The Works of the Late Aaron Hill ... In Four Volumes. Consisting of Letters on Various Subjects, And of Original Poems, Moral and Facetious. With An Essay on the Art of Acting |
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To the Preacher of an excellent Charity Sermon
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 | The Works of the Late Aaron Hill |  |
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To the Preacher of an excellent Charity Sermon
Forgive, great pleader of the poor man's cause!
Thou just asserter of thy saviour's laws!
Forgive the erring fondness of my lays,
What muse, untir'd, can climb so steep a praise!
Verse, for my own sake, not for thine, I chose,
For he, who, with his own, would praise thy prose,
Has, when his too officious task is done,
But held a taper to the blazing sun.
Thou just asserter of thy saviour's laws!
Forgive the erring fondness of my lays,
What muse, untir'd, can climb so steep a praise!
Verse, for my own sake, not for thine, I chose,
For he, who, with his own, would praise thy prose,
Has, when his too officious task is done,
But held a taper to the blazing sun.
Could failing fancy reach my rising will,
Or word's weak wind the sails of meaning fill;
I wou'd—but thy reward would bankrupt man,
And heav'n must pay it—for heav'n only can.
Or word's weak wind the sails of meaning fill;
I wou'd—but thy reward would bankrupt man,
And heav'n must pay it—for heav'n only can.
If wealthy misers, who, by starts, bestow
Some wind-rais'd drops, which, in their fortune's flow,
Their breezy charities about them blow;
If these stand blest, by heav'n's too kind decree,
What nobler blessings are reserv'd for thee!
Thee! who not only dost men's wants relieve,
But teachest, backward thousands, how to give!
Some wind-rais'd drops, which, in their fortune's flow,
Their breezy charities about them blow;
If these stand blest, by heav'n's too kind decree,
What nobler blessings are reserv'd for thee!
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But teachest, backward thousands, how to give!
Stand firm, great pillar of the church, you bless!
May all your labours meet a like success!
Though vulgar natures are to pity blind,
Well-guided sight they, in your doctrine, find.
Gross, as they are, and chill'd, by low desires,
When warm they feel your heart-dissolving fires,
Their souls, new-dipp'd, discharge the stains of sense,
And take the creamy dye of innocence.
May all your labours meet a like success!
Though vulgar natures are to pity blind,
Well-guided sight they, in your doctrine, find.
Gross, as they are, and chill'd, by low desires,
When warm they feel your heart-dissolving fires,
Their souls, new-dipp'd, discharge the stains of sense,
And take the creamy dye of innocence.
With rev'rend joy, my charm'd attention hung,
To catch the musick of your truth-blest tongue.
Spread, and dissolv'd, by mercy's moral heat,
My heart, in sighs, exhal'd to seek your feet!
'Twas far too mean a bliss, to look you thro',
I wou'd have turn'd to air, and enter'd too!
Still to have dwelt within you,—pure, like you!
To catch the musick of your truth-blest tongue.
Spread, and dissolv'd, by mercy's moral heat,
My heart, in sighs, exhal'd to seek your feet!
'Twas far too mean a bliss, to look you thro',
I wou'd have turn'd to air, and enter'd too!
Still to have dwelt within you,—pure, like you!
But why, thus weakly, should I praise your aim?
The crowds, you sav'd from want, shall bless your name!
The soul-shook widow's cries, and scalding tears,
Whose speaking force has reach'd our sov'reign's ears,
Shall climb the heights of heav'n's high palace, too,
And, when they pray for Anna, plead for you:
The groans of orphans, and the virgin's pray'rs,
The mother's aided hopes, and father's cares,
With moving rhet'rick shall invade the sky,
And, as you bless'd them, here, bless you, on high.
The crowds, you sav'd from want, shall bless your name!
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Whose speaking force has reach'd our sov'reign's ears,
Shall climb the heights of heav'n's high palace, too,
And, when they pray for Anna, plead for you:
The groans of orphans, and the virgin's pray'rs,
The mother's aided hopes, and father's cares,
With moving rhet'rick shall invade the sky,
And, as you bless'd them, here, bless you, on high.
| The Works of the Late Aaron Hill | |