How vain a thought is bliss below

How vain a thought is bliss below

Author: Anne Steele
Published in 15 hymnals

Representative Text

I. How vain a thought is bliss below!
'Tis all an airy dream!
How empty are the joys that flow
On pleasure's smiling stream!

II. Now gayly-painted bubbles rise
With varied colours bright;
They break, the short amusement flies—
Can this be call'd delight?

III. Transparent now, and all serene
The gentle current flows:
While fancy draws the flatt'ring scene,
How fair the landskip shows!

IV. But soon its transient charms decay,
When ruffling tempests blow;
The soft delusions fleet away,
And pleasure ends in woe.

V. Why do I here expect repose?
Or seek for bliss in vain?
Since every pleasure earth bestows,
Is but dissembled pain.

VI. O let my nobler wishes soar
Beyond these seats of night;
In heav'n substantial bliss explore,
And permanent delight!

VII. There pleasure flows forever clear;
And rising to the view
Such dazling scenes of joy appear,
As fancy never drew.

VIII. No fleeting landskip cheats the gaze,
Nor airy form beguiles;
But everlasting bliss displays
Her undissembled smiles.

IX. Adieu to all below the skies,
Celestial guardian come!
On thy kind wing my soul would rise
To her eternal home.

Source: Poems on Subjects Chiefly Devotional, Vol. 2 #55

Author: Anne Steele

Anne Steele was the daughter of Particular Baptist preacher and timber merchant William Steele. She spent her entire life in Broughton, Hampshire, near the southern coast of England, and devoted much of her time to writing. Some accounts of her life portray her as a lonely, melancholy invalid, but a revival of research in the last decade indicates that she had been more active and social than what was previously thought. She was theologically conversant with Dissenting ministers and "found herself at the centre of a literary circle that included family members from various generations, as well as local literati." She chose a life of singleness to focus on her craft. Before Christmas in 1742, she declined a marriage proposal from contemporar… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: How vain a thought is bliss below
Author: Anne Steele
Copyright: Public Domain

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Instances

Instances (1 - 15 of 15)
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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns #430

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A Selection of Sacred Poetry #430

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A Selection of Sacred Poetry #430

Christian Psalms and Hymns to Aid in Public and Private Devotion #d402

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Church Psalmist #702

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Church Psalmist #702

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Church Psalmist #702

Text

Poems on Subjects Chiefly Devotional, Vol. 2 #55

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Seamen's Hymns #685

Seamen's Hymns and Devotional Assistant #d286

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Social Psalmist #702

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The Christian Melodist #536

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