VERSES,

ON THE

PROSPECT OF PLANTING

ARTS AND LEARNING

IN

AMERICA.

THE
HE Muse, disgusted at an age and clime,
Barren of every glorious theme,

In distant lands now waits a better time,
Producing subjects worthy fame:

In happy climes, where from the genial sun
And virgin earth such scenes ensue,
The force of art by nature seems outdone,
And fancied beauties by the true:

VOL. III.

In happy climes the seat of innocence,
Where nature guides and virtue rules,
Where men shall not impose for truth and sense,
The pedantry of courts and schools:

There shall be sung another golden age,
The rise of empire and of arts,
The good and great inspiring epic rage,
The wisest heads and noblest hearts.

Not such as Europe breeds in her decay; Such as she bred when fresh and young, When heavenly flame did animate her clay, By future poets shall be sung.

Westward the course of empire takes its way
The four first acts already past,

A fifth shall close the drama with the day;
Time's noblest offspring is the last.

"

A

SERMON,

PREACHED BEFORE THE

INCORPORATED SOCIETY

FOR THE

PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL

IN FOREIGN PARTS,

AT THEIR

ANNIVERSARY MEETING IN THE PARISH-CHURCH OF ST. MARY-LE-BOW, ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1731.