100

98

Only revealed religion overrates
Let no one seek to alter or annul
Kept sacred all our prospects will be full,

On New Year 1803
I bid you adue eighteen 100 & 2
Hail bright 1803
O that my old man was now born again
And my burdened soul now set free
But what must be done I have too long fordrawn
A captive by satan at will
Who knowing my pride has so often try'd
And is tempting & trying me still?
Then shall I despair & yield to his snare
Like Sysaphus chained to his wheel
Or yet once more try the L. Jesus on high
While his sot'ning influence I feel
I must look about, Lord let me not doubt
Nor long undetermined halt
For if I stand here I must perish I fear
& none but myself in the fault
Tho. Brevard

We are not to be astonished, (says Confucius)
that the wise walk more slowly in their road to
virtue, than fools in their passage to vice; since
passions drags us along, while wisdom points the way