TO THE EDITORS OF

THE NEW CHRISTIAN'S MAGAZINE.

Gentlemen,

At your requeft, I have fent a translation of the Latin verfes in your last excellent Magazine for July, Vol. I. which, if you hould think worthy of a place in your next, by inferting it,

You'll greatly oblige,
Your conftant reader,
J. SK-N.

Greenwich, Aug. 8, 1783.

A

Vita fragilis, Mors certa eft. Life is frail, Death is certain.

LAS! Oh man of life how fhort's
thy fhare;

Thy glafs is run before thou art aware.
Forbear, ye mortals, to lament your fate,
Death's flat will admit of no debate.
Sooner or later to one home we tend,
His ftroke, and fate's ftern will await our
end:

But heav'n and its fovereign laws decree,
That after death the juft fhall happier be;
Then in a glorious ftate they ever fhine,
Then carping care and ftrife can ne'er com-
bine;

Within thofe peaceful realms they chearful fing,

Loud ftrains of praife to their almighty king.

t

Imagination labours but in vain,

While darkening clouds intoxicate the braine
Fancy no fweet ideas can fuggeft,
To lull the raging tumult in my breaft;
In vain or mirth invites, or friendship calls,
Wit dies, a jeft, and converfation palls;
Nature and art fapply freth fprings of care,
And each obtruding thought creates defpair
No fcenes amufe me, that amus'd before,
And what delighted once, delights no more &
Though all creation beautiful appears,
And nature's afpect a rich verdure wears;
Yet ftill her bloom with fickening eyes I fee
And all her luxury is loft on me :
The budding plants of variegated hue,
The bloffoms opening with the morning
dew;

The vernal breeze that gently fans the bowers, The laughing meadows, and enlivening fhowers,

Th' enamell'd garden, where the works of art Give ftrength to nature, and fresh charms impart ;

Where gaudy pinks and blushing roses bloom, Rich in array, and pregnant with perfume Where Flora, fmiling, fees her offspring vie To fpread the beauties and regale the eye: All, all, in vain, with charms united glow To deck the fcene, or gild the face of woe: So when the morning lark afcending fings, While joy attunes his voice, and mounts his wings;

Though to his chearful notes the hills reply,
And warbling mufic gladdens all the fky;
Still in his trains no pleafing charms I find,
No fweet enchantment to compofe my
mind.

In vain the fun his gaudy pride difplays,
No genial warmth attends his brighteft rays;
And when his abfent light the moon fupplies,
Or planets glitter to eurich the skies,
No gleam of comfort from their luftre flows,
No harbinger of peace, or calin repofe :
But gloomy vapours o'er the night prevail,
And peftilence is fpread in every gale:
Thus, weaken'd by a gradual decay,
Life's bitter cup I drink without allay,

Come then, kind death, thy harpeft fteci prepare,

Heie point the dart, and fnatch me from defpair!

But ftop, O man! thy plaintive ftrains,
fupprefs,

With chriftian patience learn to acquiefce!
Th' inftructive voice of reafon calmly hear,
And let religion check the flowing tear:
Whate'er the will of providence affigns,
'Tis Infidelity alone repines;

But thofe who truft in God difdain to grieve,
And what our father fends with joy receive;
Whofe

Whofe fharp corrections testify his love, And certain bleffings in the end will prove ; Who fees how man would err without controul,

Afflicts the body, to improve the foul, And by chaftizing part, preferves the whole.

Hence, though dark-lowring skies, and angry gales

Confpire to raife the ftorm, and rend the fails; Yet, if calm reafon at the helm prefide, My little bark will stem both wind and tide; And adverfe currents fhall at laft convey, The fhatter'd veffel to the realms of day! Thus taught by faith, how rath it is and vain For man, mere duft and ashes, to complain! My foul, with fad difquietude oppreft, Directs her flight to heaven in fearch of reft; And refuge takes (which 66 peace at laft will bring")

Beneath the thadow of th' Almighty wing;
On him I fix my mind, and place my trust,
A Being infinitely wife and juft!

And fhould his providence new beams create,
To brighten the complexion of my fate,
A chearful tribute to his throne I'll raife,
And ftamp my fong with gratitude and praife.
But thould indulgence fuit not his defigns,
Who evil into happiness refines;
Let due fubmiffion make my burden light,
And may I think Whatever is, is right!
Then "be not thou difquieted my foul,"
Have lively faith-and "faith will make

thee whole."

is fure.

Since then affictions are through mercy fent,
To be of good the happy inftrument;
Since for the nobleft ends they are defign'd,
To form the judgment, to improve the mind,
To curb our paffions, to direct our love,
To awe mankind, and fpeak a God above;
O may I view them with religion's eye,
Nor lofe the guard of virtue till I die!
Hence thall I tafte the fweets that evils
bring,

And fuck the honey while I feel the fting;
Hence fhall I learn the bitter cup to blefs,
And drink it as the draught of happiness':

A wholfome potion, which, though mix'd with gall,

May ftill preferve my life, my foul, my all! Thus fix'd my heart; though fruit fhould fail the vine,

The fig-tree ficken, and it's bloom decline,
The labour of the olive be in vain,
And flocks infected, perish on the plain;
Though corn, and oil, and wine at once
decrease.

The fields grow barren, and the harvest ceafe; Though baffled hinds their fruitless toil deplore,

And vales uncheerful laugh and fing no

prayer:

Sooth all my pangs, and fave me from des fpair:

Illuminate my foul with glad fome rays, -
And tune my voice to thy eternal praise :
Difpel the clouds of darkness from my eyes,
And make me know that to be good is wife:
Let chriftian precepts all my foul employ,"
And be not more my duty, than my joy:
Let confcience, void of art, and free from
guile,

Still in my bofom innocently fmile;
Her cheerful beams will gild the bloom of
fate,

And make me happy in whatever state.
Hence fhall I learn my talent to improve,
If poor, by patience, and if rich, by love;
If fortune fmiles, let me be virtue's friend,
And where I go, let charity attend:
Within my bofom let compaffion dwell,
To foften all the woes which others feel;
T'affwage, by kind relief, affliction's fighs,
And wipe the falling tear from widows'

eyes;

To feed the hungry, the diftrefs'd to cheer, The needy fuccour, and the feeble rear ; Hence fhall my mind, inflam'd with public good,

Unfhaken ftand in midft of plenty's flood; Hencefhall I fcorn temptation's gilded bait, Look with difdain on all the pomp of ftate, And by humility be truly great.

But thould it be thy bleffed will to fpread Clouds of thick darkness lowring o'er my head;

Let me have grace to know they are defign'd,
To check my follies, and correct my mind
Let me have grace to know in ny diftrefs,
I ftill to thee may have a free accefs;
And be an heir (though all the world should
frown)

Of heavenly glory, and a future crown!
From thefe reflexions true contentment
flows,
Contentment
knows;

fuch as grandeur feldom

Hence

Hence in the lowly cot a relish fprings, Above the taste of courts, and pride of kings. Thus in a flood of wealth, be thou my guide, And fteer my courfe 'twixt avarice and pride;

mind

Or, in the ebb of fortune, teach my
To know it's duty, and to be refign'd:
Prepare me to receive or good or ill,
As the refult of thy Almighty will
Thy will, whofe chief defign and general
plan

Tend to promote the happiness of man
Be every fenfual appetite fupprefs'd;
Nor the leaft taint lie lurking in
my breast:
Let fleady reafon, my affections guide,
And calm content fit fmiling by my fide;
Teach me with fcorn to view the things be-
low,

As gaudy phantoms, and an empty fhow;
But guide my wishes to the things above,
As the fole object of a Chriftian's love;
Make me reflect on my eternal home,
A dying Saviour, and a life to come;
Direct me virtue's happy courfe to
run,
And let me, as inftructed by thy son,
In every station fay, Thy wilt be done.

THE

DYING CHRISTIAN TO HIS SOUL.

AN ODE BY POPE.

ITAL fpark of heavenly flame!

Tail, quit this mortal frame;

Trembling, hoping, lingring, flying;
Oh the pain, the blifs of dying!
Ceafe, fond nature, ceafe thy trife,
And let me languish into life.
Hark! they whifper; angels fay,
Sifter fpirit, come away?
What is this abforbs me quite?
Steals my fenfes, thuts my fight,
Drowns my fpirits, draws my breath,
Tell me my foul, can this be death?

The world recedes! it difappears!
Heav'n opens on my eyes! my ears
With founds feraphic ring:

Lend, lend your wings! I mount! I fly!
grave, where is thy victory?
death! where is thy fting?

Here precepts, old and new,
By God s own fignet bind:
With pow'rful wifdom these endure
The weak, but humble mind.

Here promises are fown,
Which holy ftrength infuse,

When dangers throng; or forrow's groan
Pleads for fupporting views.

laws! whofe vigour rends
The felf-accufing breast:
Whofe vigour to the upright fends
Sweet felf poffeffion's reft.

O promifes, whofe force

Is from all change fecure! Long as their everlasting fource, Your bleffings fhall endure.

Hence warn'd, my fins I fee ;
Against my fins I guard :
Hence aided, from perdition flee
To heav'n's immenfe reward.

Ye rich men, roll in gold;
Ye epicures, in wine:
Your portion in contempt I hold
Thy word, O God, be mine.

The virgin, yet untaught to figh,
Shall lightly tread the vale;
And raife with joy the tearless eye,
To bid thy prefence hail.

Come, modeft maid with blushes speak,
In all thy rofes dreft,

Diffufing health to ev'ry cheek,
And peace on ev'ry breast.

Come morning! come, which heav'n de fign'd,

It's choiceft gifts to bear,
And kindly teach the human mind
To worship and revere.

In wonder wrapt let nature ftand,
To think how much the owes,
And learn to praife that gracious hand,
From whence the bleffing flows.

C. H.

A LIST

ART. I. A Letter from a Clergyman to the Bishop of Landaff, on the Subject if his Lordship's Letter, to the late Archbishop of Canterbury.

HE modeft and refpectful file in which this letter is penned, cannot but plead ftrongly in its favour before a bench of Bishops. Its fubject, the prefent melancholy ftate of the curates, and inferior parochial clergy, not lefs claims their attention The ftipends of thofe deferted fufferers are fo very inconfiderable, that they who have no other fupport, and particularly fuch who may be encumbered with families, cannot but feel all the pinching hardih ps of penury and diftrefs. May their real grievances, that have long cried aloud for relief, have speedy redrefs, which, by all the laws of justice and humanity, they may reasonably expect!

This very ufeful work, which is Now publishing in 80 weekly Numbers, merits the attention and patronage of all christian families, both in confideration of its convenient fize, making only one large volume folio, and its masterly execution. The Notes, are exceedingly full and inftructive. They contain a fummary of the Chriftian religion, which cannot but be highly acceptable to thofe, who may not have fpare time fufficient to read the various, tedious, and voluminous writers, on different parts of Scripture. Dr. Wright's Family Bible is, in our opinion, really what it holds itfelf forth to the public, a New and Complete Expofition and ommentary on the facred books of the Old and New Teftament, with the Apocrypha at large; and is embellished with the best fet of copper plates we have ever seen.

ART. III. Divine Revelation impartial; and unive jal. By the Rev. John Bennet. 8vo. 3s. in Boards.

Unbelievers frequently exclaim against Chriftianity, becaufe not univerfal, and known only at prefent to a fmall part of the world. To obviate which objection, this ingenious writer has endeavoured to

6

prove, that the propagation of the gofpef was neither imperfect, nor partial, and that if the benevolent intentions of the Divine Being were not refrained by human vices, the natural confequences of free-will, the earth, at this moment, would be full of the knowledge of the Lord.' To variety of arguments, drawn from the difpofition, circumftances, and ftate of mankind, in different ages, Mr. Bennet has added a great number of ufeful notes, which, he obferves, coft him more labour and pains, than the publication itself.

ART. IV. The New and Complete Life of our Saviour Jefus Chrift and his Apoftles,

c. By the Rev. Dr. Wright, elegantly printed in Crown Folio, now publishing in 36 weekly Numbers, at 6d. each; and, being thoroughly compleated, may be had neatly bound in Calf, and lettered, price 11. 4s. 6d.

This book is a fuitable companion to Dr. Wright's Family Bible, and indeed to any other Bible of which perfons may already be poffeffed, as it contains a valuable collection of Chriftian knowledge; for, independently of its intrinfic merit, confidered in the light of a full, extenfive hiftory of the life of our bleffed Saviour and his Apoftles, we find alfo contained therein a defence of the Chriftian religion, and a rich treafure of practical obfervations, well calculated to improve the underftanding, mend the heart, and regulate the conduct. The copper-plates are very valuable embellishments, and the whole performance is executed in fuch a manner, as fufficiently to prove its excellency and utility; and we think, without flattery, to which we are utter frangers, the Proprietor deferves the thanks of all ferious Christians, for making Dr. Wright's Family Bible, his Life of Chrift, and other expenfive periodical publications, fo cafily attainable.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

Leghorn, August 4.

E have had one of the fevereft

Wftrokes here that ever vifited this

part of Italy, which has been general along the coast from Weft to East, and has done incredible damage. The Tefferdoi, a Ruffian man of war, is rendered totally unferviceable by the damage the received in the Mole, and all the thips then lying there, which amounted to thirty fail of different nations, have been fufferers in a greater or lefs degree, but none fo materially as the Ruffian, whofe mainmast has been fhivered from the flag staff to the deck, at which place fome iron work conducted

the lightning to other places of the thip; where its effects are very vifible, indeed moit awfully fo. The rigging is in many places burnt, as if the veffel had been on fire; the fails on the yards have holes barnt through them. The people on board report, that they felt the fhock, when the electric matter ftruck her, equal to what is felt in an heavy fea. Some gallies are fitting here by order of the Grand Duke for cruizing in the Mediterranean; they will probably amount to fix fail, from 26 to 28 guus. His Neapolitan majefty is fitting out, fame thips, as are most of the powers in this quarter. All thefe are only detachments to obferve the motions of the two great powers, whofe difputes are likely to reach this part of Europe.

Temefwar, July 25. According to all accounts, the treaty of commerce, concluded at Conftantinople, has not abated the motions of the Ruffians in Crimea and its environs. The Turks on their part have not fufpended their preparations. The armaments continue at Conftantinople, where new hips of the line are putting on the focks. The different corps of troops raised in all parts of the empire are affembling on the frontiers; freth reinforcements arrive to join thofe encamped near Belgrade, where they are conftantly exercifed in firing artillery and mufquetry, and where, it is faid, 14,000 fpahis are to remain and pafs

the winter.

Naples, Aug. 9. On the 29th past, at one in the morning, a violent shock of an earthquake happened again at Calabria, which threw the whole country into an alarm at fix the fame morning they had another more violent and longer than any that had happened before, infomuch that the barracks now feemed not fafe, and every body fed into the fields. Four vil

DIARY.

lages, which had been fpared before, were overturned. Cotrona alfo fuffered confiderably, and the new buildings begun at Cozenza are fo fhattered, that they must be pulled down. It is not faid whether any perfons have perished, but the commotion was felt fo ftrongly at Meffina, that it may again have done damage there. Aix-la-Chapelle, Aug. 10.

A fhock of an Earthquake was felt here at three o'clock yesterday morning, which was fo violent as to wake and alarm most of the inhabitants of this city: but we have not yet heard of any damages.

GAZETTE INTELLIGENCE.

St. James's, August 19.

Alleyne Fitz-Herbert, Efq. to be his HE king has been pleafed to appoint majesty's envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to the court of Petersburgh.

Oftend, Aug. 13. The bafon which his imperial majefly ordered to be conftructed at this port being completed, this day was appointed for its being opened for the reception of thips. The ceremony was per formed in prefence of their royal highneffes the governor general, accompanied by count Belgiofo, and feveral other perfons of diftinction.

Conftantinople, July 28. The plague rages here with violence, and the mortality is confiderable, the infection having spread in every quarter of the town, and the adja cent villages. Pera and Galata, the refidence of the Franks, have fuffered greatly; and in the new barracks for the gunners, at Topana, from twenty to thirty are buried daily. The raw mifty weather, which promotes the contagion, has continued thefe four weeks paft without interruption; a very unusual circumftance in this climate, and at this feafon.. Letters from Smyrna, of the 17th inft. mention, that the plague has alfo broken out in that city.

Paris, Aug. 28. Last night died here, after a few days inefs, George Maddifon, Efq. his Britannic majesty's fecretary of ambaffy at this court.

St. James's, July 25. It having been reprefented to his Majefty, that feveral perfons who formerly obtained orders from his Majefty in Council for grants of lands in the province of Nova Scotia, have not proceeded to cultivate and furvey the lands directed to be granted to them by fuch orders, but have, in many inftances, fold and tranferred them to others, who have alfo delayed to carry them into execution, to the great injury of his Majefty's revenue of quit-rents,

Tz

and