m_ it is we owe so much
Substantial pleasure in the _Touch_;
And _whence_, superior to the whole,
Those raptures that transport _the Soul_;
_This_ gives our Gratitude to glow
To him, from whom such Blessings flow;
This teaches Man his _moral Part_,
And grafts _Religion_ in the Heart.

_Glory to God, good Will to Man,
And Peace on Earth_, compos'd the plan,
For which _Religion_ first came down,
And brought to Earth a _heav'nly Crown_.
Better her Purpose to complete,
And _Satan_'s Malice to defeat,
A Troop of _holy Genii_ came,
Co-workers in the glorious Scheme.
To each a scroll the Goddess gave,
On which these lines She did engrave:
"Go, teach the sons of Men to raise
Their voice unto their _Maker_'s praise.
Go, call forth _Charity_ to meet
Distress that seeks her in the Street;
Bid her the lame with Legs supply,
And be unto the blind an Eye;
A Mantle o'er the naked throw,
And reach a healing hand to Woe;
Visit the bed where Sickness lies,
And wipe the tears from Orphans eyes;
Bid her Affliction's hour beguile,
And teach the tear-worn Cheek to smile;
Bid her send Comfort to expell
Grief from the lonely Widow's Cell;
Make blunt the arrows of Mischance,
And ope the eyes of Ignorance;
To those lost Pilgrims point the Way,
Who in _Sin_'s tenfold Darkness stray,
Recall them from _Hell_'s thickest night,
And shew _Salvation_'s glorious Light;
For thus the World that Peace shall find,
For which it was by _God_ design'd."--

Such the commands _Religion_ gave,
When first she came the World to save,
Such the attendants in her Train,
When She began her holy Reign.
And when _Messiah_'s gracious Love
Urg'd him to leave the _Realms_ above,
Urg'd him to quit his _heav'nly Throne_,
His People's Trespass to atone,
And, tho' so long they had withstood
His Will, to wash them with his Blood;
The great Command he did renew,
To _give to God, and Man his due_;
Bade the bright _Sun of Faith_ arise,
And open'd Heav'n to mortal eyes,
Leaving _Religion_ on the Earth,
More fair and pure than at her Birth.--

How mutilated now and marr'd,
Deform'd, distorted, mangled, scarr'd!
Thro' _modern Conventicles_ trace
The Goddess, you'll not know her face:
The _holy Genii_ all are fled,
And _S