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"The path of the just is as the shining light."

BEHOLD the glorious orb of day,
First glimmering thro' th' opposing hills,
Now hasting to the noon-tide ray,
With lustre-bright'ning as he climbs.

Such is the saint, and such his course,
One glory and one God they own;
Their warmth diffusive like its source,
Like pure their light, their influence one.
From faith just opening into day,
And hope from death but one remove,
Thro' mists and clouds he cuts his way,
And struggles into realms above.,

Insatiate for a Saviour's grace,
His grace the pole-star and the prize;
His love impelling to the race,
By love attracted to the skies.

Immur'd in earth, inur'd to sin,
His steps incipient languid move,
He tires, and doubts the birth divine,
Lusts, and fears lost the path of love.

But daily to a higher goal
Advancing, leaves some lust behind,
Or steady mounting to the pole,
Breaks thro' the vapors of the mind.

With knowledge, love and joy increase,
With love and joy, a warmer zeal,
With zeal, his faith and hope and peace,
Faith hope and peace of God's own seal.

Yet ah! frail saint, by pride allur'd,
How oft doth sin renew thy fears?
Thy faith and light and hope obscur'd,
And peace and joy exchang'd for tears!

How oft doth thy corruption brood
An offspring fatal to thy flight;
Divert to paths with dangers strew'd,
And leave thee in primeval night!

But mark the glory of the skies,
Like thee once languid in his course;
He rose, and thou like him shalt rise,
Renew'd thy strength, increas'd thy force.
Retiring, broken at defeat,

Thy Saviour shall thy grace renew;
Sorrow and shame urge on thy feet,
And hope new fledg'd, light wing'd, pursue.

So from the strand, at flowing tide,
The baffled waves receding fly,
But swift return, on every side,
Break o'er the bound, and gain the sky.

Saint! to thine altar, there's defence;
Read closer in his works thy Lord;
And in his various Providence,

On the same page his works and word.

Prostrate before his Saviour's shrine,
The just to his memorial flies,
And rising thro' the outward sign,
Into the inner temple pries.

Caught with a Patriarch's storied love,
A Prophet's zeal, Apostle's grace,
His heart to emulation moves,
And all his soul and life is praise.

Arm'd with their weapons-for the field
Where Stephen bled, and Paul o'ercame,
And cover'd with their proffer'd shield,
Shrinks from no danger, dreads no shame.

One in their warfare, Lord and foe,
The influence one, and promise giv❜n,
Defeats the lusts which they o'erthrew,
And mounts o'er heaps of slain to Heav'n.

Thus do his light and life increase,
And shine a dark'ned world to bless;
Till partial love and knowledge cease,
And perfect glory crown the grace.

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Memoirs of the Rev. John Fla- their impression is far less du

vel.

rable, than that which is made by the exemplary conduct of

PERHAPS no miscellane- some esteemed character. This

ous reading is more inter-is the fruit presented to the esting and profitable, than the view, while those are merely its memoirs of pious anduseful men.description. Few men have They present an interesting left so good a name behind picture, which impresses on the them, and have been so useful mind the excellence of a virtu- in their labors as the learned ous life; persuades us to esti- and pious Mr. John Flavel, the mate the good man's enjoy-beloved and faithful minister of ments, and to aspire to those at-Christ at Diptford, and aftertainments which give compos-ward at Dartmouth, in Great ure in the hour of death. The Britain. He was the eldest son views, employments, and reso- of the Rev. Richard Flavel, of lutions of the venerable saint, Broomsgrove, where he was are listened to with attention by born in 1628. He was religithe young believer; and as the ously educated by his father, and youthful warrior's ardor kindles early sent to the University of at the recital of the great at-Oxford, where he distinguished chievements of some valiant he- himself by a faithful application, ro; so the wondering disciple to his studies. Soon after he is animated in his newly discov- commenced bachelor of arts, cred path; desires to overtake he was ordained in 1650, an ashis superiors in the faith, and sistant to Mr. Walplate in Diptespecially to imitate his divine ford, whom he shortly after example, the captain of his sal-succeeded in the rectory. Senvation. The persuasive ser-sible of the weight of his mon, the pathetic exhortation, charge, he diligently applied and the flowing essay have their himself to the work of his calinfluence and their use; but ling, and devoting himself to VOL. I. NO. 10.

X x

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