Gazette Of The United States

FOR THE GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES.

MR. FENNO,

The following paragraph originally appeared in a much more limited form—by publishing it with the additions, you will oblige

The Author.

CHARITY.

13th Chap. 1 Corinthians, verified.

Though I a seraph fire
In various tongues sublimest wonders tell.
Describe the joys of heaven, the woes of hell—
Tho' I the lofty heights of science gain,
And arts and nature's mysteries explain—
Tho' skill'd profoundly in prophetic lore,
With piercing ken futurity explore—
Tho' I have faith sufficient to sustain
And hurl the ponderous mountains to the main—
Devoid of Charity, I shall be found,
Vain as a shadow, empty as a sound.
Were I possess'd of affluent India's store.
And unreserv'd dispense it to the poor—
Tho' I resign my body to the flame,
To gain a martyr's or a hero's name—
While selfish motives actuate my soul,
And every nobler sentiment control,
Void of benevolence, I still remain
As nothing empty, as a shadow vain.
Celestial Charity, supremely kind,
Illumes, expands, and animates the mind,
To noble and disinterested deeds,
Allures to holiness, to glory leads,
Disdains each selfish and contracted plan,
And seeks the general happiness of man—
Unenvied views the splendors of the great,
And honors merit in the humblest state—
On human frailties casts a pitying eye,
And heaves with woe the sympathetic sigh—
Weighs variant tenets with an equal scale—
Exulting, sees, o'er error, truth prevail—
With pristine beauty reinstamps the soul,
Pervades each passion, and sublimes the whole;
Dispels each vile affection from the breast,
And opes the regions of eternal rest
To every nation, and to every sect
Who fear Jehovah, and his name respect.
Calm resignation on her votaries waits,
To smooth the rugged paths of adverse fates :
And patience mild, dispensing as she goes.
Her lenient balm, amid a world of woes;
And brilliant faith, each dreary scene that cheers,
And opes the seats of heaven's perennial years;
Hence suffering merit lifts a hopeful eye,
And views those happier scenes beyond the sky,
Where equity, enthroned, forever reigns;
Where endless pleasures triumph o'er the plains;
Where friendship, love, and joy united meet,
And injured virtue finds a blest retreat.
Hail peerless virtue, loveliest of the train—
Fair Charity!—extend thy mild domain
O'er every land, till war and discord cease,
And every nation join in leagues of peace—
Till sin and error from their seats are hurl'd,
And pure religion illuminates the world.
When art, when science, and prophetic lore—
When various languages are known no more—
When final ruin o'er the world extends—
When faith in vision, hope in glory ends—
This godlike virtue Charity divine,
Thro' vast eternity shall brighter shine—
Awake to praises the celestial choirs,
Attune their lays, and animate their lyres.