A Word to the Elect

YOU may rejoice to think yourselves secure;You may be grateful for the gift divine–That grace unsought, which made your black hearts pure,And fits your earth-born souls in Heaven to shine.But, is it sweet to look around, and viewThousands excluded from that happinessWhich they deserved, at least, as much as you,–Their faults not greater, nor their virtues less?And, wherefore should you love your God the more,Because to you alone his smiles are given;Because he chose to pass the many o'er,And only bring the favoured few to Heaven?And, wherefore should your hearts more grateful prove,Because for ALL the Saviour did not die?Is yours the God of justice and of love?And are your bosoms warm with charity?Say, does your heart expand to all mankind?And, would you ever to your neighbor do–The weak, the strong, the enlightened, and the blind–As you would have your neighbor do to you?And, when you, looking on your fellow-men,Behold them doomed to endless misery,How can you talk of joy and rapture then?–May God withhold such cruel joy from me!