religious concernments is by too many unhappily rejected with difguft. But we well know, that they, who affect to despise the inward. feelings, which religious perfons speak of, and to treat them as enthusiasm and folly, have inward feelings of their own, which, though they would, they cannot fupprefs. We have been too long in the secret ourselves to account the proud, the ambitious, or the voluptuous, happy. We must lofe the remembrance of what we once were, before we can believe, that a man is fatisfied with himself, merely because he endeavours to appear fo. A fmile upon the face is often but a mafk worn occafionally and in company, to prevent, if poffible, a fufpicion of what at the fame time is paffing in the heart. We know that there are people, who feldom smile when they are alone, who therefore are glad to hide themselves in a throng

from the violence of their own reflections; and who, while by their looks and their language they wish to perfuade us they are happy, would be glad to change their conditions with a dog. But in defiance of all their efforts they continue to think, forebode, and tremble. This we know, for it has been our own ftate, and therefore we know how to commiferate it in others.-From this ftate the Bible relieved us- -When we were led to read it with attention, we found ourselves defcribed.-We learnt the causes of our inquietude-we were directed to a method of relief-we tried, and we were not disappointed.

Deus nobis hæc otia fecit.

We are now certain that the gospel of Chrift is the power of God unto falvation, to every one that believeth. It has

reconciled us to God, and to ourselves, to our duty, and our fituation. It is the balm and cordial of the present life, and a fovereign antidote against the fear of death.

Sed hactenus hac. Some fmaller pieces upon lefs important fubjects close the volume. Not one of them, I believe, was written with a view to publication, but I was unwilling they should be omitted.

Charles Square, Hoxton,
February 18, 1782.

JOHN NEWTON.

THE TASK.

BOOK I.

THE SOFA.

I

SING the Sofa. I, who lately fang

Truth, Hope, and Charity *, and touched with awe
The folemn chords, and with a trembling hand,
Escaped with pain from that adventurous flight,
Now feek repose upon an humbler theme;
The theme though humble, yet auguft and proud
The occafion--for the Fair commands the song.

Time was, when clothing sumptuous or for use, Save their own painted skins, our fires had none. As yet black breeches were not; fatin fmooth, Or velvet foft, or plush with fhaggy pile: