Poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

Now Sampson when his STRENGTH WAS LOST,
Was filled with sore surprise;
He jumped into a bramble bush
And scratched out both his eyes.
And when he SAW his eyes were out,
With all his might and main
He jumped into another bush,
And scratched them in again.—
Anon.

I.

Last night I went, with good intent,
Where raving men are preaching,
With this endeavor, as I went—
To profit by their teaching.
What with the hubbub and the noise
That marked the congregation,
From those outrageous in their joys,
I viewed the operation.

II.

And now recovered from the scene
Of discord and confusion,
In Babel's walls I never mean
Again to make intrusion.
I must apologize a word
For this time going there,
But I of late had often heard
Great things were doing there.

III.

And so for once I went to make
Examination full,
And if it is not, I mistake,
“Great cry in little wool!”
I may be wrong, but yet my mind
I have a right to state;

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Tho' some at me offence should find,
It matters nothing great.

IV.

Imprimis, then, is it not wrong
To make a use so free
Of appellations that belong
To sovereign Deity?
Now ye who take His name in vain,
Behold with consternation
Your condemnation written plain,
Despite infatuation.

V.

How can there be solemnity
Where all is loud commotion?
How can we worship Deity
Where there is not devotion?
And how can persons feel devout
Where every one is talking
And breaking forth in noisy shout,
And vile transgressors mocking?

VI.

I give you credit for one thing,
And that is wily cunning;
Ye well know how to coax and sing,
And keep your tongues a running.
It calls the simple-minded out,
And works upon their feeling,
And e'er they know what they 're about
Ye have them all a kneeling.

VII.

And well ye know how to invade
Society's weak border,
And never stop till ye have made
Confusion of good order.

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And well ye know how to pretend
Disinterested motives;
And then for recompense ye'll lend,
Perhaps, some heartless votives.

VIII.

But O, ye rulers! have ye read
Of mighty Adonijah?
Or of the holy raven-fed,
The Heaven-inspired Elijah?
How was the Power Supreme revealed
To his prophetic ken?
The emblem shall not be concealed,
Ye shouting sons of men!

IX.

For lo! a whirlwind rushed amain
With mighty force to shake;
The solid hills were rent in twain,
And rocks in pieces brake.
After the wind a wonder new,
And earth was shaken sore;
Convulsions ran her bowels through,
And heaved in wild uproar.

X.

Anon a wonder stranger still
Rose to the prophet's gaze—
The earth, as if by Sovereign will,
Seemed in a general blaze!
But no! the Sovereign Power was
In none of them displayed,
Whatever else might be the cause
That all the havoc made.

XI.

When nature's tumult and discord,
And boisterous din were past,

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Behold! a still small voice was heard
Forthcoming at the last.
Whereat the prophet, when he heard,
Concealed in fear his face,
For then he knew the sovereign Lord
Was present in that place.

XII.

Now ye who rant, and rave, and storm,
Must practise merely art;
The passions ye may reach and warm,
But may not reach the heart.
It is the still small voice that speaks
Within the human breast,
And he who lists its whispers seeks
The soul's eternal rest.

XIII.

And whereas ye are wont to meet
With forest oaks and birches,
As if there were no vacant seat
In barns if not in churches—
And whereas to the idle crowd,
Before they have deserted,
Ye tell with proclamation loud
How many are converted—

XIV.

This is to hint, in cautious way,
Perhaps ye are misguided;
And, may be, some of you display
Yourselves to be derided.
But rest the evil consequence
Attendant on deriders—
How many converts, six months hence,
Ye'll number as backsliders!

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XV.

Moreover, as your meetings are
Already long protracted—
(The fruit whereof shall time declare,
Be good or bad enacted)—
And as last evening, I am sure,
Your minister desired
They might continue and endure
Till sun and moon are tired —

XVI.

This is to say, I wish ye may
Effect much good thereby,
As lasting as the fount of day
That pours from yonder sky.
And, also, I would ask of you
Some charity for me,
Because I “give the de'il his due,”
The more especially.

XVII.

Now, in conclusion, let me add,
I 've charity also;
But that the half of you are mad,
I verily do n't know.
However, He alone who made
Can judge the secret heart;
And far from me be ever laid
That consequential part.

XVIII.

Think not that I forget the few
Whose conscience needs no clearing;
But even let me hint to you,
God is not hard of hearing.
Sincerity religion salts,
And makes it prepossessing;

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It hides a multitude of faults,
And often “gets the blessing.”

XIX.

This much is certain, all agree
We 've need of discipline;
And howe'er some may censure me,
I 've aimed at good herein.
Brethren, since in my hasty talk
I 've aimed at nothing ill,
In unity we'll try to walk,
And part in right good will!

See I. Kings, 1st chapter.

I. Kings, 19th chapter.

A fact.