"Yet gave me, in this dark estate,

To see the good from ill;

And, binding nature fast in fate,
Left free the human will.

"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; To enjoy is to obey.

"Yet not to earth's contracted span Thy goodness let me bound,

Or think Thee Lord alone of man, When thousand worlds are round.

"Let not this weak, unknowing hand Presume thy bolts to throw,

And deal damnation round the land

On each Ijudge thy foe.

"If I am right, thy grace impart
Still in the right to stay;
If I am wrong, O, teach my heart
To find that better way!

"Save me alike from foolish pride,
Or impious discontent,

At aught thy wisdom has denied,
Or aught thy goodness lent.

"Teach me to feel another's woe,
To hide the fault I see;

That mercy I to others show,
That mercy show to me.

"Mean though I am, not wholly so, Since quickened by thy breath; O, lead me wheresoe'er I go,

Through this day's life or death.

"This day be bread and peace my lot;

All else beneath the sun

Thou know'st if best bestowed or not, And let thy will be done!

"To Thee, whose temple is all space,
Whose altar, earth, sea, skies-
One chorus let all beings raise!
All Nature's incense rise!"

-Alexander Pope, 1688-1744.

XXXIV.

LAUDS AND BENEDICTIONS.

"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."-Phil. iv. 23.

"The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amen."- Phil. iv. 7.

"To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,

The God whom we adore,

Be glory, as it was, is now,

And shall be evermore. Amen."

"Now the Lord of peace himself give us peace

always by all means. The Lord be with you all. Amen."-II. Thes. iii. 16.

"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore. Amen." II. Cor. xiii. 14.

"The Lord bless us and keep us; the Lord make his face to shine upon us, and be gracious unto us; the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon us, and give us peace. Num. vi. 24-26.

Amen."

"The strain upraise of joy and praise,

Alleluia!

To the glory of their King

Shall the ransomed people sing

Alleluia!

And the choirs that dwell on high

Shall re-echo through the sky,

Alleluia!

They through the fields of Paradise who roam, The blessed ones, repeat through that bright home,

Alleluia!