The bard of the dales or poems and miscellaneous pieces; with a life of the author, written by himself. By John Castillo |
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HINTS TO PREACHERS. |
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 | The bard of the dales |  |
HINTS TO PREACHERS.
A farmer who fancied he well understood,
How to manage his work, when the season was good,
He strew'd on his grain, neither wasteful nor thin,
But neglected just then for to harrow it in:
How to manage his work, when the season was good,
He strew'd on his grain, neither wasteful nor thin,
But neglected just then for to harrow it in:
His servants were after that business to see,
But servants, alas! were as careless as he;—
While them and their horses did slumber and feed,
The birds came by hundreds and pick'd up the seed.
But servants, alas! were as careless as he;—
While them and their horses did slumber and feed,
The birds came by hundreds and pick'd up the seed.
I tremble for Preachers on 't reckoning day,
Who give them their Sermons and send them away;
When they see the great Word is dividing between,
They should try to get at them, and know what they mean!
Who give them their Sermons and send them away;
When they see the great Word is dividing between,
They should try to get at them, and know what they mean!
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Though some with such liberties might be offended,
There's others, no doubt, would be highly befriended;
The flesh is so subject to cleave to the dust,
There's but few that are fit with that treasure to trust.
There's others, no doubt, would be highly befriended;
The flesh is so subject to cleave to the dust,
There's but few that are fit with that treasure to trust.
Or if they'r fatigued through the toil of the day,
To give us their sanction will go a long way;
To just start our meeting is all we desire,
And set us a working, then they may retire.
To give us their sanction will go a long way;
To just start our meeting is all we desire,
And set us a working, then they may retire.
On our feeble efforts and council they'll trample,
If Preacher's won't linger and set the example:
From gentleman dishes, so rich, and so rare,
It's not likely they'll stoop to our humble fare.
If Preacher's won't linger and set the example:
From gentleman dishes, so rich, and so rare,
It's not likely they'll stoop to our humble fare.
Dark death's and hard hearers would soon be more rare,
If sermons were shorter and mixed up with prayer:
For sinners in general, whose claims are compelling,
Know what they'r in need of, without so much telling!
If sermons were shorter and mixed up with prayer:
For sinners in general, whose claims are compelling,
Know what they'r in need of, without so much telling!
| The bard of the dales | |