

Who was it that depriv'd my heaven-born soul,
Of the freedom she enjoy'd

In the Paradise of God;

Where no base passion could my peace controul,
Or in my breast create a fear?

'Twas Satan, aye, 'twas he

That robb'd me of my liberty:

His artful snares th' insidious Fowler laid,

And to this captive state my innocence betray'd.

Cruel enemy to try,

When I fear'd no danger nigh,

Thus to deceive and ruin me,

With basest arts of treachery!

But boast not, Satan, thou thy point hast gain'd.
Heav'n permits it so to be,

That all the world may one day see

Justice triumphant over perfidy :

For know that Christ the conquest hath obtain'd. Yes, and he'll quickly come,

And publicly pronounce thy doom.

So shall the horror of this cruel deed,

By which thy malice had design'd,
To draw down vengeance on mankind,
With double fury light on thy devoted head.

In the mean while I sit,
And here in groans,

And silent moans,

Lament my 'prison'd state :

Ah me! I once was us'd to mount and fly,
Up thro' the trackless regions of the sky;
And as I pass'd along

In sweetly pleasing strains,
To trill my warbling song,

All o'er the etherial plains.

But now condemn'd within this cage to lie,
I droop the wing,

Refuse to sing,

And sighing wish to die.

But why despair?

Come try thy voice, and stretch thy wing; A bird within a cage may chirp and sing, And taste what Freedom is e'en while she's here. Strike up some cheerful note;

With fond desire

Peep through the wire:

Thy keeper 'll quickly come and let thee out.

This, oh this, is happy news!

Now to sing I can't refuse;

These shall be the notes I chuse :

"Satan the cruel Fowler put me in

"And fast enclos'd me round with sense and sin;

"But Satan cannot keep me here;

"For not to him the cage belongs,

""Tis Christ's, and he shall have my songs,

-And scarcely know

What real freedom is.

The little circuit of my cage

Doth all my thoughts and time engage: With heedless feet from perch to perch I hop; And passing round,

Pleas'd with the sound

Of tinkling bell,

Hung o'er my cell,

My nobler notes I drop,

Ah! how deprav'd this wretched heart of mine, So soon to lose its taste for joys divine!

Busied thus with motes and straws,

Idle nonsense, empty joys,

Without a hope without a fear

Of pleasures or of dangers near,
Asleep I fall:

Fatal security!

But hark! I hear my keeper call.
Aye, 'tis his voice: now I awake,
Fancy I feel my prison shake,

And dire destruction's nigh.
Affrighted, round my cage I cast my eye,

And fluttering to and fro,

Not knowing where to go,
Attempt to make my escape but cannot fly.

Ah! silly heart,

(I fetch a sigh,

And sighing cry,)

Thus foolishly to part

With noble hopes, substantial joys,

For airy phantoms, gilded toys,

Trifles, the fond pursuit of which unman's my soul, And leaves me to the sport of every fancied fear, That would my peace controul.

"Where reason and the passions ne'er shall part."

'Tis Jesus that speaks! how charming his name! At the sound of his voice,

Oh how I rejoice

And kindle all into a flame!

I leap and I fly,

And in extasy cry,

Vain world I bid thee adieu

I'll wait not for age,

To pull down my cage,

:

But fearless of danger, will force my way through.

Check thy passions foolish man;

The longest life is but a span.
Be contented here to stay,
Another hour, another day;
To feel a joy, to bear a pain,

To do some good, some good t' obtain.
Think not the moments long heaven hath decreed;
Impatience cannot lash them into speed.
With meek submission wait the approaching hour:
The wheel of time will quickly whirl about,
And then thy keeper 'll come and ope the door,
Put in his hand and gently take thee out.

The day arrives.

Now thro' the wire
With strong desire,

I cast my wishful eyes.

I see him come; yes, yes, 'tis he!

Hither he hastes to set me free.