The Jealous Sceptic.

The world was chaos , now ' tis mystery , Except where science speaks philosophy . The little world of boasting self-conceit Is full of paths where spite and envy meet ; And though fair flowers may bloom to please the eye And rills ancl rivulets come sparkling by ,

And tuneful song-birds carol lays of love Among the trees and in the sky above , Man ' s morbid sense no beauty sees , or hears The music ringing in the heavenly spheres . All wrapped in self the egotist but knows That birds do livethere ' s colour in the

, rose , The water trickles when a fountain plays , And glist'ning streams are nature ' s waterways .

His sense of sound ancl si ght is dulled and bleared , No living thing his deadened soul hath cheered ; A misanthrope , a God-forsaken man , So worldly wise that the Creator ' s plan

Of heaven and earth , and all celestial things Is but a myth , or man ' s imaginings . Ancl this is reason , better on the whole Than doctrines taught about the human soul ,

And future pains and punishments for sin Devised by men of pristine origin . A teaching made for bigots ancl for fools , The dupes of priests and proselyting tools . All arch divines are mercenary men , And darkly work their way by voice and pen ;

They aim at power , at riches , and command , Enthrall the weak and decimate the land . A blot on life , ancl warping nature ' s self , Beclouding the unclouded , and for pelf .

1 he man with Reason for his only guide May argue thus , ancl fill himself with pride , And scoff at holy men and heavenly things Till unbelief sad retribution brings . The good can pray , and , with a contrite heart , Sincerely thank their Maker for their part . The jealous sceptic nothing good can see , A praying man ' s a wretched devotee .

His hardened heart forgets its childhood ' s days , And simple prayers and pureness of its ways ;

At home with sin , it revels for a time In its debasement and immoral slime . When sickness comes the wicked are afraid , And call aloud for Great Jehovah's aid ; Their load of guilt now heavy on them wei ghs

, As fitful shades revive their evil clays ; And the last scene no true repentance brings As Death ( their terror ) spreads his darkling wings .

The minds of men refreshed by love and peace , AVith holy calm expect their soul ' s release , And joyful sounds the " ransomed sinner " hears AVhen called to Rest , he quits " the vale of

tears ;" The angel-hosts triumphant shout aloud As the redeemed put off their earthly shroud Ancl bliss divine—eternal joys profound—Await the chosen and the glory-crowned .

And puny man will dare assert his power , Deny his God , aud at his wisdom lower ; 'Tis well for him his littleness to know—The speck he is—an atom here below—AVithin himself to look , for his soul ' s sake , Ancl bid his sleeping conscience quick

awake . The powers of life may wane at any hour , And vaunting man , enfeebled , shake and cower ;

His weakened brain , by sleepless visions worn , Hath frenzy , fear , and such disorders born ; And these malignant things the body wear , Till palsied limbs soon show the evil there . The minddepressed by abject passion ' s

, power , Where gloomy thoughts by day aud nig ht devour The moral goodness of the human heart , Is bent to play the coward ' s cringing part .

Nay , worse , the morbid mind to madness turns , Ancl mutt ' ring melancholy mocks and burns . To some such fate the sceptic hastens on And treads the paths of darkness which anon