Page:The Universe, a poem - Baker (1727).djvu/47

Should Happiness enjoy:—for God, all-just,
Could ne'er intend his Creature to be curs'd.
When Life he gave, he meant that Life should be
A State productive of Felicity.

And, though, to kill there may be some Pretence
When raging Hunger bids, or Self-Defence:
No Cause beside can justify the Deed,
'Tis Murder if not urg'd by real Need.

$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$If the same Pow'r did ev'ry Being give,
If all for Happiness did Life receive,
Then ev'ry Thing has equal Right to live:
And how dares Man, who's but himself a Breath;
Destroy through Wantonness, and sport with Death!

Extend thy narrow Sight: consult with Art:
And gladly use what Helps it can impart:
Each better Glass will larger Fields display,
And give Thee Scenes of Life, unthought of, to survey.

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