something unexpected, surprises and delights. The topics of
devotion are few, and being few are universally known; but, few as
they are, they can be made no more; they can receive no grace from
novelty of sentiment, and very little from novelty of expression.

Poetry pleases by exhibiting an idea more grateful to the mind than
things themselves afford. This effect proceeds from the display of
those parts of nature which attract, and the concealment of those
which repel, the imagination: but religion must be shown as it is;
suppression and addition equally corrupt it; and such as it is, it
is known already.

From poetry the reader justly expects, and from good poetry always
obtains, the enlargement of his comprehension and elevation of his
fancy: but this is rarely to be hoped by Christians from metrical
devotion. Whatever is great, desirable, or tremendous, is comprised
in the name of the Supreme Being. Omnipotence cannot be exalted;
Infinity cannot be amplified; Perfection cannot be improved.

The employments of pious meditation are Faith, Thanksgiving,
Repentance, and Supplication. Faith, invariably uniform, cannot be
invested by fancy with decorations. Thanksgiving, the most joyful
of all holy effusions, yet addressed to a Being without passions, is
confined to a few modes, and is to be felt rather then expressed.
Repentance, trembling in the presence of the judge, is not at
leisure for cadences and epithets. Supplication of man to man may
diffuse itself through many topics of persuasion; but supplication
to God can only cry for mercy.

Of sentiments purely religious, it will be found that the most