ページの画像
PDF
ePub

Did ever man proclaim such things before?
Was ever utter'd such celestial lore?

How mild! and how affectionately bland!
How simply, how majestically grand!
What just, what pure, what beneficial sense!
What gentle, but resistless eloquence!
'Tis like the dew of Hermon, wont to still
Its balmly virtue upon Sion hill;
'Tis to fatigue like balmly sleep or rest,
Like cooling water to the thirst-opprest.
To them these holy precepts who pursue,
The sweetest satisfaction will ensue;
But they who their benev❜lent spirit scorn,
By the keen darts of anguish shall be torn,
Shall rage in wild, or in forlorn despair shall

mourn.

35

40

45

Though he delighted to convince the mind,

He never violence to reason join'd.

He bore no zeal with persecution fierce,
From ev'ry deed of cruelty averse.

[blocks in formation]

50

And when his two disciples flush'd with ire,
Wish'd him to blast with heav'n's avenging fire,
Th' ungenerous Samaritans and rude,

Who from their city would his feet extrude,

55

For that he meant (from whence their hatred grew.) His journey to Jerus❜lem to pursue;

These though they schismatics, apostates were,

Yet would he not to punishment confer;
And uninflam'd this soft reply he gave,

60

"I am not come t'extirpate, but to save.”
Ah lovely meekness! Ah endearing word!
Worthy the son of heav'n's indulgent Lord!
Which ev'ry Christian with elab'rate art,
Should grave upon the living tablet of the heart. 65

Learn hence ye priests society who vex
With lies, with creeds sophisticate perplex;

By threats who silence, and unite by force;
And where ye can't convince th' opponent, curse;
O'er those who to your dogmas will not yield,

In rage th' exterminating sword who wield;

70

Learn Christ disclaims you, though his name ye bear,
For though fierce wolves, the lamb's soft dress ye wear.
And learn, thou Rome! thou blood-stain'd prostitute!
Whom murders, and whom heresies pollute! 75
Thou nurse of vain and curst idolatry!
Thy faith to Christ is blackest blasphemy!

Whose gentle gospel it contrasts as far,
As nature of antipathy can bear;

As filth, sweet cleanliness; as darkness, light; 80
Deformity, fair grace; hell, heav'n all bright.

The self-sufficient Pharisee repin'd,

That Christ with publicans and sinners din'd.
But he the sick and not the healthy said,
Requir'd the learn'd Physician's cautious aid:

85

And told them by his Father he was sent,

To make the bad, not righteous, penitent.

Thou who from vice know'st such excess of care,

That it but little differs from despair.

Whose pamper'd body with disease is fraught,

Or prodigality to want has brought;

go

Or fraud to grinning infamy has led,

Making thee wish to hide thy odious head;
Yet ere distress to suicide begu le,

Pause on eternity's dread verge awhile.

Let thy great Saviour's all-subduing word,
To thy perturbed spirit hope afford,

95

Who said that penitence, through boundless love, Will make rejoicings in the realms above.

Go to thy closet, secretly retire,

And strive to wake devotion's latent fire,

100

105

Strike on thy wicked heart, that heart of rock,
Which reason, piety, and love would mock;
(As Moses in the desart struck the stone,
And out the water gush'd 'till then unknown)
Then if the tear should trickle down thy face,
That tear which is the sign of coming grace,
In prostrate rev'rence to th' eternal throne,
Thyself thy great and num'rous sins make known. 110
To the repentance that's sincere is giv'n,
Delightful hope, anticipating Heav'n:
And manly fortitude will spring from pray'r,

Not only that which smiles at scorn and care,

But that by earth and hell which unsubdu'd,
Inflexibly adheres to what is good.
Thus if thou dost thy former errors hate,
And art in truth, in act regenerate,
The record of thy vices then shall stand,
No longer than thy name upon the sand;
But all thy virtues shall emblazon'd shine,
Recorded upon Adamant divine,

To captivate th' admiring Seraph's sight,
And please the Host who live in endless light.

115

120

And our great Master in each various scene,

Was equal, and inflexibly serene;

125

Was affable, and easy of access;

Was kind, and studious ev'ry one to bless;
Studious to spread his wholesome doctrines wide,
Estrang'd from passion, arrogance, and pride; 130
Modest, and humble, patient and resign'd,
Of a contented, and a tranquil mind,

To contemplation, and to solitude inclin'd.

« 前へ次へ »