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A COLLECTION OF POEMS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS.
By THOMAS ELLWOOD.
LONDON: Printed and ſold by LUKE HINDE, in George-yard, Lombard-ſtreet. [Price Six-pence]
TO THE READER.
[ii]THE following POEMS, wrote by THOMAS ELLWOOD, (which have lain dormant in Manuſcript for many Years) being lately communica⯑ted to me by a Friend, I thereupon gave them a ſerious Peruſal; and obſerving the pious and religious Sentiments wherewith they abound, thought they were too good to be loſt; eſpecially as there is room to hope, the uncaptious and ſincerely religious Youth of either Sex, may be benefit⯑ted thereby.
The EDITOR.
DIVINE WORSHIP.
[3]‘In vain do they worſhip Me, teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of Men. Mat. xv. 9.’
OF WORSHIP I preſume to ſing,
Yet from the Nine no Aid implore,
SHILOH's out-vies Caſtalia's Spring,
Aſſiſt bleſt Pow'r whom I adore;
Breath on my Muſe, and fill her Quill
With ſacred Dews from Hermon-hill.
Momus be gone, fly all ye Vain,
Who the Wit of Poems place
In florid Strains, my Muſe is plain;
Fine Cloth exceeds fantaſtick Lace
On Kerſey ſet; I leave thoſe Flights,
To ſuch as Fiction moſt delights.
Let them alſo avoid the Place,
Should there be of that ſcoffing Stock,
Who are ſo deſtitute of GRACE,
They at the SPIRIT's Infl'ence mock;
[4]To ſuch my Muſe no Pleaſure brings,
Who ſcorn the Power by which ſhe ſings.
But come all ye who TRUTH embrace,
Whoſe Souls do pure Religion love,
Who prize the Gift of ſacred GRACE,
Whoſe Treaſure lies in Realms above;
Nay all, that are not Foes, draw near,
And grant my Song a willing Ear.
In early Times, when Man was made,
Before the Prieſthood was confin'd,
While TRUTH in Adam's Houſhold ſtay'd,
And GOD ador'd by all Mankind;
No Form of Worſhip, that appears,
Had been preſcrib'd for many Years.
While Men with GOD a Converſe kept,
And on Him did devoutly wait,
He gracious, while they wak'd or ſlept,
Did ſo their Minds illuminate,
That they not only knew His Will,
But by His Aid could it fulfill.
[5]
Before the Flood, and after long,
The Patriarchs directed were,
Both when to warble out their Song,
And how to ope Heav'ns Gate by Pray'r;
Whatever Act the LORD requir'd,
Their Hearts He thereunto inſpir'd.
But after that, Heav'n did decree,
In ſpecial Love to Abraham,
That his Poſterity ſhould be
Sacred to Him, and bear His Name;
A Worſhip aſked at their hand,
Which did in Obſervations ſtand.
What muſt be offer'd, when and where,
Each Part was carefully expreſt;
The various Modes preſcribed were
For ſacrificing, and the reſt;
Set-times were fix'd for ſolemn Feaſts,
Diff'rence 'twixt clean, and unclean Beaſts,
This legal Worſhip, as it ſtood
In Meats and Drinks, and carnal Rites,
Were Types of that eternal Good,
To which the Goſpel all invites;
[6]The longeſt Date that it could claim,
Was but till * REFORMATION came.
When that auſpicious Time drew nigh,
The Morning of that Day was come,
The WORD, deſcending from on high,
Took ſinleſs Fleſh in Virgin's Womb;
At whoſe bleſt Birth, Heaven's Hoſt rejoice,
And pour their Hymns with raptur'd Voice.
SHILOH, ſo oft foretold, thus come,
His Death the Temple-vail did rend,
And being of thoſe Types the SUM,
That Diſpenſation had its End;
'Twas meet the Servant ſhould withdraw,
When he the MASTER's Preſence ſaw.
But yet, e'er CHRIST would abrogate
A Worſhip ſo long Time in Uſe,
And diſannul the legal State,
He did a better introduce;
This LAW was not in Marble cut,
But in the Heart and Conſcience put:
[7]
For ſo the Prophets, in GOD's Name,
While yet the LAW in Vigour ſtood,
Did by Authority proclaim:
He ſaid (who what He ſays makes good)
* After thoſe Days, I in the Heart
My FEAR will place, and LAW impart.
Again; † And it ſhall come to paſs,
My SPIRIT on all Fleſh I'll pour,
On Young and Old, the Lad and Laſs,
Shall feel the Virtue of this Show'r;
Not of the Prieſt ſhall LAW be ſought,
But all thy Sons, of GOD be taught.
Happy they! who ſuch a TEACHER have,
And yield thereto a willing Ear;
From all that's hurtful He will ſave,
If in His LAW they perſevere:
O! that Mankind therein would walk,
Nor ſome againſt, ſome only for, it talk.
The SON of GOD, who from Heav'n came,
And fully Man's Redemption wrought,
[8]When met by the Samarian Dame,
The true approved Worſhip taught:
Tho' rever'd for Jacob's Fount;
But who the FATHER will adore,
Whether Bond or Free, Ag'd or Youth,
Muſt worſhip not as heretofore
In Types, but in SPIRIT and TRUTH:
God's a Spirit!—among Jews and Greeks,
Such inward Worſhipers He ſeeks.
Not thoſe who ſerve in Repititions,
Or in Preſcriptions, as the Jews,
Nor yet in oral, vain Traditions,
Such as Samaritans did uſe:
Th' Jewiſh Faith in Symbols ſtood,
Th' Samaritan's was never good.
Types, Shadows, Sacraments and Signs,
Did on this Diſpenſation wait;
Who to the Goſpel-worſhip joins,
Shadows muſt leave to th' ſhad'wy State:
[9]'Tis not the fatted Calf that ſkips,
Is offer'd now, but Calves of Lips.
Thanks and Praiſe, Sacrifices are
To GOD moſt pleaſing, when they ſpring
From a pure Heart He doth prepare,
And then excites His Acts to ſing:
True Chriſt'ans uſe both Heart and Tongue,
Whene'er a Hymn or Pſalm is ſung.
Not chanting, in a formal Note,
States touch'd in ancient Song,
Perverting what the Pſalmiſt wrote,
Whoſe Caſe cannot to all belong;
'Tis who their own Exper'ence bring,
With Spirit and with Judgment ſing.
Inſtead of Incenſe to perfume
The Altar, from the Soul ariſe
In Flames (that warm but not conſume)
Sighs, Supplications, Groans and Cries,
Which tho' but weak, do never fail,
At MERCY's Fountain to prevail.
[10]
* We know not what to aſk—PAUL taught;
Who then ſhall Forms appoint?
True Pray'r is by the SPIRIT wrought,
With which Heav'n does each Child anoint;
He that beſt knows what we ſhould have,
Inwardly teacheth what to crave.
This then of WORSHIP is the Sum,
To wait in SPIRIT on the LORD,
That at what Time He deigns to come,
The Soul may hear His living Word,
And with Alacrity fulfill,
What He makes known to be His Will.
For when the Mind on GOD is ſtay'd,
In Silence waiting to be taught,
The World's Concerns aſide are laid,
Nor Licence gi'n to one vain Thought;
The LORD doth to that Soul draw near,
And with Inſtruction fills its Ear.
Inſtructed ſtill, the Soul doth cleave,
The LORD His Virtue doth impart,
[11]Diſcoveries of His Will He leaves,
Which operate upon the Heart;
A Sacrifice He doth prepare,
Whether Thankſgiving, Praiſe or Pray'r.
Great is the Pleaſure GOD doth take
In ſuch Oblations; in His Sight
That Soul is dear, he'll not forſake,
But in His Book his Name will write:
The Joys that the Obedient feel,
Nor Men nor Angels can reveal.
INWARD PEACE.
‘My PEACE I give unto you. John xiv. 27.’
WHO can conceive, much leſs expreſs,
The inward Peace which they poſſeſs,
Who, by the Indwelling of the LIGHT,
Have put ſatanic Pow'rs to flight;
In whom, renew'd and born again,
The LORD of Life doth live and reign:
Renew'd, reſtor'd, purg'd, purify'd,
And nat'ral Rovings laid aſide;
[12]Cleans'd by the BLOOD, kept by the GRACE,
That Sin in them ſcarce finds a Place;
The Temple ſwept, prepar'd, then bleſt
With Preſence of an heav'nly Gueſt,
A Gueſt, not for a Night or twain,
But one that always will remain;
Yea, ſuch a Gueſt as doth impart,
That Joy which overcomes the Heart,
A Joy ſo great, no Tongue of Man,
Expreſs the Fullneſs of it can;
And this unutterable Bliſs,
Flows from the Love of GOD to His.
O! Love immenſe, and without Bound,
To all that in the TRUTH are found,
Words are too ſhort to ſet it forth
In its Extent, and real Worth.
The Wife, that in the Boſom lies,
Is precious in the Huſband's Eyes;
The ſucking Babe is very near,
The only Son, exceeding dear;
Tender the Apple of the Eye,
Friends and Relations very nigh;
But yet this Love doth far tranſcend
That to Wife, Child, Eye, Parent, Friend.
[13]Theſe Metaphors are all too low,
The Nature of this Love to ſhow;
No Tongue is able to declare,
How dear to GOD His Children are;
Only the Senſe of it is felt,
Which breaks the Heart and makes it melt.
FRAUS DIABOLICA.
THE Devil over-reach'd Men by a Slight,
When firſt he taught them to oppoſe the LIGHT,
For he himſelf in Darkneſs dwells; and he
That hates the LIGHT, muſt needs in Darkneſs be:
Arch-craft indeed! he knows the LIGHT who ſhun,
Muſt needs into the thickeſt Darkneſs run,
And he ſo craftily his Plot has laid,
That many ſimple Ones he hath betray'd,
To tread the Path that leads to Death's dark Cell,
'Till by a ſad Miſtake they come to Hell.
LOYALTY.
I KNOW my Heart is loyal to my Prince,
I never harbour'd a diſloyal Thought,
[14]And If my Pen or Tongue hath given Offence,
That Error hath thro' Ignorance been wrought;
For which, when prov'd, I will for Mercy cry,
And thankful live, or uncomplaining die.
THOUGHTS.
HOW long, alas, ſhall vain Thoughts in me reſt,
And find a lurking Place within my Breaſt!
How long, how long, e'er I a Conqueror be,
And o'er my ownſelf get the Victory!
Ah, how diſguſtful is it when I find,
Some little triv'al Thought poſſeſs my Mind!
Oft have I ſet myſelf to keep the Door,
That no vain Cogitation enter more,
And reckon'd too, ſo ſtrict a Watch to keep,
That nothing unexamin'd in ſhould creep;
But on a ſudden, when I leaſt ſuſpected,
An idle Thought has Satan introjected,
Which, like a little Thief, hath open ſet
The Door, for greater Rovers in to get.
I'll truſt myſelf no more; I ſee 'tis vain,
Man of himſelf no Conqueſt can obtain;
[15]To Him will I betake myſelf, from whom,
Each good and perfect Gift, I know, doth come;
His Succour will I beg, His Aid implore,
Who for the Helpleſs, ſtill has Help in Store.
Thou Iſrael's SHEPHERD, Thou alone canſt keep
My Soul, who neither ſlumber doſt nor ſleep;
Thou Every-where, who doſt all Places fill,
Who art both perfect POW'R and perfect WILL,
Thou all-ſufficient art; no Thought can fly
The Scrutage of Thy all-diſcerning EYE;
And Thou, dear FATHER, too commanded haſt
Thy Children, all their Care on THEE to caſt,
Which I moſt gladly do; but yet not ſo,
As henceforth careleſs in myſelf to grow;
No, I reſolve ſtill on the Watch to be,
Not in my own Strength, but impower'd by Thee.
Set Thou the Watch, O LORD, appoint the Guard,
Give Thou the Charge; O help me ſo to ward,
That no vain Thought into my Mind may ſlip,
But in the Embrio may receive a Nip;
Thou, who for me haſt great Deliv'rance wrought
Deliver too from ev'ry idle Thought.
To ſuch as ſtand idle in the Market-place.
[16]WHY do you trifle thus your Time away?
Why are you of ſuch Treaſure ſo profuſe?
Do you expect to have another Day,
Who of the preſent make ſo ill a Uſe?
How can it be?
The Moment that is paſt, will come no more,
The Hour miſpent, can never be recall'd,
Old Cronos has but one poor Lock before,
His Head behind is altogether bald;
Take that from me.
Be therefore wiſe in Time, while yet an Hour
Is lent you, leſt when that is vainly ſpent,
It never ſhould again be in your Pow'r
(Although with Tears ye ſeek it) to repent;
For GOD is juſt.
And tho' He frequently doth Man invite,
To ceaſe from Evil, and accept of GRACE,
Yet, if fond Man perſiſts His Love to ſlight,
MERCY withdraws, Juſtice ſteps in her Place,
And die he muſt.
AGONY.
[17]I FAINT; my dying Breath will not ſuffice
To midwife forth my Words; my falt'ring Tongue
Reſigns its Office to my weeping Eyes;
Speak Eyes, and do my faithful Heart no Wrong.
Ye cryſtal Fountains ſet your Sluices wide,
Stream forth your Tears like a full flowing Tide;
Draw up the Flood-gates, let the Torrent flow
In its right Current, whether faſt or ſlow.
A STATE.
BLEST is the Man, whoſe Heart is found,
When Trials come, upright and ſound,
Whom not the Hopes of greateſt Gain,
Nor Fear of moſt tormenting Pain,
Nor yet the moſt magnetick Pleaſure,
Nor Honours heap'd up without meaſure,
Can cauſe to ſhrink or ſtart aſide,
And leave the ſtrait Way for the wide.
[18]This is the STATE on which my Eye is fix'd,
Oh! that no Cloud may ever come betwixt,
But that my Heart may henceforth always dwell,
In that which doth all earthly Things excel;
For he alone can ſtand the dreadful Shock,
Whoſe Houſe is built on the eternal ROCK.
To a FRIEND in AMERICA.
MY Heart is with thee, but I dare not give
Myſelf the Pleaſure of a wand'ring Thought,
That I to ſee the Day may ever live,
When to America I may be brought;
Where I that peaceful Solitude may find,
Which more than Riches would delight my Mind.
But here I'm fix'd, my Station here is ſet,
By Him whoſe Will is ſov'reign to mine,
My Work and Service tye me here as yet,
At which I bleſs my GOD, I don't repine;
O! may my Spirit always take Delight,
In that which is moſt pleaſing in His Sight.
DEUS eſt qui cuncta gubernat.
[19]EXCEPT the * LORD the City keep,
The Watchman watches but in vain;
The Adverſary in will creep,
And hardly be got out again.
So cloſe his Stratagems are laid,
So deep and many are his Wiles,
The Sentinel's by him betray'd,
And he the Watchman too beguiles.
Sometimes TRUTH's Colours up he ſets,
As if indeed a Friend he were,
And by that Practice in he gets,
Before his Falſhood doth appear.
And, which is worſt, within are ſome,
That always treacherous have been,
Who when he to the Gate doth come,
Too ready are to let him in.
[20]
LORD! Thou art He in whom I truſt,
On whom my Safety doth depend;
Thou only canſt ſubdue the Luſt,
Thou only canſt the Place defend.
My Weakneſs, LORD, I daily find,
'Tis Thou alone ſufficient art,
To Thee therefore, I have reſign'd
The Care and keeping of my Heart.
Be Thou Commander there in chief,
Place Thou the Guard, the Watchman ſet,
At each Aſſault ſend Thou Relief,
Let Satan no Advantage get.
Put Thou the Enemy to flight,
Break Thou his Strength, his Works deſtroy,
Diſcomfit Thou his Forces quite,
And fill my Soul with laſting Joy.
Take too a Courſe with thoſe within,
That would the Place to him betray,
Burn up the Ground that brings forth Sin,
And the rebellious Nature ſlay.
[21]
Then ſhall I praiſe Thy holy Name,
And Hallelujahs to Thee ſing,
My Tongue and Pen extend Thy Fame,
Who art my GOD, and Sion's KING.
FANCY.
WHen LOVE and HATE before my Fancy paſs,
They look, methinks, like a proſpective Glaſs;
If on another Perſon's Failings, I
Do chance at any Time to caſt an Eye,
LOVE takes the End that doth extenuate;
The oppoſite is held by ſquint-ey'd HATE.
But if, on 'tother hand, I have a mind,
To view their Actions who to me are kind,
LOVE preſently preſents unto mine Eye
That Glaſs, which their good Turns will magnify:
HATE too would be as forward, if ſhe might,
To clap her partial Glaſs before my Sight:
But I am weary of her;—for I know,
She to all Goodneſs is a mortal Foe:
LOVE's the beſt Glaſs by far; yet many chuſe,
To look thro' that which Sight doth moſt abuſe.
LOVE's Original.
[22]LOVE is a Cyon cropt from Virtue's Tree,
And grafted in the Stock of Purity;
Planted at firſt in Nature's choiſeſt Soil,
Before the Fiend did Nature's Beauty ſpoil;
But thence tranſplanted to a richer Ground,
Than can in all Dame Nature's Realm be found,
Where being well manur'd, it takes deep Root
Downward, and Branches upward forth doth ſhoot:
The Sap, which doth this ſtately Tree maintain,
Is Sympathy; which runs as in a Vein
Thro' every Branch, cauſing it firſt to ſprout,
And e'er awhile, young tender Buds ſpring out.
Nor is it barren, but much Fruit doth bear,
To Taſte moſt pleaſing, and to Sight moſt fair;
A ſound ſubſtantial Fruit, that can indure
The ſharpeſt Froſt, and yet continue pure:
And that ye may this Fruit the more admire,
Take Notice, that I call it Chaſte Deſire.
LOVE's Definition.
[23]The Author being preſs'd to ſhew his Mind,
What is true Love, what not, hath here defin'd.
I CALL not that true Love, which can admit
Of Heats and Colds like to an Ague-fit;
Thoſe Rivers which, their Banks do overflow,
In a few Hours their empty Channels ſhow.
That's not true Love, that's grounded upon Wealth,
Or hath the leaſt Regard to worldly Pelf;
For ſuch an one, might he his End obtain,
Would proſtitute his very WIFE for Gain.
Nor can he with true Lovers have a Place,
Who's Love depends upon ſome pretty Face,
Which Age or Sickneſs having once defac'd,
The very Ground-work of his Love is raz'd.
And ſince that ſordid Thing Self-Intereſt,
Is able to defile the chaſteſt Breaſt,
If not prevented; therefore I declare,
That it and true Love inconſiſtent are.
[24]
Such Marks as theſe, I could add many more
Like Watch-tow'rs, tending to forewarn the jolly
But young unſkilful Mariners, before
They ſplit their Veſſels on the Rocks of Folly.
But for this Theme let this ſuffice, while I,
Tir'd with the Subject, borrow Wings and fly
Into an higher Orb, where I may view,
That Love who's choiceſt Epithet is true.
That I call Love, that only Love I call,
Whoſe Birth appears to be Caeleſtial;
That, and that only, I account true Love,
Which in the Sphere of CHASTITY doth move.
He's a true Lover (not who can ſubdue,
Monſters and Giants for his Miſtreſs Sake,
And ſighs perhaps and weep, with much ado,
For fear ſhe ſhould ſome other happy make;
But) who ſo far her Happineſs prefers
Before his own, that he can be content
To ſacrifice his own to purchaſe hers,
Tho' with the Price of his own Baniſhment.
[25]
A hearty Lover wholly doth devote
Himſelf, to make her happy whom he loves,
And doth with Might and Main her Good promote,
Altho' deſtructive to his Hopes it proves.
He that loves truly, loves to that Degree,
Whatever Notions Libertines may ſpread,
That he would be content, yea, joy to ſee
His Miſtreſs bleſs ſome worthier Perſon's Bed.
Nor can true Love to Hatred ever turn,
Although it never ſhould Acceptance find,
But like a Lamp, clear to the laſt would burn,
And thereby manifeſt a noble Mind.
Such amorous Motions then conclude we muſt,
How ſpeciouſly ſo ever they are deckt,
Proceed not from true Love, but filthy Luſt,
Which each chaſte Breaſt ſhould ſtudy to reject.
LOVE's Caveat.
[26]IF VIRTUE move
A Man to love,
How can he then refuſe?
If NATURE move,
Unleſs he prove,
How knows he what to chuſe?
For Vice's Look
For VIRTUE's took
By many an honeſt Heart,
Who think they're ſafe,
Till felt they have
Her deadly ſtinging Smart:
And then too late,
Cry O! my Fate!
Was ever Grief like mine?
I thought my Love
Sprung from above,
And that it was divine;
[27]
But now I find,
With Grief of Mind,
That from the Earth it came,
And that the Fruit,
Which thence doth ſhoot,
Is nought but Grief and Shame.
Thus honeſt Men
Are, now and then,
Deceiv'd by Beauty's Bait,
Which makes them chuſe
Pleaſure, and loſe
A far more happy State.
Nor can Man be
From Danger free,
But as he doth abide,
In that which will
That Nature kill,
And keeps cloſe to his Guide.
Which if he do,
'Twill to him ſhew
Each Motion's Root and Ground,
[28]That in this Day
No Folly may
In ISRAEL be found.
Which is the Cry,
Of one whoſe Eye
Hath been too apt to ſtray;
Who could not ſtand,
Did not GOD's Hand
Support him Day by Day.
INTEGRITY.
IT is not Wealth, nor worldly Pelf,
Could my Affection take,
I am not ſuch a Friend to SELF,
To ſuffer for its Sake.
'Tis not the Features of a Face,
Could captivate mine Eye,
I have ſeen ſome of th' ſweeteſt grace,
Yet kept my Liberty.
What was it then, ſtout Heart, I pray,
Did thee to Love incline?
[29]Canſt thou, without Preſumption, ſay
It was a Pow'r divine?
Much I could ſay, did Need require,
In Favour of my Love,
But I chuſe rather to retire,
Let it itſelf approve.
A PROSPECT.
'TWAS tow'rds the Evening of the Day,
When Books lie ſtill, and Scholars play,
That having got an Hour to ſpare,
I walked out to take the Air;
To which the Heavens did invite,
With Smiles that promiſed Delight.
My Walk upon a Bank I took,
Which was the Margin to a Brook,
Whoſe cryſtal Streams ſo ſmall did ſlide,
As if they fear'd to be deſcry'd,
Save that a Pebble, here and there,
Whiſper'd their Flight into mine Ear.
[30]
Hence I deſign'd to take a View,
Of NATURE in her richeſt Hue:
Nor ſhould I think my Labour loſt
To ſee the like at double Coſt.
The Birds, in various Notes, did ſing
A Penegyrick to the Spring;
Each ſtrove, I think, to do her beſt,
But Philomel excell'd the reſt;
The Trees ſerv'd for a ſhady Screen,
Hung round with Canopies of green,
And ſome were here and there imboſs'd
With Bloſſoms, at Dame Nature's Coſt,
Which with a gentle Zephyr play'd,
And pretty whiſt'ling Murmurs made.
Which Way ſo e'er I turn'd mine Eye,
I ſaw well-mix'd Variety;
The fine wrought Tap'ſtry of the Field,
Did many pretty Landſcapes yield:
Here Wheat, there Barley, did appear,
Some in the Blade, ſome in the Ear;
The Peaſe in Bloom, and Beans in Flow'r,
Stood waiting for a gentle Show'r;
For fear of which, in Haſte home flies
The Bee with Honey-laden Thighs.
[31]The Meadows, in their Graſs-green Veſt,
Methought were very neatly dreſt,
Not only neat, but richly fraught,
With checquer'd Flowers finely wrought,
Cowſlips and Violets intermixt,
And tufted Daiſes caſt betwixt;
Each Object did affect my Sight,
With ſweeteſt innocent Delight.
But ſtay'd I there? Oh no, my Heart
Cry'd ſtill, Give me the better Part,
Let me with Him for ever live,
That to theſe Things doth Being give;
Exterior Things may pleaſe each Senſe,
And be enjoy'd without Offence,
But nothing but a Power divine,
Can make their Virtues truly mine;
Thy Wiſdom, therefore ſo infuſe
Into my Heart, that I may uſe
Thy Creatures as they ought to be,
And ſtill return the Praiſe to Thee,
To whom the higheſt Praiſe is due,
O GOD moſt holy, juſt and true.
Upon his dear deceaſed Friends, ISAAC and MARY PENINGTON,
[32]SINCE firſt made One, as One they liv'd together
In Heart and Mind, in Fleſh and Spirit One,
'Till Death in part this Unity did ſever,
By taking him and leaving her alone,
In ſilent Grief his Abſence to bemoan.
He being gone ſhe could not long ſurvive,
But daily from his Death began to die,
And rather ſeem'd to be, than was alive:
Reſtleſs, till by his Side ſhe came to lie,
Her Spirit join'd to his again on high.
Thus Death, by whom the parting Blow was given,
Brought them together again, in Earth and Heaven.
In Remembrance of my Friend, MARY PENINGTON.
UPON September's eighteenth Day,
In ſixteen hundred eighty two,
Death took a virtuous DAME away,
Who of her Equals left but few;
[33]She Widow was, but now is gone
To SPRINGETT and to PENINGTON.
For perſonal Endowments held
She juſtly was, to few behind;
But thoſe wherein ſhe moſt excell'd,
Were the Endowments of the Mind:
My Pen, I fear, would wrong her Worth,
Should I attempt to ſet them forth.
I therefore purpoſely abſtain,
From ſeeking Words, to ſpeak her Praiſe,
I know 'twould Labour be in vain,
Her Fame no Words can higher raiſe;
Let others ſing her Worth, while I
Honour and love her Memory.
EXERCISE.
AH me! how bitter is this Cup to drink!
How do I tremble when on it I think!
Surely, to fight with Tigres, or to rouſe
Old hungry Lyons, were leſs hazardous;
Yea, I ſhould think I made a happy Change,
To meet a Bear, whom Hunger makes to range,
[34]Or to encounter with a Dragon fierce,
Whoſe ſcaly Hide no Sword did ever pierce.
But what! do I demur; ſtill make Delay!
Seem yet to doubt, whether I ſhould obey,
Or Rebel prove! let no ſuch tainting Thought,
Into my yet untainted Breaſt be brought.
Why ſtay I? Why forbear then to proceed?
Succeſs crowns Acts; Delays but Danger breed,
And Strength in Weakneſs, Faithfulneſs doth find,
When Slothfulneſs is often left behind.
The bleating Sheep; or the Flock's Complaint of their Shepherds.
‘Woe to the Shepherds of Iſrael that do feed themſelves—Ye feed not the Flock—but with Force and with Cruelty have ruled them.—Therefore, thus faith the LORD, Behold I am againſt the Shepherds, I will require my Flock at their hand. Ezek. xxxiv. 2, 3, 4, 10.’
IN elder Times, e'er Shepherds were ſo great,
So ARCH ſo LORDLY, ſo ambitious grown;
Long time before the Pontificial Seat,
Wherewith the World has been ſo plagu'd, was known;
[35]
Before that Voice was heard, which Stories ſay,
Was ſpoke from Heaven by an Angel's Tongue,
[Poiſon is pour'd into the Church this Day]
When Conſtantine his great Revenues flung
Amongſt the gaping Shepherds, e'er much Wealth,
Had made them proud and lazy; long e'er this,
While they their Conventicles had by Stealth,
And glad were when Informers they could miſs.
How honourable was the Shepherd's Trade
In thoſe bleſt Times! how much to be deſir'd,
When none unto himſelf Advantage made
O' th' Flock, when none to lordly Rule aſpir'd.
Not ſeeking theirs but them; content to live
(And living well thereon, 'cauſe therein bleſt)
Upon the Milk the Sheep did freely give;
Thus were the Shepherds fed, Sheep not oppreſt.
Nor were, mean while, the fleecy Flock ingrate,
But right regardful of their Paſtor's Pains,
With chearful Hearts they did communicate
Of each good Thing, that human Life ſuſtains.
[36]
In ſweet Communion thus they walk'd together,
And mutual Comfort in each other had,
What was a Grief to one, was Grief to either,
And what made one rejoice, made t'other glad.
The Shepherds for the Sheep no Pains did ſpare,
But for their Safety labour'd, watch'd and pray'd;
The Sheep were conſcious of the Shepherds Care,
And unto them a due Obſervance paid:
And both the Shepherds and the Sheep did aim,
In all they undertook, with Heart and Tongue,
To magnify the ſupreme SHEPHERD's Name,
To whom both Sheep and Shepherds did belong.
Thus was it in the Morning of that Day,
Which on the Heathen World long ſince did break,
And thus it held, while ſimple TRUTH bore Sway,
As Stories ſacred and prophane do ſpeak.
But ah! how ſhort a Time that Day did laſt,
How ſoon eclipſed was that glorious LIGHT!
How quickly was its Brightneſs overcaſt,
And buried in the Grave of duſky Night!
[37]
Which ne'er to be enough lamented Loſs,
The Ruin of ſo excellent a State,
By what unhappy Means it came to paſs,
My Muſe will in the following Lines relate.
Bleſt with a peaceful Time, the fruitful Flock
Grew num'rous, fat, and with fair Fleeces clad,
After they had ſuſtained many a Shock
From Wolves, Bears, Tigres, and from Dogs run mad.
Enrich'd with Plenty by the bounteous Hand
Of the great SHEPHERD, whoſe indulgent Care
Over His Flock, His Treaſures did expand,
And all good Things did for His Sheep prepare.
The grateful Flock, of Quiet thus poſſeſt,
And having now of worldly Wealth good Store,
Remember'd, with a right regardful Breaſt,
The Sufferings of their Paſtors heretofore.
With open Hand, and with enlarged Heart,
(Such is the Nature of a bounteous Mind)
They to their Paſtors did their Wealth impart,
Each ſtriving how to leave the Reſt behind.
[38]
None thought he gave enough, all ſtudied how
They to their Shepherds might their Love expreſs,
Each ſeem'd to vie, which ſhould the Church endow,
Moſt amply with the Goods he did poſſeſs.
Thus they went on a while; but e'er 'twas long,
The Glew of Gold to paſtoral Fingers ſtuck,
Th' attractive Pow'r of Riches was ſo ſtrong,
It did them from their honeſt Labours pluck.
The Phrygian Fabler tells us of a Hen,
That one Egg daily added to the Store,
Until her Dame her over-fed, and then
She grew ſo over-fat, ſhe laid no more.
So did it with theſe antient Shepherds fare,
Who while a ſpare and temp'rate Life they led,
Upon their Flock, nor Care nor Pains did ſpare;
What Pity 'twas they e'er were over-fed.
For after that, thro' too indulgent Love,
And injudicious Zeal, the well-fleec'd ſheep,
Upon their Shepherds (who had learnt t' improve
Their Bounty) did un-needed Riches heap.
[39]
The Shepherds who, by that Time were become,
(Not better, but) more greedy than before,
The more they in ſuperfluous Plenty ſwam,
The more they wanted, and ſtill crav'd the more.
The Sheep, by blind Devotion led, ſtill give,
In hopes at length the Shepherds Mouths to fill,
Scarce leaving to themſelves whereon to live,
And yet the gaping Shepherds craved ſtill.
At length the Shepherds, in ſome grand Offence,
Some of the chief Bell-weathers having caught,
Wrang from them great Endowments on pretence,
Large Gifts to them, would expiate the Fau't.
By various Arts the wily Shepherds get,
From the unthinking Sheep, ſtill more and more,
And what at firſt was GIFT, they now call DEBT,
The Sheep muſt now pay, what they gave before.
Full-fed, the Shepherds quickly idle grew,
Betook themſelves to a voluptuous Eaſe,
Their due Attendance on the Flock withdrew,
And ſtudied chiefly how themſelves to pleaſe.
[40]
Then Diſcord roſe among them, how to part
Their ill-got Wealth; they could not well agree,
Only in this they all were of one Heart,
That by them all the Flock ſhould fleeced be.
Themſelves they therefore into Cycles caſt,
Some ſmall, ſome great, ſome low, ſome too too high,
And that the Model might the better laſt,
They gave their Plan the Name of HIERARCHY.
The higher Orbs the ſturdier Shepherds take,
And thereof, as their own, themſelves poſſeſs,
Where fair Proviſions for themſelves they make,
Leaving the lower Circles to the leſs.
Thoſe Under-Shepherds, Servants to the reſt,
Thus left to ſcramble for what t'others left,
Each carved for himſelf as he thought beſt,
So parting, tho' unequally, their Theft.
To theſe the Maſter-Shepherds did commit
The Flock (which was before their common Care)
Who fed them once or twice a Week a-bit,
And that too with but dry and feeble Fare.
[41]
The Maſter-Shepherds having thus devolv'd,
Upon their Journey-men, the working Part,
Their Genius wholly to indulge reſolv'd,
And with ſoft Pleaſures ſatiate their Heart.
For Palaces and lofty Seats they build,
Wherein they live in moſt reſplendent State,
Supply'd with all things that Delight may yield
To wanton Senſe, and Nature captivate.
Ambition now prevails to ſwilling Pride
And portly Pomp; they now let looſe the Rein,
Drawn in their Coach and fix, abroad they ride,
Attended with a great and ſplendid Train.
Of the Chief-weathers, theſe Precedence claim,
In State Conventions are above them plac'd,
Moſt of them Arch by Nature are; by Name,
Two always with the Stile of ARCH are grac'd.
High Titles they ambitiouſly affect,
Sure Token of foul Arrogance and Pride,
And to be call'd, My Lord, Your Grace, expect,
For which judicious Sheep do them deride.
[42]
A common Sheep, being by Chance in Place,
Where he an Under-ſhepherd heard e'er while
Saying to one of theſe, May't pleaſe your Grace;
Wiſh'd him more Grace in Heart, tho' leſs in Stile:
Yet the bare Name of Lordſhip will not do,
They Lordſhip love, and will Dominion have
O'er both the Sheep, and Under-ſhepherds too,
Who at their Graces Hands for Grace muſt crave.
To theſe the Under-ſhepherds Tribute pay,
Which doth them in a poor Condition keep,
And makes them with a ſharper Hunger prey,
Upon the harmleſs and poor helpleſs Sheep:
Wherein the Maſter-ſhepherds them ſupport,
Not only with their Countenance, but Pow'r,
That by the Aſſiſtance of their Shepherd's Court,
They may the Sheep, and what they have devour.
And they ſo many Ways have found to pull,
Lock after Lock from the deluded Sheep,
That they ſcarce leave the Sheep enough of Wool,
Them from the Blaſts of Poverty to keep.
[43]
Beſides the gen'ral Tax they on them lay,
Whereby the Flock they Yearly decimate;
For ev'ry little Chear, they make them pay,
And oft too at unconſcionable Rate.
A Ram and Ewe may not with nuptial Rite
Together join, but there muſt preſent be
Some one of theſe, who to them muſt recite
The ſpouſal Words, for which he claims a Fee.
And when the pregnant Ewe her Lamb doth yean,
The Shepherd will another Tag-lock get,
By telling them, that now the Ewe is clean,
And may again among the Flock be ſet.
Some certain Rites too muſt performed be,
To give the Lamb Admittance to the Fold,
For which the Shepherd claims another Fee;
And thus the Sheep both old and young are poll'd.
When a Sheep dies, the Shepherd DIRGE muſt ſay
Over the Corps, when to the Grave 'tis brought,
For which he will be ſure to have his Fee,
And Mortuary, if the Sheep left ought.
[44]
Thus the poor Sheep the Shepherds do oppreſs,
And with Exactions peel on ev'ry hand,
Nor can the Sheep expect to find Redreſs,
While they muſt to th' Oppreſſors Judgment ſtand:
For in the Shepherds Courts theſe Pleas are try'd,
If any hardy Sheep to pay refuſe,
Where Shepherds, or their Creatures, ſtill preſide,
Who ſerve ſuch Sheep, as CHRIST was ſerv'd by Jews.
For having there contemn'd them, right or wrong,
They over to the ſec'lar Pow'r are turn'd,
To be in Priſon caſt amongſt a Throng
Of Criminals, and in ſome Countries burn'd.
Theſe are the Courts, from which the Sheep ſuſtain,
By Shepherds who them cruelly intreat,
Such Hardſhips as enforce them to complain,
And vent their Sorrows with a mournful Bleat.
Ah! who can without Indignation hear,
How Shepherds do the Sheep in Bondage keep!
Who can from ſhedding Show'rs of Tears forbear,
At the Bemoanings of the bleating Sheep!
FLORALIA: Or, an Account of the Riſe of MAY-GAMES, and MAY-POLES.
[45]WHEN Rome was wholly Pagan, long before
The VIRGIN's Womb our bleſſed SAVIOUR bore,
There liv'd in Rome a moſt laſcivious Dame,
A noted Harlot, Flora was her Name,
Who proſtituting of herſelf for Hire,
Great Wealth did, with great Infamy, acquire.
This filthy Strumpet, when ſhe came to die,
Bequeath'd her Treaſures to Rome's Treaſury;
For, ſhe her Heir, the Roman People made,
Of what ſhe got by her venereal Trade;
And that her Memory might ſtill abide
Among them, by her Will ſhe did provide,
That on her Birth-day, certain wanton Games
Should celebrated be by Roman Dames,
Which that they might not for the Charge decline,
Part of her Wealth ſhe thereto did aſſign.
[46]
So large a Legacy (however got)
The Roman Senate thought deſerved not
To be contemn'd: Yet, that the filthy Stain,
Of her lewd Life, might not too long remain
A Blemiſh on them; they a Way contrive,
The Whore to bury, Flora keep alive,
Her they a Goddeſs feign; whom deify'd,
They make o'er Fruits and Flowers to preſide;
To her they Altars raiſe, and by Decree
Appoint the Rites of her Solemnity.
The common People, in next Age adore
Her, whom their Fathers knew to be a Whore,
And, drench'd in ſuperſtitious Darkneſs, fear
They neither Flowers nor Fruits ſhould have that Year,
If they to keep her Feſtivals forbear.
Yet 'cauſe the better Part did ſtill retain
A Senſe, how ſhe her Goddeſhip did gain,
Such as had due Regard unto their Honour,
Would rather venture that, than wait upon her;
But all the Strumpets of the Town, and ſuch
As had of Fame or Modeſty not much,
[47]Unto her Altars flock'd, and danc'd the Round,
Some naked, ſome in party-colours Gown,
Having their Heads with flow'ry Garlands crown'd.
Nor ſpar'd they Wine, but in full Bowls did quaff,
And at each others antick Geſtures laugh;
The Rein was quite let looſe, and they were beſt
Accounted of, could break the rudeſt Jeſt.
Torches were us'd, to intimate that Night
Had been the Time of Flora's chief Delight;
And to denote how luſtful ſhe had been,
The Goat and Hare in theſe her Games were ſeen:
Thus did they Yearly celebrate her Day,
Upon the Calends of the Month call'd May.
Thus 'twas, while heath'niſh Superſtition reign'd,
Before the Goſpel Light Dominion gain'd
O'er Pagan Darkneſs; but when once the Day,
Th' illuſtrious Day of CHRIST broke forth, away
Theſe filthy Vapours roll'd: The Goſpel Light,
From Chriſtian Hearts diſpell'd this Darkneſs quite;
Nor can the Patrons of theſe May-games now,
Of ſuch lewd Paſtimes any Footſteps ſhow,
[48]Amongſt the antient Chriſtians, e'en in Rome,
From whence thoſe Pagan Rites at firſt did come.
But after that, thro' Satan's Wiles, ill Men
From Truth to Error had relaps'd again,
After the Power of Godlineſs was loſt,
And formal Chriſtians of more Form did boaſt,
When Chriſtian Rome was three times worſe become
In ſome Reſpects, than had been heathen Rome;
Then to debauch the Nations, up were brought
Some Pagan Rites, condemn'd of old as nought,
'Mongſt theſe the May-games, with ſuch Variation,
As ſuited beſt the Humour of each Nation:
How in this Iſland they were us'd of old,
Is that which in the next Place ſhall be told.
On Flora's Birth-day, a long Pole they raiſe
In Market-places, or in parting Ways,
A painted Pole, whereon there hang, diſplay'd,
Fine Garlands of the choiceſt Flow'rs made,
On Top of which a Weathercock is ſet,
Emblem of thoſe who do ſuch Sports abet.
Unto this Pole, the looſer Claſs reſort,
And ſpend their Time in time-miſpending Sports;
[49]The Fiddle or the Bag-pipe calls them forth,
And they come foremoſt, who are of leaſt Worth;
Here Old and Young, of either Sex do meet,
And with obſcene Diſcourſe each other greet;
About the Tree, they in Diſorder dance,
As Children on their Hobby-horſes prance;
Confuſedly they intermix in Routs,
And drown the Fiddle with their deaf'ning Shouts:
One breaks a bawdy Jeſt, wherein doth follow,
From all the Rabble, an applauding Hollow;
With Scoffs, Deriſions, Jeers, they entertain
Each other, and whatever's looſe and vain;
And who moſt archly can the Mimick play,
Is ſure, for Praiſe, to bear the Bell away.
The Liberty, which at ſuch Times they uſe,
With Scoffs and Jokes the Paſſers-by t' abuſe,
Hath paſs'd into a Proverb, that 'tis ſaid,
Of ſuch an one they a meer May-game made;
For in theſe Revel-routs, they countenance
Whatever tends Prophaneſs to advance.
Nor are theſe dry Feaſts; Flora doth pretend
To guard the Vine, and Store of Barley ſend,
And therefore ſure, her Votaries will not fail,
To ſteep their Brains that Day in Wine or Ale;
[50]In brimful Bowls, or Glaſſes, then they bouſe,
And Healths on bare and bended Knees carouſe;
The Health they drink, perhaps of ſome great Lord,
Who's well-grown Woods their May-pole did afford,
Who's Honour, doubtleſs, would have riſen higher,
Had he beſtow'd it on the Poor for Fire.
Patrons of May-poles, if they pleaſe may ſee,
The Original of this their Vanity;
Yea all, the Riſe of May-games may behold,
Who for them are ſo ſtrenuous and bold:
'Tis Flora's Feaſt, a Strumpet void of Shame,
The Inſtitution from the Romans came,
But they were Heathen; What is that to we,
Who boaſt a nobler Birth, a higher Pedigree?
Oh Britons! give your Views a higher Aim,
Nor ſlur with Pagan Rites the Chriſtian Name.
An EPISTLE to a FRIEND.
Via recta ad vitam beatam.
[51]THOU that a happy Life wouldſt lead
Here, and enjoy hereafter Reſt,
The Path of VIRTUE do thou tread,
Wherein none ever walk'd unbleſt:
Which that thou mayſt not miſs, thy Friend
The following Rules doth recommend.
Let to the LORD thy earlieſt Thought,
The firſt Fruit of thy waking Heart,
Be ev'ry Morning duly brought,
And offer'd as an hallow'd Part.
To Him thy Thanks are due, who kept
Thy Soul in Safety whilſt thou ſlept.
That Tribute paid, get up and dreſs,
And let thy Habit modeſt be,
Not gay nor coſtly to Exceſs,
And from fantaſtic Faſhions free:
That Garb, methinks, is moſt complete,
That's without Affectation neat.
[52]
When dreſs'd retire, and wait to feel
An holy Breathing in thee riſe,
With ſtrong Deſires to GOD! that He'ill
Bleſs thee in that Day's Exerciſe:
Well is that Courſe like to be run,
That is with holy Pray'r begun.
Divine Aſſiſtance thus implor'd,
Thy proper Buſineſs ſet about,
While GOD doth Time and Strength afford,
That thou mayſt finiſh it throughout.
What Good to do, thy Hand doth find,
Perform it with a chearful Mind.
An idle Life by all means ſhun,
However great thy Incomes are;
Thouſands have thereby been undone,
For 'tis the Devil's ſureſt Snare:
Fly luſtful Sloth, and always find
Work for thy Body or thy Mind.
Feed not too high, nor curious be
In pleaſing of thy Appetite;
Plain Things with Nature beſt agree,
Too rich, and much, deſtroy her quite:
[53]Let Temp'rance, without more ado,
Be Butler, Cook, and Carver too.
But Moderation chiefly uſe
In drinking; of ſtrong Drinks take heed,
Reiterated Cups refuſe,
And take no more than thou doſt need:
Who doth himſelf o'ercharge with Wine,
Makes, what GOD made a Man, a Swine.
A Slave to th' Pipe by no means be,
Who but the de'il on Smoke would feed?
Since GOD was pleas'd to make thee free,
Ne'er come in Bondage to a Weed.
He hit the Mark, who all Exceſs
Declar'd to be in Drunkenneſs.
In all thy Dealings Plainneſs uſe;
With honeſt Gains thyſelf content;
Another's Weakneſs don't abuſe,
Nor uſe fair Words to circumvent:
Who heaps up Wealth by Fraud and Guile,
Heaps Wrath unto himſelf mean while.
[54]
Be pitiful unto the Poor,
Compaſſion of the Needy take;
Relieve the Hungry with thy Store,
Proviſion for the Orphan make:
Who on the Poor doth freely ſpend,
To GOD, that well repays, doth lend.
Of Widows and of Fatherleſs,
And ſuch as can't themſelves defend,
When Force or Fraud doth them oppreſs,
Plead thou the Cauſe and ſtand their Friend:
The Helpleſs who from Wrong protect,
May Help themſelves from GOD expect.
To Juſtice ſtedfaſtly adhere,
Without Reſpect to Friend or Foe;
Let neither Flattery nor Fear,
Make thee againſt thy Judgment go:
Impartial ſtand; let nought prevail,
But Right alone, to turn the Scale.
Of Pride and Statelineſs beware,
An haughty Look and ſcornful Eye;
Vain-glory ſhun, Self-praiſe forbear,
All vaunting and Ambition fly:
[55]For of all Fools, pronounce I durſt,
The ſelf-conceited Fool the worſt.
Be hoſpitable, let thy Door
To Strangers open freely ſtand;
And if their Need thy Help implore,
Diſmiſs them with a lib'ral Hand:
Some have, receiving unknown Gueſt,
With Angels Company been bleſt.
Among thy Neighbours live in Peace,
Occaſions of Contention ſhun;
Uſe all juſt Means that Strife may ceaſe,
Where'er thou find'ſt it is begun:
Rememb'ring who it was that ſaid,
They bleſt ſhall be that PEACE have made.
In Friendſhip conſtant be and true,
Thy Friend in Danger ſtand thou by,
Forſake him not whate'er enſue,
But for him even dare to die:
Who in true Friendſhip are combin'd,
Have in two Bodies but one Mind.
[56]
If thou prefer'ſt a married Life,
Let not a blind Affection guide,
But in the chuſing of a Wife,
Let ſound Diſcretion find the Bride:
Yet like and love before thou take—
What off again thou canſt not ſhake.
When having choſe, thou now art wed,
Still bear in mind what thou didſt grant;
Be faithful to thy Marriage-bed,
And keep thy ſolemn Covenant:
Who violate the Nuptial-ties,
Make GOD and Man their Enemies.
If Children thou obtain'ſt, their Will
Subdue betimes, e'er it grow ſtrong;
Indulge them not in ought that's ill,
Leſt both thyſelf and them thou wrong:
Who let their Children headſtrong grow,
Make ſure their own and Children's Woe.
Toward thy Servants gentle be,
Not ruling with a rig'rous Hand;
The leſs imperious Thou they ſee,
The more thou'lt have 'em at Command:
[57]He beſt is ſerv'd throughout the Year,
That's ſerved more for Love than Fear.
To all be affable and kind,
Not ſurly and moroſs, but free;
By courteous Carriage others bind,
To love, regard, and honour thee:
Of all the Ways for riſing high,
The ſafeſt is HUMILITY.
Thy Anger, tho' provok'd, reſtrain;
Her perfect Work let Patience have;
By gentle bearing, thou may'ſt gain
Him that the Provocation gave:
A ſoft Reply makes Anger ceaſe,
But haſty Words will Strife increaſe.
In thy whole Courſe, ſtill have thine Eye
To GOD; His Aid therein implore;
On Him in all, for all, rely;
Him with an upright Heart adore:
A Bleſſing thee muſt needs attend,
Who doſt with GOD begin and end.
THOMAS ELLWOOD.
Appendix A Theſe following, by another Hand.
[58]Appendix A.1 A SOLILOQUY.
‘I commune with my own Heart. Pſalm lxxvii. 6.’
GRATEFUL Senſations urge my Voice, O lend
Thy ſacred Ear! my FATHER, GOD, and FRIEND,
Aſſiſt the Strain, while by Reflection led,
I backward view the Years gone o'er my Head.
As far as my frail Memory can trace,
I find Veſtigia's of Thy Love and Grace;
Thro' ev'ry Period of my Life, I ſee
Thy ſaving Providence and Clemency;
There's ſcarce a Day, thro' the revolving Year,
But I remark ſome Token of Thy Care:
A Senſe of which deeply impreſs'd my Mind,
Humbl'd my Heart, and made my Soul reſign'd;
Engag'd me oft to cry, on bended Knee,
And ſhould'ſt Thou deign a Competence to give,
Thy Laws ſhall be revered while I live;
[59]And when I die, admitted to Thy Throne,
In endleſs Praiſe my Gratitude be ſhown.
But on Thy Mercy ſtill muſt I confide,
For tho' I vow'd, yet I have ſtept aſide,
Infring'd Thy Laws, Thy Statutes diſrever'd,
And the firſt Nature has too much appear'd;
So that I may this fair Confeſſion make,
* The Spirit's willing, but the Fleſh is weak.
Therefore I beg, O! let Thy Grace ſubdue
Each erring Paſſion, and my Heart renew,
That to my Friends, I this Account may give,
Like pious PAUL, I'm dead, and yet, I live!
And now the Life, that animates this Clod,
Leans on the † Faith of the dear SON of GOD,
Who for my Sake ‖ alone the Wine-preſs trod.
Appendix A.2 On WORSHIP.
THE Worſhip, Heav'n with Approbation crowns,
Conſiſteth not in Cringes, or in Sounds;
In Ceremonies, or in Cut of Coat,
Nor in long Pray'rs, expreſſed all by Rote;
[60]'Tis not perform'd with tuned Inſtrument
In coſtly Domes, Houſes magnificent,
Which ſtrike the Senſes, and Affections draw
Into a ſuperſtitious lifeleſs Awe;
But unreforms, and leaves the Soul as poor,
As impotent, and filthy as before.
No! genuine WORSHIP is a nobler Thing,
LOVE's its Original and only Spring;
It is perform'd in Spirit and in Heart,
By th' Ability GOD doth Himſelf impart;
And it conſiſteth in a holy living,
In Pray'r, in Praiſe, and true Thankſgiving.
Appendix A.3 The INTERNAL MONITOR.
THOU need'ſt not ſay, with mental Sighs, O Man!
Who will unfold JEHOVAH's myſtick Plan?
Who bring the ſacred Pandects from the Sky?
That we may hear, and with the Terms comply.
Who perch upon the Morning's early Breeze?
And waft it to us from beyond the Seas.
Or, who deſcend to the unmeaſur'd Deep,
And fetch it where tremendous Waters ſleep?
For in thy Heart the WORD's divinely wrote,
Indelible and fair, without a Blot;
[61]Speaks ev'ry Tongue beneath the Cope of Heav'n,
Extenſive as the LIGHT! to All 'tis giv'n.
Unto this Oracle Attention give,
Obey its Dictates, and thy Soul ſhall live.
Nor need'ſt thou ſay, Wherewith, alas, ſhall I
Approach the Great Eternal DEITY?
Or how proſtrate myſelf to gain his Eye?
Shall I before His awful Preſence come
With Yearling-calves, in a full Hecatomb?
Will Rams in thouſands pleaſe from Baſhan's Soil?
Or, ſhall I give ten thouſand Rills of Oil?
Shall my Firſt-born be offer'd as a Toll,
The Body's Fruit ranſom the guilty Soul?
No! none of theſe, JEHOVAH will delight;
Thy Heart is Conſcious of the Thing that's Right.
The Rule is ſhort—Be merciful, be juſt,
And humbly in thy MAKER put thy Truſt.
Appendix A.4 A HYMN.
WHAT Words JEHOVAH! ſhall I chuſe
T' expreſs my Thanks to Thee?
What reverential Poſture uſe?
Down on my Face or Knee?
[62]
External Forms may ſeem devout,
Yet no Acceptance find;
Nor all the Pomp of Words, without
A correſpondent Mind.
The Heart's an Index; read me, there
See Gratitude and Praiſe;
For Competence, a Conſcience clear,
With Health, and Length of Days;
For one true Friend, an Offspring large;
And what is dearer ſtill,
For LOVE, that did my Debts diſcharge,
And brought from Heav'n Thy Will.
Shall I, O GOD! thus highly bleſt,
E'er diſobedient prove,
Or make revealed Truths a Jeſt,
And Sceptick Reaſ'ning love?
Shall I prefer a tranſient Sin,
Renounce Thy ſacred Laws,
And ſlight Thy holy Checks within,
To gain the World's Applauſe?
No; rather let my Hand forget
To guide the paſſive Quill;
My Eyes in total Darkneſs ſet,
My lab'ring Heart ſtand ſtill.
FINIS.
Notes
*
Heb. ix. 10.
*
Jer. xxxi. 33. Ezek. xi. 19, 20.
†
Joel ii. 29.
*
Jeruſalem
*
Rom. viii. 26.
*
Pſalm cxxvii.
*
Cant. i. 4.
*
Mat. xxvi. 4.
†
Gal. ii. 20.
‖
Iſai. lxiii. 3.
- Citation Suggestion for this Object
- TextGrid Repository (2020). TEI. 3365 A collection of poems on various subjects By Thomas Ellwood. University of Oxford Text Archive. . https://hdl.handle.net/21.T11991/0000-001A-5884-C