GOD gives his mercies to be spent; Your hoard will do your soul no good; Gold is a blessing only lent, Repaid by giving others food. The world's esteem is but a bribe, To buy their peace you sell your own; The slave of a vain-glorious tribe, Who hate you while they make you known. The joy that vain amusements give, Oh! sad conclusion that it brings! The honey of a crowded hive, Defended by a thousand stings. 'Tis thus the world rewards the fools That live upon her treacherous smiles; She leads them blindfold by her rules, And ruins all whom she beguiles. God knows the thousands who go down From pleasure into endless woe: And with a long despairing groan Blaspheme their Maker as they go. O fearful thought! be timely wise; Delight but in a Saviour's charms, And God shall take you to the skies, Embraced in everlasting arms. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BE STRONG by MALTBIE DAVENPORT BABCOCK ALL RELIGIONS ARE ONE by WILLIAM BLAKE DELIGHT IN DISORDER by ROBERT HERRICK EPIGRAM ON QUEEN CAROLINE'S DEATHBED by ALEXANDER POPE THE MILL by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON ROCOCO by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE LADY CLARA VERE DE VERE by ALFRED TENNYSON COMPARES THE TROUBLES WHICH HE HAS UNDERGONE, TO LABOURS OF HERCULES by PHILIP AYRES |