To The University Of Cambridge, In New-England in  General   

WHILE an intrinsic ardor prompts to write,
The muses promise to assist my pen;
'Twas not long since I left my native shore
The land of errors, and Egyptain gloom:
Father of mercy, 'twas thy gracious hand
Brought me in safety from those dark abodes.
Students, to you 'tis giv'n to scan the heights
Above, to traverse the ethereal space,
And mark the systems of revolving worlds.
Still more, ye sons of science ye receive
The blissful news by messengers from heav'n,
How Jesus' blood for your redemption flows.
See him with hands out-stretcht upon the cross;
Immense compassion in his bosom glows;
He hears revilers, nor resents their scorn:
What matchless mercy in the Son of God!
When the whole human race by sin had fall'n,
He deign'd to die that they might rise again,
And share with him in the sublimest skies,
Life without death, and glory without end.
Improve your privileges while they stay,
Ye pupils, and each hour redeem, that bears
Or good or bad report of you to heav'n.
Let sin, that baneful evil to the soul,
By you be shun'd, nor once remit your guard;
Suppress the deadly serpent in its egg.
Ye blooming plants of human race divine,
An Ethiop tells you 'tis your greatest foe;
Its transient sweetness turns to endless pain,
And in immense perdition sinks the soul.

By Phillis Wheatley

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Other poems by Phillis Wheatley:

• A Farewel To America to Mrs. S. W.
• A Funeral Poem on the Death of C.E.
• A Rebus, By I. B.
• An Hymn To The Evening
• An Hymn To The Morning
• Goliath Of Gath
• Isaiah LXIII
• Niobe in Distress
• Ode To Neptune
• On Being Brought from Africa to America
• On Recollection
• On the Death of a Young Gentleman
• On The Death Of A Young Lady Of Five Years Of Age
• On The Death Of Dr. Samuel Marshall
• On The Death Of J. C. An Infant
• On The Death Of Rev. Mr. George Whitefield
• On the Death of the Rev. Dr. Sewell
• On Virtue
• One Being Brought From Africa To America
• Thoughts On The Works Of Providence
• To A Clergyman On The Death Of His Lady
• To a Gentleman on His Voyage to Great-Britain
• To a Lady and Her Children
• To a Lady on Her Coming to North-America
• To a Lady on Her Remarkable Preservation
• To A Lady On The Death Of Her Husband
• To A Lady On The Death Of The Three Relations
• To Captain H-----d, of the 65th Regiment
• To His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor
• To The Honourable T. H. Esq; On the Death Of His D
• To the Rev. Dr. Thomas Amory
• To The University Of Cambridge, In New-England