REFLECTIONS
AFTER
VIEWING
A
SCENE
OF
DISTRESS
.
Teach
me
,
all
gracious
Power
,
to
be
content
!
To
bless
my
lot
because
ordained
by
thee
;
Ne'er
mourn
for
that
,
thy
wisdom
hath
not
lent
,
But
deem
it
good
because
thy
great
decree
.
Then
cease
vain
heart
to
mourn
the
want
of
power
,
Just
Heaven
will
view
,
accept
the
willing
mind
;
Will
give
reward
in
retribution's
hour
,
To
all
who
felt
the
ills
of
human
kind
.
What
tho'
I
can't
bestow
the
wish'd
supply
,
Nor
cheer
cold
poverty's
obscure
abode
;
Ne'er
read
the
language
of
a
grateful
eye
,
Nor
guide
the
helpless
penitent
to
God
.
I
often
wish
the
uninformed
to
teach
,
To
give
to
orphan
infancy
its
bread
,
To
soothe
the
sorrow
of
declining
age
,
And
give
that
pittance
which
I
yet
may
need
.
Be
hushed
complaint
—
be
never
murmured
more
,
Arraign
not
that
great
plan
to
Heaven
known
;
Perhaps
endowed
with
splendour
,
wealth
and
power
,
The
kinder
feelings
had
not
been
my
own
.
With
pleasure
circled
,
proved
secure
from
fear
,
Perhaps
I
ne'er
had
breathed
a
pitying
sigh
;
Might
never
offered
others
woes
a
tear
,
But
lived
a
stranger
to
each
softer
tie
.
Then
'tis
in
mercy
wealth
hath
been
denied
,
For
now
—
a
soul
that
feels
for
all
is
mine
,
I
yet
can
soothe
the
ills
of
suffering
worth
,
And
pray
the
bad
their
purpose
to
resign
.
And
I
can
cheer
the
modest
with
applause
,
Kindly
support
the
weak
,
the
sorrowing
mind
,
Can
plead
,
unblushing
,
virtue's
injured
cause
,
Conceal
the
failings
of
my
erring
kind
.
The
voice
attuned
to
softness
may
repress
The
anguished
sigh
—
—
relieve
the
doubting
heart
,
A
pitying
look
will
often
soften
pain
,
A
mite
to
penury
will
joy
impart
.
A
friendly
smile
can
welcome
modest
fear
,
A
chearful
word
beguile
the
gloom
of
age
;
Hence
then
despondency
—
hence
discontent
,
I
still
have
worth
which
partial
friends
engage
.
Yes
—
these
are
mine
,
and
these
the
good
approve
,
Most
gracious
power
!
that
all
those
gifts
bestow
;
In
mercy
,
still
withhold
the
means
of
ill
,
And
let
me
all
unto
thy
mercy
owe
.
Then
while
on
earth
I'll
thy
great
name
adore
,
And
sink
with
sweet
composure
to
the
dust
!
Bless
thy
past
mercies
—
"
humbly
hope
for
more
,
"
From
thee
my
God
,
protectors
,
guide
and
trust
.