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XV.

The ftrait and narrow, with the broad and wide Way.

TWO Paths there are thro' which all Mor

tals go,

. This leads to Bliss, and that to endless Wo;
The Way that leads to Mifery is broad,
A smooth, a pleasing, and a flowry Road:
With Company 'tis crowded every where,
The Rich, the Gay, the Witty, and the Fair.
Ah fondly-blinded, whither will they run!
Why in fuch headlong-hafte to be undone!
See, how they prefs Death's ample Gates to win!
How heedless of the Flames that glare within!
There is another unfrequented Way,

Leads to the Confines of Eternal Day;
Thorny and ftrait, yet as thou farther go,
*Twill ftill more eafy, more delightful grow:
To pass this narrow Gate no Labour spare,

For Heav'n and Holy Souls, and God himself is

there.

X V.

St. MATTH. Chap. VII. Ver. 13,14.

25.

13. Enter je in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to deftruction, and many there be which go in there

at :

14. Because trait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

XVI.

The Wife and the Foolish Builders.

WHO hears attentive and my Word obeys,

He's like the Man that firm Foundations lays On a ftrong Rock, whofe Building storms defies, Tho' Rain defcends, and angry Billows rise. But who at Wisdom's facred Gates appears, And hears the Word of Life, but only hears, Shall to that foolish Builder be compar'd, Who with vaft Cost, a stately Palace rear d. Fair to the Sight, and towring to the Sky, But on loose Sands its faithless Walls rely.

See how the Heav'ns with Clouds and Tempefts frown!

What Cataracts of Rain come pouring down!

How fell the muftring Waves

flow,

how high they

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And fap the falfe Foundations from below;

Till with a Crack the Walls come tumbling.o're, And spread the faithless Sands whereon they stood

before.

XVI.

St. MATTH. Chap. VII. Ver. 24,25, 26, 27.

3

24. I will liken him unto a wife man, which built his houfe upon a rock.

25. And the rain defeended, &c.

26. And every one that heareth thefe Sayings of mine, and doth them not, fhall be likened to a foolish man, which built his house upon the fand:

27. And the rain defcended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house: and it fell, and great was the fall of it.

XVII

Chrift cleanfes the Leper.

Rom the green Hill defcending, compafs'd' round

With wondring Crowds, a Leprous Wretch he

found

All crufted o're with Ulcers, on the Ground:
With Eyes dejected, scarcely rais'd his Head,
And Voice fubmifs, he to our Saviour faid.

O! if a Wretch like me may fue and speed,
(Tho' none than me had ever greater need.)
Since, Lord! to Will and Do's the fame with Thee,
Regard my Pray'r, and heal my Leprofie:

Our Saviour with mild Pity in his Eyes,
Unto the Miferable thus replies:

Thy Faith hath conquer'd, and thy Grant is feal'd,
I Firm thy pious Pray'r. Be cleans'd and heal'd!
His pow'rful Word and Touch to Health reftore,
His Flesh return'd as firm and beauteous as before.

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