He sung the goodness of the GOD above-
He sung the blessings of redeeming love:
Rapture unfolds its treasure in his page
And light breaks thence to man in every age;
His numbers show, to wanderers forlorn,
Where beams the beauty of th' eternal morn;
And in luxuriant elegance display

The radiant tenor of the Christian's way."

"Who can portray the line with wonders fraught,
Which springs from blest Isaiah's blissful thought;
Whether in burning majesty he shows

A GODHEAD taking vengeance on his foes;
Or, in the beauty of celestial lays,
Unfold the charities of Gospel days:

Whether, array'd in uncreated light,

From Bozrah comes the SAVIOUR in his might;
Or, dropping dews of gentleness and peace,
He bids the sorrows of his people cease?"

After taking a view of the various heathen poets, he shows the superior bliss of the most "humble Christian," and thence his mind is naturally led to the peculiar excellence of the Holy Scriptures. He thus speaks of the stability of these truths.

"Around the HOLY WORD a storm has rav'd,
Fierce as the blast, Norwegia's cliffs have brav'd;
All the dark horrors hatred could array,
Have strove to blot its clear, resplendent day;
The darts of hell on every part have shower'd,
And satan's boldest rage in tempests lower'd ;-
Like the third Heav'ns, divinely bright it shines,
Flashing dismay on all opposing minds.—
Eternity will keep its every page,

Unhurt and sacred, to its latest age."

He thus notices Watts and other Christian Poets.

"Celestial Watts! Thy unadult'rate lay,
May hope to win the wicked from his way.

So pure, and so harmonious thy song,
Such joy luxurious thy notes prolong,

Sure by some guardian angel warbling near-
Some seraph wand'ring from a higher sphere,
The bland and blissful melody was given,
To faith a foretaste of the sweets of Heav'n."

"See pious Cowper wisdom's numbers trace,
With resignation mild, and winning grace;
The Gilead balm, so soothing to his wo--
Whose healing unction waits for all below,
Sweetly he celebrates; with feeling known
To Christian sensibility alone."

"With lofty verse and energy sublime,
Young soars afar, beyond the flight of time;
Through scenes etherial takes his boundless way,

And bathes his vision in the blaze of day."

The following is too reviving a cordial to be withheld from the humble Christian.

OMNISCIENCE guards with a peculiar care,

The soul who breathes in humble hymn and prayer,
Glory to Him for every blessing giv'n;-

Glory to Him for all the hopes of Heav'n.

His faith is pledg'd to guard them on their way

To the effulgence of eternal day:

His faith is pledg'd to comfort them with peace,
To fill their lot with a Divine increase,

Of every good can minister to bliss

Of every happiness can speak them His."

I take leave of this volume, by presenting the following "Prayer."

"Father of light and life! Thou good supreme!'

Thou art the guardian of my every hour;

Thy praise shall be my everlasting theme;

To thee I dedicate my every power."

66

Help me to love thee with a Seraph's flame;
And to adore thee with a Cherub's fire:

Let my rapt soul in notes sublime acclaim,
And ever to sublimer notes aspire."

My brother's muse was again aroused, by the arrival of the intelligence of the capture of our Frigate Essex, commanded by Capt. D. Porter, in the harbour of Valparaiso.

In August, his work of thirty-eight pages appeared, with this title "The Phoenix, or the Battle of Valparaiso, a Poem by B. Allen, Jr., New-York, 1814."

The following is the dedication:

"To Col. Henry Rutgers, whose character displays the graces of the Christian, and the fire of the Patriot-whose 'Gray hairs are a crown of glory,'

These lines are reverently dedicated by the author.
New-York, August 8th, 1814."

His views and prospects are expressed in his letter

to me

"Dear Thomas,—

June, 27th,

"Long enough have I lived at loose ends. My first object now is, to try to pay all my debts, and be clear of the world. This, with the blessing of Providence, I can do. Pray for me that I may be blest in this. Next, my inquiry will be, how, and where I can most glorify-whether sitting down in snug retirement in the country, and nursing my health, and using my pen, or elsewhere. “Your's ever,

B. ALLEN, JR."

In July, he actually entered into contract to publish the works of the Rev. John Owen, D. D., or as many of them

as the public would sanction by their patronage. He designed commencing with about twelve volumes, and the edition to consist of one thousand five hundred copies. This plan he finally relinquished, and the work was, I believe, published afterwards in New-England.

I

CHAPTER VI.

PUBLICATION OF HIS SIXTH AND LAST VOLUME OF POEMSHE JOINS THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH-REMOVES TO THE STATE OF VIRGINIA.

IN September, 1814, my brother's sixth volume of Poems appeared, with this title-"The Death of Abdallah, an Eastern Tale, founded on the story of Abdallah and Sabat, in Buchanan's Christian Researches."

The following is the dedication.

"To George Fitch, Esq. Whose prosperity was a blessing to society; whose adversity is a glory to himself, this Poem is respectfully dedicated by the author."

The subject which thus last excites his muse, serves as a suitable apology for the abandonment of that field of fancy, and forms an excellent prelude to his more important labours in the ministry of the Gospel.

In the introduction he observes-"The story of Abdallah and Sabat, is so well known to those who take an interest in missionary exertions, that it needs no recitation here. The author's object is to quicken attention to the spread of the GOSPEL. How far he may succeed in the attainment of that object, is for a higher power than himself to deter mine."

"Assuredly, there is no object more interesting, than the Christian Missionary bidding adieu to home and friendship, and entering on the pathless wilderness, taking up his abode among savages, solely to win them to the ways of happiness. There are, undoubtedly, some among their fellow men, who look on such missionaries as fanatics and unwise, but it is