 | The miscellaneous essays and occasional writings of Francis Hopkinson, Esq |  |
118
A SENTIMENT:
Occasioned by a conversation with Mr. P--- M---, one of the principal men among the Christian Society, called Dunkars, at Ephrata, in the province of Pennsylvania.
The Lord Supreme, from his exalted throne
Surveys at once earth, heav'n, and worlds unknown;
All things existing must before his eye
Like the plain tracings of a picture lie:
Unutter'd thoughts deep in the heart conceal'd,
In strong expression stand to him reveal'd.
Thousands, and twice ten thousands ev'ry day,
To him or feign'd or real homage pay:
Like clouds of incense rolling to the skies,
In various forms their supplications rise;
Their various forms with him can nought avail,
The secret motives only will prevail;
And the true source of ev'ry offer'd pray'r,
To his all searching eye must plain appear.
Surveys at once earth, heav'n, and worlds unknown;
All things existing must before his eye
Like the plain tracings of a picture lie:
Unutter'd thoughts deep in the heart conceal'd,
In strong expression stand to him reveal'd.
Thousands, and twice ten thousands ev'ry day,
To him or feign'd or real homage pay:
Like clouds of incense rolling to the skies,
In various forms their supplications rise;
Their various forms with him can nought avail,
The secret motives only will prevail;
And the true source of ev'ry offer'd pray'r,
To his all searching eye must plain appear.
Some place religion on a throne superb,
And deck with jewels her resplendant garb:
Painting and sculpture all their art display,
And lofty tapers dart their lucid ray:
High on the full-ton'd organ's buoyant sound,
The pleasing anthem floats serenely round:
Harmonic strains their thrilling pow'rs combine,
And lift the soul to ecstacy divine.
And deck with jewels her resplendant garb:
Painting and sculpture all their art display,
And lofty tapers dart their lucid ray:
High on the full-ton'd organ's buoyant sound,
The pleasing anthem floats serenely round:
119
And lift the soul to ecstacy divine.
Deep in Ephrata's gloom you fix your seat,
And seek religion in the dark retreat:
In sable weeds you dress the heav'n-born maid,
And place her pensive in the lonely shade:
Recluse, unsocial you, your hours employ,
And fearful, banish ev'ry harmless joy.
And seek religion in the dark retreat:
In sable weeds you dress the heav'n-born maid,
And place her pensive in the lonely shade:
Recluse, unsocial you, your hours employ,
And fearful, banish ev'ry harmless joy.
Each may be right in their peculiar way,
If proper motives should their worship sway:
If but the love divine of God is there,
The spirit genuine of unfeigned pray'r;
'Tis true devotion; and the Lord of love
Such pray'rs and praises kindly will approve.
Whether from golden altars they should rise,
And wrapt in sound, roll to the lofty skies,
Or from Ephrata's seat, so meek, so low,
The soft and silent aspirations flow.
If proper motives should their worship sway:
If but the love divine of God is there,
The spirit genuine of unfeigned pray'r;
'Tis true devotion; and the Lord of love
Such pray'rs and praises kindly will approve.
Whether from golden altars they should rise,
And wrapt in sound, roll to the lofty skies,
Or from Ephrata's seat, so meek, so low,
The soft and silent aspirations flow.
Oh! let the Christian bless that glorious day,
When outward forms shall all be done away;
When we in spirit and in truth alone
Shall bend oh! God! before thy awful throne;
When thou our purer worship shalt approve,
And make returns of everlasting love.
When outward forms shall all be done away;
When we in spirit and in truth alone
Shall bend oh! God! before thy awful throne;
When thou our purer worship shalt approve,
And make returns of everlasting love.
| The miscellaneous essays and occasional writings of Francis Hopkinson, Esq | |