Minor Poems, including Napoleon By Bernard Barton. Second Edition, with Additions |
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TO THE MEMORY
OF
WILLIAM HEY.
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 | Minor Poems, including Napoleon |  |
254
TO THE MEMORY OF WILLIAM HEY.
I
Preacher of Righteousness! for suchWert thou in preaching's noblest sense,
Whose life and conversation touch
Hearts cold to pulpit eloquence; —
Preacher of Righteousness, farewell!
With Thee may I hereafter dwell.
II
What though no weekly audience hungUpon the accents of thy voice,
Nor thus collected from thy tongue
What bade them tremblingly rejoice;
Yet did thy lamp so brightly shine,
A silent ministry was thine.
255
III
A Preacher — by the sick man's bed,In the mute, eloquent display
Of those meek charms that ever shed
Their lustre round the Christian's way;
And these may often deeply move,
Where words would ineffectual prove.
IV
A Preacher — in the narrow sphere(Delightful to the human heart)
Which Nature's tenderest bonds endear,
By the deep feelings they impart;
And in afflictions that must prove
At once the Man's, the Christian's love.
V
For who can thy “Memorial” read,And not unfeignedly repeat
This truth — that through the Christian creed,
“Hard things are easy, bitter — sweet?”
Proudest philosophy could never
Have thus taught Nature's ties to sever.
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VI
Christian Philosopher! not thineThe praise by such meek Vict'ry won;
God gave thee power — by grace divine,
And Faith confirm'd it through his Son!
Nor does submission lose its force,
Thus trac'd unto its holiest source.
VII
Virtues our fallen nature bears,Where these appear to linger still,
May, or may not find fitting heirs,
As we are strong or weak of will;
If conscious weakness be our lot,
We read, admire, but profit not.
VIII
Not so when every gift and graceAre with humility referr'd
To Him who died to save our race; —
Even to that eternal word
Which to our weakness power can give,
And bid the dead awake, and live.
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IX
Here is the secret, hid of oldE'en from the prudent and the wise!
'Mid faults and frailties manifold,
The Christian upon Christ relies:
And, conscious of his Captain's right,
Is more than conqu'ror through his might.
X
Through humble trust in him is givenThe vict'ry over sin and death;
Hopes that ascend from earth to heaven,
And prayer, and praise, and holy faith, —
Faith which, in every age, hath been
The evidence of things unseen.
XI
This is the faith that works by love;Effectual to the purifying
Of hearts — whose hallow'd feelings prove
A Saviour's love their own supplying, —
The gift of God, through grace divine,
And such, departed saint! was thine.
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XII
Other foundation none can layThan that which is already laid;
“The Light, the Life, the Truth, the Way;”
Salvation by the cross display'd!
In this was plac'd thy dying trust,
And this shall consecrate thy dust.
| Minor Poems, including Napoleon | |