 | Collected poems of Samuel Davies : 1723-1761 |  |
140
UNCOLLECTED POEMS
141
[THIS UNCULTIVATED LAND]
Say, shall a Brother, Sir, nay more, a Friend
To you these rude Effects of Friendship send?
A Muse untutor'd vent the ardent Fires,
Tho' unpoetic, which fond Love inspires?
Or shall I check her with impos'd Constraint?
And cease to give the Tender Passion vent?
To you these rude Effects of Friendship send?
A Muse untutor'd vent the ardent Fires,
Tho' unpoetic, which fond Love inspires?
Or shall I check her with impos'd Constraint?
And cease to give the Tender Passion vent?
On you perhaps, whose Eyes & Ears & Heart
Are charm'd with Works of Nature & of Art,
With which the Wise Creator's Mighty Hand,
Or Human Skill has grac'd the British Land,
Unseas'nably these Verses may intrude,
And Love itself appears impertinent & rude;
Therefore I promise, to appease your Mind,
I'll take it well to be repaid in Kind.
Are charm'd with Works of Nature & of Art,
With which the Wise Creator's Mighty Hand,
Or Human Skill has grac'd the British Land,
Unseas'nably these Verses may intrude,
And Love itself appears impertinent & rude;
Therefore I promise, to appease your Mind,
I'll take it well to be repaid in Kind.
How gladly, did my Circumstance allow,
Wou'd I pass o'er the boisterous Ocean too!
And dare the Dangers of each distant Shore,
The Works of Nature & of Arts t'explore!
glad wou'd I visit every knowing Sage
In Countries ripen'd into Sense by Age.
Knowledge transported from the farthest Clime
Wou'd compensate the Trouble and the Time.
Knowledge! That shining Pearl! The Value more
Than all the Gold on the rich Indian Shore.
Wou'd I pass o'er the boisterous Ocean too!
And dare the Dangers of each distant Shore,
The Works of Nature & of Arts t'explore!
glad wou'd I visit every knowing Sage
In Countries ripen'd into Sense by Age.
Knowledge transported from the farthest Clime
Wou'd compensate the Trouble and the Time.
Knowledge! That shining Pearl! The Value more
Than all the Gold on the rich Indian Shore.
142
But ah! in this uncultivated Land,
Where Ignorance usurps supreme Command,
Where raw, unripen'd Wit, & infant Sense
Produces nothing but Impertinence,
And the fair Muses in a Place so rude,
But seldom light, & never take Abode,
Here, unimprov'd, I must my Moments spend,
And the bright Pearl forever unobtain'd.
Where Ignorance usurps supreme Command,
Where raw, unripen'd Wit, & infant Sense
Produces nothing but Impertinence,
And the fair Muses in a Place so rude,
But seldom light, & never take Abode,
Here, unimprov'd, I must my Moments spend,
And the bright Pearl forever unobtain'd.
But you, Dear Sir, whom a more pleasing Fate
Directs unerring to the Muses' Seat,
(For Love persuades me, you are safe arriv'd,
And the Persuasion's pleasing, when believ'd)
Lay up the greatest Cargo in your Mind,
Safe from the Ocean's Rage, & stormy Wind;
Th'immortal Mind demands, your highest Care;
Liberal repose, your greatest Riches there;
There treasure Knowledge; that, with generous Hand,
When safe return'd to this unpolish'd Land,
The sacred Treasure, you may wide disperse,
And your instructive Passages rehearse.
Directs unerring to the Muses' Seat,
(For Love persuades me, you are safe arriv'd,
And the Persuasion's pleasing, when believ'd)
Lay up the greatest Cargo in your Mind,
Safe from the Ocean's Rage, & stormy Wind;
Th'immortal Mind demands, your highest Care;
Liberal repose, your greatest Riches there;
There treasure Knowledge; that, with generous Hand,
When safe return'd to this unpolish'd Land,
The sacred Treasure, you may wide disperse,
And your instructive Passages rehearse.
I entertain myself with Hopes of this,
And such a Partnership will always please;
For Knowledge bought by Wholesale or Retail
T'enrich the Purchaser will never fail.
And such a Partnership will always please;
For Knowledge bought by Wholesale or Retail
T'enrich the Purchaser will never fail.
But I forbear—The mean, self-conscious Muse,
When Eyes on English Ground her Lays peruse,
Retires & blushes. Higher she cou'd rise,
And these low, creeping strains with Scorn despise,
Had some Britannic Hand her Pinions prunn'd,
And her young Voice to loftier Numbers tun'd.
When Eyes on English Ground her Lays peruse,
Retires & blushes. Higher she cou'd rise,
And these low, creeping strains with Scorn despise,
Had some Britannic Hand her Pinions prunn'd,
And her young Voice to loftier Numbers tun'd.
143
[A PRAYER IN TIME OF STORMS]
May he whose Nod the Hurricanes & StormsAnd blustering Waves in all their dreadful Forms
With calm adoring Reverence obey;
May He with friendly Vigilance preside
O'er the outragious Winds & boisterous Tide,
And safe thro' Crowds of Deaths conduct your dang'rous Way!
144
ELEGIAC VERSES on the lamented Death of the Rev. Mr. Samuel Blair,
[_]
Who made his triumphant Excite from this mortal Stage July 5. 1751, with the deserve! Character of a good Scholar, a masterly genius, a sincere Christian, and successful Minister of the Gospel.
Hark! a long doleful Eccho round me groans,
Heard by deaf Rocks, and felt by senseless Stones.
The sympathizing Hills of Zion toss,
The mournful Eccho, and lament the loss.
Ten Thousand Bosoms feel a sudden Wound,
And Crowds grow pale, and shudder at the Sound.
From Heart to Heart with quick Contagion spreads
Th' insectious Grief, and half the Land inwades.
To this far Clime the dismal Tidings flies,
And Deluges of Sorrow drown mine Eyes.
Now hardy Souls, that never wept before,
Disolve;—nor is it strange, since BLAIR IS NOW NO MORE,
Heard by deaf Rocks, and felt by senseless Stones.
The sympathizing Hills of Zion toss,
The mournful Eccho, and lament the loss.
Ten Thousand Bosoms feel a sudden Wound,
And Crowds grow pale, and shudder at the Sound.
From Heart to Heart with quick Contagion spreads
Th' insectious Grief, and half the Land inwades.
To this far Clime the dismal Tidings flies,
And Deluges of Sorrow drown mine Eyes.
Now hardy Souls, that never wept before,
Disolve;—nor is it strange, since BLAIR IS NOW NO MORE,
BLAIR IS NO MORE!—Then this poor World has lost.
As rich a Jewel as her Stores could boast.
Heav'n in just Vengeance has recall'd again,
Its faithful Envoy from the Sons of Men:
Advanc'd him from his pious Toils below,
In Raptures there with kindred-Flames to glow.
As rich a Jewel as her Stores could boast.
Heav'n in just Vengeance has recall'd again,
Its faithful Envoy from the Sons of Men:
Advanc'd him from his pious Toils below,
In Raptures there with kindred-Flames to glow.
While hov'ring on the verge of Life he lay,
Eager for Flight, and yet resign'd to stay;
How oft' did we, in Agonies of Pray'r,
Wrestle with Heav'n his sacred Breath to spare!
Upon our rising Prophet fix our Sight,
And anxious cry, “good Lord! delay his Flight”!
Eager for Flight, and yet resign'd to stay;
145
Wrestle with Heav'n his sacred Breath to spare!
Upon our rising Prophet fix our Sight,
And anxious cry, “good Lord! delay his Flight”!
But ah! his Worth but cherish'd our despair,
And threaten'd the Denial of our Pray'r.
So great, so heav'nly, so mature a Mind,
Requir'd Employment of a nobler Kind.
What Earth could teach, he learned; and now must rise,
To a supperior Class above the Skies.
Too much refin'd in this dark World to bear,
The humble Place of Zion's Minister,
Heav'n call'd him to sustain some nobler Function there:
With Gabriel to perform the Orders giv'n,
And bear Jehovah's Errands thro' the vast of Heav'n.
Prompt as his Fellow-Angels to obey,
Zealous and bright and vigorous as they.
Heav'n kind to him, would not consent to hear,
Nor curse him with the Answer of our Pray'r.
And threaten'd the Denial of our Pray'r.
So great, so heav'nly, so mature a Mind,
Requir'd Employment of a nobler Kind.
What Earth could teach, he learned; and now must rise,
To a supperior Class above the Skies.
Too much refin'd in this dark World to bear,
The humble Place of Zion's Minister,
Heav'n call'd him to sustain some nobler Function there:
With Gabriel to perform the Orders giv'n,
And bear Jehovah's Errands thro' the vast of Heav'n.
Prompt as his Fellow-Angels to obey,
Zealous and bright and vigorous as they.
Heav'n kind to him, would not consent to hear,
Nor curse him with the Answer of our Pray'r.
Oh! could the Muse's languid colour's paint,
The Man, the Scholar, Student, Preacher, Saint;
I'd Place his Image full in public view;
His Friends should know more than before they knew.
His Foes astonish'd at his Virtues gaze,
Or shrink confounded from th' oppressive Blaze.
To trace his bright Example all should turn,
And with the bravest Emulation burn.
His Name should my poor Lays immortalize,
'Till he t'attest his Character arise,
And the Great Judge th' Encomium ratifies.
The Man, the Scholar, Student, Preacher, Saint;
I'd Place his Image full in public view;
His Friends should know more than before they knew.
His Foes astonish'd at his Virtues gaze,
Or shrink confounded from th' oppressive Blaze.
To trace his bright Example all should turn,
And with the bravest Emulation burn.
His Name should my poor Lays immortalize,
'Till he t'attest his Character arise,
And the Great Judge th' Encomium ratifies.
Propitious Heav'n endow'd the Man it lov'd,
With Gifts t'adorn each Sphere in which he mov'd.
With Gifts t'adorn each Sphere in which he mov'd.
An Intellect clear as the Blaze of Day;
Sedate as Midnight, boundless as the Sea;
Free as the Wind, yet steady as the Pole;
Passive to Truth, impatient of controul
From vulgar Error; regular and smooth
As genuine Reason and harmonious Truth,
Truth link'd to Truth, and Tho't to Tho't conjoin'd
Spontaneous rose in his harmonious Mind.
His rude unstudy'd Tho'ts in Order sprung,
Exprest in equal Order by his Tongue;
Clusters of ripen'd Sense on each young Period hung.
His Passions vigo'rous, yet by Reason rul'd;
By calmest Reason kindled, temper'd, cool'd.
His Heart reserv'd as Prudence and confin'd;
And yet as Truth sincere, as weeping Friendship kind.
Sedate as Midnight, boundless as the Sea;
146
Passive to Truth, impatient of controul
From vulgar Error; regular and smooth
As genuine Reason and harmonious Truth,
Truth link'd to Truth, and Tho't to Tho't conjoin'd
Spontaneous rose in his harmonious Mind.
His rude unstudy'd Tho'ts in Order sprung,
Exprest in equal Order by his Tongue;
Clusters of ripen'd Sense on each young Period hung.
His Passions vigo'rous, yet by Reason rul'd;
By calmest Reason kindled, temper'd, cool'd.
His Heart reserv'd as Prudence and confin'd;
And yet as Truth sincere, as weeping Friendship kind.
My Muse, now paint him in his studious Hours,
In search of Truth exerting all his Pow'rs.
To him familiar, Truths beyond the Reach
Of vulgar Minds strain'd to the highest Stretch;
His daring genius with exalted scorn,
Forsakes the Path by hoary Custom worne:
Eager to find a Treasure of his own,
He tries new Paths and Regions yet unknown:
Into th' Abyss of Science darts his Eye,
Where the rude Elements of Knowledge lie:
Where Truths with Errors wage eternal War,
And Doubts with Embryo-Demonstrations jarr:
A wasteful Chaos with wild Tempest tost,
Whence cowards shrink, and where bold Wits are lost.
Serene his plastic Mind digests the Mass,
Assigns the blended El'ments each its Place;
Ripens the Embryo-Notions into Truth,
And gives to infant-Demonstration Growth.
At length, behold! new Worlds of Knowledge rise,
And sudden Light flash round the new-form'd Skies:
Harmonious all the finish'd Systems roll,
And Noon-Day Evidence illuminates the whole.
Doubts disappear, and Error flies away,
As Midnight Glooms before the rising Day.
His Hands the new-found Stores around dispense,
T' enlarge the petty Stock of common Sense.
So yonder Sun, th' exhaustless Source of Day,
To Earth's dark Caverns darts his vital Ray;
Tranforms to Gold what was but Dross before,
And ripens useless Stones to precious Oar;
Transmits his radiant Influence thro' the Seas,
To make the Ruby glow, the Di'mond blaze:
These Secret Stores, collected and refin'd,
Enrich the World, and polish Human Kind.
In search of Truth exerting all his Pow'rs.
To him familiar, Truths beyond the Reach
Of vulgar Minds strain'd to the highest Stretch;
His daring genius with exalted scorn,
Forsakes the Path by hoary Custom worne:
Eager to find a Treasure of his own,
He tries new Paths and Regions yet unknown:
Into th' Abyss of Science darts his Eye,
Where the rude Elements of Knowledge lie:
Where Truths with Errors wage eternal War,
And Doubts with Embryo-Demonstrations jarr:
A wasteful Chaos with wild Tempest tost,
Whence cowards shrink, and where bold Wits are lost.
Serene his plastic Mind digests the Mass,
Assigns the blended El'ments each its Place;
Ripens the Embryo-Notions into Truth,
And gives to infant-Demonstration Growth.
At length, behold! new Worlds of Knowledge rise,
And sudden Light flash round the new-form'd Skies:
Harmonious all the finish'd Systems roll,
And Noon-Day Evidence illuminates the whole.
Doubts disappear, and Error flies away,
As Midnight Glooms before the rising Day.
147
T' enlarge the petty Stock of common Sense.
So yonder Sun, th' exhaustless Source of Day,
To Earth's dark Caverns darts his vital Ray;
Tranforms to Gold what was but Dross before,
And ripens useless Stones to precious Oar;
Transmits his radiant Influence thro' the Seas,
To make the Ruby glow, the Di'mond blaze:
These Secret Stores, collected and refin'd,
Enrich the World, and polish Human Kind.
Now with great Newton's Eyes he dares to look,
On the wide Pages of deep Nature's Book.
Reads the great Maker's Name in every Line;
Above, below, around, his glories shine;
Imprest on all in Characters divine.
'Till cold Philosophy, at length refin'd,
Kindles to warm Devotion in his Mind.
Adoring Transport, Pleasure, Love, Surprize,
In sweet Confusion in his Bosom rise.
So Boyle his Maker's Works explor'd;
The more he knew, the humbler he ador'd.
On the wide Pages of deep Nature's Book.
Reads the great Maker's Name in every Line;
Above, below, around, his glories shine;
Imprest on all in Characters divine.
'Till cold Philosophy, at length refin'd,
Kindles to warm Devotion in his Mind.
Adoring Transport, Pleasure, Love, Surprize,
In sweet Confusion in his Bosom rise.
So Boyle his Maker's Works explor'd;
The more he knew, the humbler he ador'd.
Now in the sacred Desk I see him rise,
And well he acts the Herald of the Skies.
Graceful Solemnity and striking Awe,
Sit in his Looks, and deep Attention draw.
His speaking Aspect (in the Bloom of Youth
Rev'rend) declares unutterable Truth.
Unthinking Crowds grow solemn as they gaze,
And read his awful Message in his Face.
Solemn, and conscious of the present God,
As tho' before th' eternal Throne he stood:
Solemn, as when some Angel lifts on high,
His awful Hand with God-like Majesty,
And swears by the Unutterable Name;
While trembling Rev'rence spreads thro' Nature's Frame.
And well he acts the Herald of the Skies.
Graceful Solemnity and striking Awe,
Sit in his Looks, and deep Attention draw.
His speaking Aspect (in the Bloom of Youth
Rev'rend) declares unutterable Truth.
Unthinking Crowds grow solemn as they gaze,
And read his awful Message in his Face.
Solemn, and conscious of the present God,
As tho' before th' eternal Throne he stood:
Solemn, as when some Angel lifts on high,
His awful Hand with God-like Majesty,
And swears by the Unutterable Name;
While trembling Rev'rence spreads thro' Nature's Frame.
148
Thro' various mazes now his lips pursue
Intricate Truths, and bring them full to view.
Celestial Mystries, hid from human sense,
Shine forth in their Almighty Evidence.
Bright Demonstration every doubt controuls,
And forces the Assent of sceptic Souls.
Glaring Conviction with resistless Light,
Flashes on Minds wrapt in eternal Night.
Dull Ignorance starts at th' unwellcome glare,
And coward Error dreads th' unequal War.
Triumphant Truth assumes her native State,
And trusts her Rights to such an Advocate.
Intricate Truths, and bring them full to view.
Celestial Mystries, hid from human sense,
Shine forth in their Almighty Evidence.
Bright Demonstration every doubt controuls,
And forces the Assent of sceptic Souls.
Glaring Conviction with resistless Light,
Flashes on Minds wrapt in eternal Night.
Dull Ignorance starts at th' unwellcome glare,
And coward Error dreads th' unequal War.
Triumphant Truth assumes her native State,
And trusts her Rights to such an Advocate.
So when the Splendour of the Morn appears,
Deformity its native Horrors wear:
Beauty puts on her charms; Confusion flies,
And well-distinguish'd, Objects round us rise.
Conscious of Guilt the Ravagers of Night
Abscond from the ungrateful glare of Light
Thick Glooms, obscure as Error, disappear;
And Day succeeds, as Demonstration clear.
Deformity its native Horrors wear:
Beauty puts on her charms; Confusion flies,
And well-distinguish'd, Objects round us rise.
Conscious of Guilt the Ravagers of Night
Abscond from the ungrateful glare of Light
Thick Glooms, obscure as Error, disappear;
And Day succeeds, as Demonstration clear.
Now to secure Impenitents he turns;
And from his Tongue Almighty Vengeance burns.
The vengeful Flames and Thunders of the Law,
Equal the Terrors trembling Muses saw.
He sets incens'd Omnipotence in Arms,
And sounds the final Trumpet's dread Alarms.
The Charmer Sin with hideous Aspect glares,
And see! in naked Horrors Hell appears!
The wasteful Deeps lie open to our Eyes,
And Flames and Groans and Curses blended rise.
Jehovah frowns; the Sword of Justice drawn
Above; below the Gulphs of Tophet yawn!
See! The great Judge his burning Throne ascend,
Death and Destruction on his Nod attend.
Hark! A dread Clangor! Death's old Prisons burst,
And sudden Life inspires the rising Dust.
In shudd'ring Expectation Millions stand,
To hear their Sentence at the King's left Hand:
Confounded with the Sound “Depart,” they shrink,
Screaming away, and down to Hell they sink.
The Elements dissolve; Earth, Skies and Seas,
Vanish in one fierce universal Blaze.
And from his Tongue Almighty Vengeance burns.
The vengeful Flames and Thunders of the Law,
Equal the Terrors trembling Muses saw.
He sets incens'd Omnipotence in Arms,
And sounds the final Trumpet's dread Alarms.
The Charmer Sin with hideous Aspect glares,
And see! in naked Horrors Hell appears!
The wasteful Deeps lie open to our Eyes,
And Flames and Groans and Curses blended rise.
Jehovah frowns; the Sword of Justice drawn
Above; below the Gulphs of Tophet yawn!
See! The great Judge his burning Throne ascend,
Death and Destruction on his Nod attend.
Hark! A dread Clangor! Death's old Prisons burst,
And sudden Life inspires the rising Dust.
149
To hear their Sentence at the King's left Hand:
Confounded with the Sound “Depart,” they shrink,
Screaming away, and down to Hell they sink.
The Elements dissolve; Earth, Skies and Seas,
Vanish in one fierce universal Blaze.
The hardy Sinner, happily deceiv'd,
Now feels the Pains he ne'er before believ'd:
With Bright Description dazzled, knows not where
He is, but seems the Vengeance now to bear.
Infernal Twinges thro' his Bosom dart,
And Hell's dire Pangs already rend his Heart;
He thinks the Miseries describ'd, his own;
Sinks in Despair, and Cries, Undone! Undone!
Now feels the Pains he ne'er before believ'd:
With Bright Description dazzled, knows not where
He is, but seems the Vengeance now to bear.
Infernal Twinges thro' his Bosom dart,
And Hell's dire Pangs already rend his Heart;
He thinks the Miseries describ'd, his own;
Sinks in Despair, and Cries, Undone! Undone!
“Lift up (says Blair) lift up thy dying Eyes:
“Say, who hangs yonder rack'd in Agonies?
“Pity and Torture, Love commixt with Pain,
“Throbs in his Heart, and pants in every Vein.
“See! from his Hands and Feet his Head and Side,
“Rivers of Blood and Mercy mingled glide!
“Jesus! The Saviour!—Yes! 'Tis He!—Forbear,
“Thou dying Sinner, to indulge Despair.
“Believe and Live, there wash thy foulest Stains,
“In this dear deluge from his bleeding Veins.
“Now Justice smiles; thy Guilt appears no more;
“And Sinai's Thunders cease to flash and roar.
“Of Calv'ry's Balm receive a cordial Drop,
“And black despair will brighten into Hope:
“The tortur'd Conscience no more agoni'ze;
“But hellish Fears to heav'nly Transports rise.”
“Say, who hangs yonder rack'd in Agonies?
“Pity and Torture, Love commixt with Pain,
“Throbs in his Heart, and pants in every Vein.
“See! from his Hands and Feet his Head and Side,
“Rivers of Blood and Mercy mingled glide!
“Jesus! The Saviour!—Yes! 'Tis He!—Forbear,
“Thou dying Sinner, to indulge Despair.
“Believe and Live, there wash thy foulest Stains,
“In this dear deluge from his bleeding Veins.
“Now Justice smiles; thy Guilt appears no more;
“And Sinai's Thunders cease to flash and roar.
“Of Calv'ry's Balm receive a cordial Drop,
“And black despair will brighten into Hope:
“The tortur'd Conscience no more agoni'ze;
“But hellish Fears to heav'nly Transports rise.”
Oh! here the raptur'd Muse could ever dwell;
And still with unremitting Wonder tell,
How oft' has Blair allur'd our Minds to rove,
Thro' all the Myst'ries of redeeming Love;
Jesus display'd in his Almighty Charms,
To draw reluctant Sinners to his Arms;
With Jesus' charming Name cold fir'd
And every Theme with Gospel-Sweets inspir'd.
His darling Subject this: A heav'nly Flame
Sublim'd his Language when he touch'd the Theme,
This Cord of Love around our Hearts he threw,
And backward Souls with pleasing Vi'lence drew.
Reluctant and with pitying Fears, he shew'd,
The vengeful Terrors of an angry God;
But Oh! With Joy proclaim'd a Saviour's peaceful Blood.
Conscious of all the Sorrows others feel,
He kill'd to cure, and wounded but to heal.
And still with unremitting Wonder tell,
How oft' has Blair allur'd our Minds to rove,
Thro' all the Myst'ries of redeeming Love;
Jesus display'd in his Almighty Charms,
150
With Jesus' charming Name cold fir'd
And every Theme with Gospel-Sweets inspir'd.
His darling Subject this: A heav'nly Flame
Sublim'd his Language when he touch'd the Theme,
This Cord of Love around our Hearts he threw,
And backward Souls with pleasing Vi'lence drew.
Reluctant and with pitying Fears, he shew'd,
The vengeful Terrors of an angry God;
But Oh! With Joy proclaim'd a Saviour's peaceful Blood.
Conscious of all the Sorrows others feel,
He kill'd to cure, and wounded but to heal.
But in what nobler Language shall I paint,
The pure, Seraphic Ardors of the Saint!
His Life a fixt unerring walk with God;
A constant Progress in the heav'nly Road.
His Heart the Seat of constant Peace and Love;
There glow'd the Passions Seraphs feel above;
There pleas'd and unmolested dwelt the heav'nly Dove.
His Breath like grateful Incense, to the Skies,
Did daily in refin'd Devotion rise.
His Soul exerted with his praying Breath,
Th' Almighty Importunity of Faith.
Hence guilty Heads escape the falling Blow,
And Blessings to unworthy Millions flow,
Nations partook the bounty of his Pray'r;
And future Times the Benefit shall share.
This gen'rous Legacy he left Mankind,
Which, while he sleeps in Death, Heav'n will remind.
So while great Moses rais'd his praying Hands,
Vict'ry and Triumph wait on Isra'l's Bands.
Each warm Petition slays a haughty Foe;
And Am'lek Falls, but Moses strikes the Blow.
The pure, Seraphic Ardors of the Saint!
His Life a fixt unerring walk with God;
A constant Progress in the heav'nly Road.
His Heart the Seat of constant Peace and Love;
There glow'd the Passions Seraphs feel above;
There pleas'd and unmolested dwelt the heav'nly Dove.
His Breath like grateful Incense, to the Skies,
Did daily in refin'd Devotion rise.
His Soul exerted with his praying Breath,
Th' Almighty Importunity of Faith.
Hence guilty Heads escape the falling Blow,
And Blessings to unworthy Millions flow,
Nations partook the bounty of his Pray'r;
And future Times the Benefit shall share.
This gen'rous Legacy he left Mankind,
Which, while he sleeps in Death, Heav'n will remind.
So while great Moses rais'd his praying Hands,
Vict'ry and Triumph wait on Isra'l's Bands.
Each warm Petition slays a haughty Foe;
And Am'lek Falls, but Moses strikes the Blow.
151
But ah! The melancholy Hour appears,
When Blair must rise, and leave the World in Tears.
With zeal consum'd, with pious Labour spent,
Too much refin'd for this gross Element,
Mature for Heav'n, he breaks the Pris'n of Clay;
Soars, and expatiates in eternal Day:
Enjoys the Glories he describ'd unseen,
And ev'n his Views immense Improvements gain.
Heav'n smil'd upon his Life; but then most kind
When friendly Death releas'd th' imprison'd Mind:
But oh! The Loss to those condemn'd to stay behind!
When Blair must rise, and leave the World in Tears.
With zeal consum'd, with pious Labour spent,
Too much refin'd for this gross Element,
Mature for Heav'n, he breaks the Pris'n of Clay;
Soars, and expatiates in eternal Day:
Enjoys the Glories he describ'd unseen,
And ev'n his Views immense Improvements gain.
Heav'n smil'd upon his Life; but then most kind
When friendly Death releas'd th' imprison'd Mind:
But oh! The Loss to those condemn'd to stay behind!
Extensive as the Loss, Oh! be the Grief;
And in a hopeless Case, despair Relief.
Sinners, lament! that animating Breath
By which Heav'n Life inspir'd, is stopt in Death.
Saints join your Tears! no more shall ye rejoice,
Beneath the chearing Influence of his Voice.
Ye doubting Souls, lament! now you may rove,
Perplext and doubtful since our Blair's remove.
And in a hopeless Case, despair Relief.
Sinners, lament! that animating Breath
By which Heav'n Life inspir'd, is stopt in Death.
Saints join your Tears! no more shall ye rejoice,
Beneath the chearing Influence of his Voice.
Ye doubting Souls, lament! now you may rove,
Perplext and doubtful since our Blair's remove.
Surviving Remant of the sacred Tribe,
Who knew the Worth these plaintive Lays describe;
Tennent's, three Worthies of immortal Fame,
Brethren by Office, Birth, in Heart and Name:
Finley, who full enjoy'd th' unbosom'd Friend;
Rodgers, whose Soul he like his own refin'd,
When all Attention, eager to admit
The flowing Knowledge, at his rev'rend Feet
Raptur'd we sat; and thou above the Rest,
Brother and Image of the dear deceas'd,
Surviving Blair! Oh! let spontaneous flow
The Floods of tributary Grief you owe.
And (in your Number if so mean a Name,
May the sad Honour of chief Mourner claim)
Oh! may my filial Tears more copious flow,
And swell the Tide of universal Woe.
Who knew the Worth these plaintive Lays describe;
Tennent's, three Worthies of immortal Fame,
Brethren by Office, Birth, in Heart and Name:
Finley, who full enjoy'd th' unbosom'd Friend;
Rodgers, whose Soul he like his own refin'd,
When all Attention, eager to admit
The flowing Knowledge, at his rev'rend Feet
Raptur'd we sat; and thou above the Rest,
Brother and Image of the dear deceas'd,
Surviving Blair! Oh! let spontaneous flow
The Floods of tributary Grief you owe.
And (in your Number if so mean a Name,
May the sad Honour of chief Mourner claim)
Oh! may my filial Tears more copious flow,
And swell the Tide of universal Woe.
152
O Blair! whom all the tend'rest Names commend,
My Father, Tutor, Pastor, Brother, Friend!
While Distance the sad Priviledge denies,
O'er thy dear Tomb to vent my bursting Eyes,
The Muse erects (the sole return allow'd)
This humble Monument of Gratitude.
Faint are her Lays; the mournful Theme she sings,
Extinguishes her Fire, and cloggs her Wings.
Affected Sorrow in a loftier strain,
May flourish, and with nicer Art complain.
These elegiac Numbers would appear,
More warm and noble, were they less sincere.
“Grief unaffected suits but ill with Art,
“Or flowing Numbers with a bleeding Heart.”
My Father, Tutor, Pastor, Brother, Friend!
While Distance the sad Priviledge denies,
O'er thy dear Tomb to vent my bursting Eyes,
The Muse erects (the sole return allow'd)
This humble Monument of Gratitude.
Faint are her Lays; the mournful Theme she sings,
Extinguishes her Fire, and cloggs her Wings.
Affected Sorrow in a loftier strain,
May flourish, and with nicer Art complain.
These elegiac Numbers would appear,
More warm and noble, were they less sincere.
“Grief unaffected suits but ill with Art,
“Or flowing Numbers with a bleeding Heart.”
But tho' eternal Silence seize my Tongue,
And the Dumb Muse no more attempt a Song;
Yet to Life's close, my grateful Soul shall feel,
The secret Sorrow Language fails to tell:
In all my gay or studious Moments prove
The pining Anguish of bereaved Love,
'Till our Reunion heal th' invit'rate Wound above.
And the Dumb Muse no more attempt a Song;
Yet to Life's close, my grateful Soul shall feel,
The secret Sorrow Language fails to tell:
In all my gay or studious Moments prove
The pining Anguish of bereaved Love,
'Till our Reunion heal th' invit'rate Wound above.
Lamented Shade! tho' rais'd beyond the Reach
Of mortal Sense, my Tho'ts their Pinions Stretch
In quest of thee; thro' unknown Regions rove,
To find thee 'mong the shining Hosts above.
But ah! insufferable Light surrounds,
Thy Mansion, and my feeble Sight confounds.
Of mortal Sense, my Tho'ts their Pinions Stretch
In quest of thee; thro' unknown Regions rove,
To find thee 'mong the shining Hosts above.
But ah! insufferable Light surrounds,
Thy Mansion, and my feeble Sight confounds.
How dark the Views benighted Mortals have,
Of that strange neighb'ring World beyond the Grave!
O! Where in the unbounded Realms of Space,
Has Heav'n allotted thee thy blissful Place?
What glorious Novelties rush full to View,
Which not before ev'n they vast Genius knew?
Dost thou with Seraphs Hymn th' eternal Throne,
In Strains which Seraphs would not blush to own?
O lost in studious Tho't, as usual, rove,
Thro' all the Mazes of redeeming Love?
Or still the gen'rous Labour undergo,
As Guardian-Angel to the Church below—
But this wild License, raving Muse! Restrain;
Nor pry to Things hid from the Sons of Men:
Ere long Eternity's amazing Light,
Will shew these Myst'ries naked to my Sight.
Of that strange neighb'ring World beyond the Grave!
O! Where in the unbounded Realms of Space,
Has Heav'n allotted thee thy blissful Place?
What glorious Novelties rush full to View,
Which not before ev'n they vast Genius knew?
Dost thou with Seraphs Hymn th' eternal Throne,
153
O lost in studious Tho't, as usual, rove,
Thro' all the Mazes of redeeming Love?
Or still the gen'rous Labour undergo,
As Guardian-Angel to the Church below—
But this wild License, raving Muse! Restrain;
Nor pry to Things hid from the Sons of Men:
Ere long Eternity's amazing Light,
Will shew these Myst'ries naked to my Sight.
Blest Shade! Adieu!—When a few Days have run,
Their tedious Rounds, my painful Labour done,
Ripen'd for Heav'n, may I resign my Breath,
And smile like thee at the grim Face of Death!
Foll'wing the Path thy Feet unerring trod,
May I like thee ascend the heav'nly Road.
And ever dwell with thee beneath the Smiles of God!
There in divinest Intimacy spend,
Eternal Years in Bliss and Friendship ne'er to End!
Their tedious Rounds, my painful Labour done,
Ripen'd for Heav'n, may I resign my Breath,
And smile like thee at the grim Face of Death!
Foll'wing the Path thy Feet unerring trod,
May I like thee ascend the heav'nly Road.
And ever dwell with thee beneath the Smiles of God!
There in divinest Intimacy spend,
Eternal Years in Bliss and Friendship ne'er to End!
Hanover in Virginia, November 10th 1751.
She cecinit mærens. S. Davies.
154
[Come, heav'nly pensive Contemplation, come]
[_]
The following VERSES were composed by a Pious Clergyman in Virginia, who preaches to Seven Congregations, the nearest of which meets at the Distance of five Miles from his House, as he was returning Home in a very gloomy and rainy Night.
Possess my Soul, and solemn Thoughts inspire.
The sacred Hours, that with too swift a Wing
Incessant hurry by, nor quite claps'd,
Demand a serious Close. Then be my Soul
Sedate and solemn, as this Gloom of Night,
That thickens round me. Free from Care, compos'd
Be all my Soul, as this dread Solitude,
Thro' which with gloomy Joy I make my Way.
Above these Clouds, above the spacious Sky,
In whose vast Arch these cloudy Oceans roll,
Dispensing Fatness to the World below;
There dwells The Majesty, whose single Hand
Props universal Nature, and who deals
His lib'ral Blessings to this little Globe,
The Residence of Worms; where Adam's Sons,
Thoughtless of him who taught their Souls to think,
Ramble in vain Pursuits. The Hosts of Heav'n,
Cherubs and Seraphs, Potentates and Thrones,
Array'd in glorious Light, hover on Wing
Before his Throne, and wait his sov'reign Nod:
With active Zeal, with sacred Rapture fir'd,
155
They bear his Orders, and his Charge perform,
Yet he, ev'n he (ye Ministers of Flame,
Admire the Condescension and the Grace!)
Employs a Mortal, form'd of meanest Clay,
Debas'd by Sin, whose best Desert is Hell;
Employs him to proclaim a Saviour's Name,
And offer Pardon to a rebel World.
This Day my Tongue, the Glory of my Frame,
Enjoy'd the Honour of his Advocate:
Immortal Souls, of more transcendent Worth
Than Ophir, or Peru's exhaustless Mines,
Are trusted to my Care. Important Trust!
What if some wretched Soul (tremendous Thought!)
Once favour'd with the Gospel's joyful Sound,
Now lost, for ever lost thro' my Neglect,
In dire infernal Glooms, with flaming Tongue,
Be heaping Execrations on my Head,
Whilst here secure I dream my Life away!
What if some Ghost, cut off from Life and Hope,
With fierce despairing Eyes up-turn'd to Heav'n,
That wildly stare, and witness Horrors huge,
Be roaring horrid, “Lord, avenge my Blood
On that unpitying Wretch, who saw me run
With full Career the dire enchanting Road
To these devouring Flames, yet warn'd me not;
Or faintly warn'd me, and with languid Tone,
And cool Harangue, denounced eternal Fire,
And Wrath divine?” At the dread shocking Thought
My Spirit shudders, and all my inmost Soul
Trembles and shrinks. Sure, if the plaintive Cries
156
Of their Great Judge, they must be Cries like these.
But if the meanest of the happy Choir,
That with eternal Symphonies surround
The heav'nly Throne, can stand, and thus declare,
“I owe it to his Care that I am here,
Next to Almighty Grace: His faithful Hand,
Regardless of the Frowns he might incur,
Snatch'd me, reluctant, from approaching Flames,
Ready to catch, and burn unquenchable.
May richest Grace reward his pious Zeal
With some bright Mansion in this World of Bliss.”
Transporting Thought! Then blessed be the Hand
That form'd my elemental Clay to Man,
And still supports me. 'Tis worth while to live,
If I may live to Purposes so great,
Awake my dormant Zeal! For ever flame
With gen'rous Ardors for immortal Souls;
And may my Head, and Tongue, and Heart and all,
Spend and be spent in Service so divine.
157
The Revd. Mr. Samuel Davies, Minister of the Gospel To the Congregation of Hanover County In the Colony of Virginia.
A Token for the Sacrament.
Do this says Christ 'till Time shall end.In Mem'ry of your dying Friends
Meet at my Table and record
The Love of your departed Lord.
158
[SIN THE DESPOILER]
Sin haunts my steps, where e'er I fly,In every place is ever nigh
As Streams from Mountain-Springs attend,
The Trav'llers still as they des[c]end;
So sin, the source of all my Woe,
Still bubbles up where e'er I go.
Sin spread a dark, tremendous Cloud
Of Horrors o'er my Solitude:
Presents a thousand Forms of Death
To shock my Soul from Duty's Path:
Wraps present Time in dreadful Gloom,
And damps my Hope of Time to come
Intimidates my Soul ashore,
And makes old Ocean louder roar;
Gives darker Horrors to the Storm,
And Danger a more shocking Form.
Companion dire by Land or Sea!
No Bliss, no calm, 'till freed from thee,
And Change of Place is Change of Misery.
159
[TRUST NOT BEAUTY]
Does Beauty spread her Charms? does Wealth o'erflow?
Does Health bloom fresh, or youthful Vigour glow?
Are all Earth's Blessings in Profusion pour'd?
And all these Sweets with no Affliction sour'd?
Ah! trust not these, to guard from early Death
All these adorn'd the precious Dust beneath.
Does Health bloom fresh, or youthful Vigour glow?
Are all Earth's Blessings in Profusion pour'd?
And all these Sweets with no Affliction sour'd?
Ah! trust not these, to guard from early Death
All these adorn'd the precious Dust beneath.
Or
Ye that in Beauty, or in Youth confide,
Come view this Monument, Youth in flowery Bloom,
Wither'd at Morn, lie mould'ring in this Tomb,
And you may meet the same surprizing Doom.
Come view this Monument, Youth in flowery Bloom,
Wither'd at Morn, lie mould'ring in this Tomb,
And you may meet the same surprizing Doom.
Or
Thus Monument proclaims this solemn Truth,
Beauty is fading, frail the Bloom of Youth;
Life short, a Span, a Dream, an empty Shew,
And all is fleeting Vanity below.
Careless Spectator! learn from hence to die;
Prepare, prepare for Immortality.
Beauty is fading, frail the Bloom of Youth;
Life short, a Span, a Dream, an empty Shew,
And all is fleeting Vanity below.
Careless Spectator! learn from hence to die;
Prepare, prepare for Immortality.
160
[THE PIOUS MIND IN A TIME OF STORM]
When the Storm thickens, and the Ocean rolls,When Nature trembles to the frightful Poles,
The pious mind nor Doubts nor fears assail,
Tempests are Zephyrs, or a gentler Gale.
[TO CHARA]
While objects various, strange and new,
In numerous Prospects rush to view,
The Tho'ts of Friends, the Tho'ts of Home
Engross my Heart and still find Room.
Chara with what strange, magic Art,
Dost thou, so distant, charm my Heart?
In numerous Prospects rush to view,
The Tho'ts of Friends, the Tho'ts of Home
Engross my Heart and still find Room.
Chara with what strange, magic Art,
Dost thou, so distant, charm my Heart?
Not seas can quench, nor Distance cool
The flame of Love that fires my Soul.
Not works of Nature or of Art
Can raze thine Image from my Heart.
I shrink to view those Days to come,
While cruel Absence is my Doom.
Indulgent Heav'n! contract those Days,
And give my anxious Bosom Ease.
The flame of Love that fires my Soul.
Not works of Nature or of Art
Can raze thine Image from my Heart.
I shrink to view those Days to come,
While cruel Absence is my Doom.
Indulgent Heav'n! contract those Days,
And give my anxious Bosom Ease.
161
[“THE WAR OF THE ELEMENTS”]
Inconstant, boistrous Element! the Type
Of human Life. Now gentle Calms compose
The wide-extended surface; to the Eye
Opens a level Plain, a Sea of Glass,
Smooth as the standing Pool, or purling stream,
Or only rising gradual and slow
In vast majestic swells, not wild, abrupt,
A watry Precipice; such as these Eyes
Now see collecting all their Terrors round,
Ore every Tide. Above, the Clouds replete
With Winds and angry Fire tremendous lower.
The Lightening flashes a malignant Glare
Thro' the thick Gloom, and helps but to descry
The Horrors of the Dark, and Danger's Frown
Now the fierce Flash spreads out in sheets of Flame
Round Heav'n's wide Canopy—Mean Time the Winds
Collect their Forces, and discharge their Rage
On the fermenting Deep; ['till watery Hills,]
And mountains rise, and roll along, beyond
The Ken of light; or by quick-shifting Winds
Driven adverse, dash in furious Conflict; then
The mountains break, in a tumultous Roar;
The angry foam flies up to Heaven in showers,
And burns and sparkles in the briny Waves.
Sure 'tis the War of Elements; the shock
of Nature in Convulsions; 'tis the Wreck
Of Worlds! What horrid Images can shew
The dreadful Scene! What loud tremendous Sounds,
What wild, tumultuous Verse can represent
The blended Roar of Thunder, Winds and Waves
In Tumult—Now how naturally Distress
Casts up to Heaven the wild imploring Eye,
And eager cries for Help—Now, now we sink!
Strange! we survive the shock! Now fiercer still
The Waves assault our Barque, convulse each Joint,
And spread a Tremor thro' each Rib of Oak.
Now we shall rise no more. Strange! we emerge
Toss'd like a Cork, we float from Wave to Wave,
From the huge, watry Precipice we plunge
The yawning Gulph below; While howling Winds
And roaring Waves, and midnight's sullen Glooms
Surround us—O thou Ruler of the Seas,
Send forth thy mighty Mandate, “Peace, be still,”
And calm their Rage—But can even Mercy hear
Such daring Rebels, who in one vile Breath
Blend Prayers and Curses? But alas! my Heart
Look home; thou art not innocent; my Guilt
May hurl these furious Hurricanes in Air,
And Arm each Billow of the Sea against me.
Of human Life. Now gentle Calms compose
The wide-extended surface; to the Eye
Opens a level Plain, a Sea of Glass,
Smooth as the standing Pool, or purling stream,
Or only rising gradual and slow
In vast majestic swells, not wild, abrupt,
A watry Precipice; such as these Eyes
Now see collecting all their Terrors round,
Ore every Tide. Above, the Clouds replete
With Winds and angry Fire tremendous lower.
The Lightening flashes a malignant Glare
Thro' the thick Gloom, and helps but to descry
The Horrors of the Dark, and Danger's Frown
Now the fierce Flash spreads out in sheets of Flame
Round Heav'n's wide Canopy—Mean Time the Winds
Collect their Forces, and discharge their Rage
On the fermenting Deep; ['till watery Hills,]
And mountains rise, and roll along, beyond
The Ken of light; or by quick-shifting Winds
Driven adverse, dash in furious Conflict; then
The mountains break, in a tumultous Roar;
The angry foam flies up to Heaven in showers,
And burns and sparkles in the briny Waves.
Sure 'tis the War of Elements; the shock
162
Of Worlds! What horrid Images can shew
The dreadful Scene! What loud tremendous Sounds,
What wild, tumultuous Verse can represent
The blended Roar of Thunder, Winds and Waves
In Tumult—Now how naturally Distress
Casts up to Heaven the wild imploring Eye,
And eager cries for Help—Now, now we sink!
Strange! we survive the shock! Now fiercer still
The Waves assault our Barque, convulse each Joint,
And spread a Tremor thro' each Rib of Oak.
Now we shall rise no more. Strange! we emerge
Toss'd like a Cork, we float from Wave to Wave,
From the huge, watry Precipice we plunge
The yawning Gulph below; While howling Winds
And roaring Waves, and midnight's sullen Glooms
Surround us—O thou Ruler of the Seas,
Send forth thy mighty Mandate, “Peace, be still,”
And calm their Rage—But can even Mercy hear
Such daring Rebels, who in one vile Breath
Blend Prayers and Curses? But alas! my Heart
Look home; thou art not innocent; my Guilt
May hurl these furious Hurricanes in Air,
And Arm each Billow of the Sea against me.
But have not I, a suppliant at thy Throne,
Indulgent Father, have not I bewailed
my Guilt in deep Repentance? has not Faith
Applied the Saviour's Blood?—
Indulgent Father, have not I bewailed
my Guilt in deep Repentance? has not Faith
Applied the Saviour's Blood?—
163
[A STORM AT SEA]
What Horrors crowd around! Destruction frownsIn all its frightful shapes. The lowering Clouds
Spread out their solid Glooms, and not a Star
Emits a Ray of cheering Light. The Winds
Discharge their whole Artillery; rear vast Piles
Of Waves on Waves,—and watry Pyramids,
Capt with white Foam, that lash'd to fiery Rage,
Sparkles and burns: betwixt conflicting Seas,
Toss'd like a Cork, alas! our feeble Barque,
Our sole Defence, denies us Hope; the Waves
In Deluges break o'er her. Hark! the Roar
Of breaking Precipices, and the Howl
Of Furious Winds, that from the Bottom turn
The Wild, fermenting Ocean; while the Night
Spreads her thick Glooms o'er all the dreadful Scene.
164
The different States of Sinners and Saints in the Wreck of Nature.
Isaiah xxiv. 18–20. Long Metre.
I
How great, how terrible that God,Who shakes Creation with his Nod!
He frowns, and Earth's Foundations shake,
And all the Wheels of Nature break.
II
Crush'd under Guilt's oppressive WeightThe Globe now totters to its Fate,
Trembles beneath its guilty Sons,
And for Deliv'rance loudly groans:
III
And see the glorious dreadful DayThat takes th' enormous Load away!
See Ocean, Earth, all Nature's Frame
Sink in one universal Flame.
IV
Where now, O where shall Sinners seekFor Shelter in the gen'ral Wreck?
Shall falling Rocks be o'er them thrown?
See Rocks, like Snow, dissolving down.
165
V
In vain for Mercy now they cry;In Lakes of liquid Fire they lie;
There on the flaming Billows tost,
For ever, O for ever lost!
VI
But, Saints, undaunted and sereneYour Eyes shall view the dreadful Scene;
Your Saviour lives, tho' Worlds expire,
And Earth and Skies dissolve in Fire.
VII
Jesus, the helpless Creature's Friend,To Thee my All I dare commend:
Thou can'st preserve my feeble Soul,
When Lightnings blaze from Pole to Pole.
166
LVI. National Judgments deprecated, and National Mercies pleaded.
Amos iii. 1–6. Long Metre.
By the Reverend Samuel Davies, A. M
.
I.
While o'er our guilty Land, O Lord,We view the Terrors of thy Sword;
While Heav'n its fruitful Show'rs denies,
And Nature round us fades and dies;
II.
While Clouds collecting o'er our HeadSeem charg'd with Wrath to smite us dead,
Oh! whither shall the Helpless fly?
To whom but Thee direct their Cry?
III.
The helpless Sinner's Cries and TearsAre grown familiar to thine Ears;
Oft has thy Mercy sent Relief,
When all was Fear and hopeless Grief:
167
IV.
On Thee our Guardian God we call,Before thy Throne of Grace we sall;
And in there no Deliv'rance there?
And must we perish in Despair?
V.
See, we repent, we weep, we mourn,To our forsaken God we turn;
O spare our guilty Country, spare
The Church which Thou hast planted here!
VI.
Revive our with'ring Fields with Rain,Let Peace compose our Land again,
Silence the horrid Noise of War!
O spare a guilty People, spare!
VII.
We plead thy Grace, indulgent God;We plead thy Son's atoning Blood,
We plead thy gracious Promises,
And are they unavailing Pleas?
VIII.
These Pleas, by Faith urg'd at thy Throne,Have brought ten thousand Blessings down
On guilty Lands in helpless Woe;
Let them prevail to save us too!
This and the following Hymn were printed by the Author with two Discourses on Amos iii. 1–6. intitled, Virginia's Danger and Remedy, and occasioned by the severe Drought in sundry Parts of that Country, and the Defeat of General Braddock, 1756.
168
On the same.
Long Metre.
I
While various Rumours spread abroad,And hold our Souls in dread Suspence,
We look, we fly to Thee our God;
Our Refuge is thy Providence.
II
This Wilderness, so long untill'd,An hideous Waste of barren Ground,
Thy Care has made a fruitful Field,
With Peace and Plenty richly crown'd.
III
Thy Gospel spreads an heav'nly DayThroughout this once benighted Land,
A Land once wild with Beasts of Prey,
By impious Heathen Rites profan'd;
IV
Thy Gospel, like a gen'rous Vine,Its Branches wide began to spread,
Refresh'd our Souls with heav'nly Wine,
And bless'd us with its cooling Shade;
169
V
And shall these Mercies now remove?Shall Peace and Plenty fly away?
The Land, that Heav'n did thus improve,
Will Heav'n give up an helpless Prey?
VI
O must we bid our God adieu!And must the Gospel take its Flight!
O shall our Children never view
The Beamings of that heav'nly Light!
VII
Forbid it, Lord! with Arms of FaithWe'll hold Thee fast, and Thou shalt stay;
We'll cry, while we have Life or Breath,
Our God, do not depart away!
VIII
If broken Hearts and weeping EyesCan find Acceptance at thy Throne,
Lo, here they are: this Sacrifice
Thou wilt accept thro' Christ thy Son.
170
[FRONTIER WARFARE]
[_]
Extract from a poem on the barbarities of the French, and their savage allies and proselytes, on the frontiers of Virginia. By Sam. Davies, A.M.
Long had a mungrel French and Indian brood
Our peaceful frontiers drench'd with British blood.
There Horror rang'd, and her dire ensigns bore,
Raw scalps her trophies, stiff with clotted gore;
The heart and bowels smoaking on the ground,
Still warm with life, and mangled corpses round.
There buzzards riot, and each ravenous fowl,
And all the monsters of the desart howl,
And gnaw the naked bones; there mix in fight,
Like Gallic tyrants, for their neighbour's right.
Our peaceful frontiers drench'd with British blood.
There Horror rang'd, and her dire ensigns bore,
Raw scalps her trophies, stiff with clotted gore;
The heart and bowels smoaking on the ground,
Still warm with life, and mangled corpses round.
There buzzards riot, and each ravenous fowl,
And all the monsters of the desart howl,
And gnaw the naked bones; there mix in fight,
Like Gallic tyrants, for their neighbour's right.
See yonder cottage, once the peaceful seat
Of all the pleasures of the nuptial state.
The sturdy son, the prattling infant, there,
And spotless virgin, bless'd the happy pair.
In gentle sleep, undreaming ill, they lay;
But oh! no more to see the chearful day.
Mad with the passions of an Indian foul,
The tawny furies in the thickets prowl,
Thro' the dark night, and watch the dawn of day,
To spring upon their unsuspecting prey.
The musket's deadly sound, or murder's screams,
Alarm the slumb'rers, and break off their dreams.
They start, and struggle, but in vain the strife,
To save their own, a child's, or parent's life,
Or dearer, still, a tender bleeding wife.
Now mingling blood with blood, confus'd they die,
And blended in promiscuous carnage lie.
Brains, hearts and bowels, swim in streams of gore,
Besmear the walls, and mingle on the floor.
Men, children, houses, cattle, harvests, all,
In undistinguishing destruction fall.
The infernal savages lift up the yell,
And rouse the terrors of the lowest hell:
Suck the fresh wound, in bloody puddles swill,
And thence imbibe a fiercer rage to kill.
From the raw skull the hairy scalp they tare,
And the dire pledge in savage triumph wear.
Of all the pleasures of the nuptial state.
The sturdy son, the prattling infant, there,
And spotless virgin, bless'd the happy pair.
In gentle sleep, undreaming ill, they lay;
But oh! no more to see the chearful day.
Mad with the passions of an Indian foul,
The tawny furies in the thickets prowl,
Thro' the dark night, and watch the dawn of day,
To spring upon their unsuspecting prey.
The musket's deadly sound, or murder's screams,
Alarm the slumb'rers, and break off their dreams.
They start, and struggle, but in vain the strife,
To save their own, a child's, or parent's life,
Or dearer, still, a tender bleeding wife.
171
And blended in promiscuous carnage lie.
Brains, hearts and bowels, swim in streams of gore,
Besmear the walls, and mingle on the floor.
Men, children, houses, cattle, harvests, all,
In undistinguishing destruction fall.
The infernal savages lift up the yell,
And rouse the terrors of the lowest hell:
Suck the fresh wound, in bloody puddles swill,
And thence imbibe a fiercer rage to kill.
From the raw skull the hairy scalp they tare,
And the dire pledge in savage triumph wear.
But see! on Mononghala's fatal banks,
Blood flow in larger streams, and thicker ranks
Of heroes fall. Unfortunately brave,
Braddock alone was honour'd with a grave;
A hasty grave, in consternation made,
And there, uncoffin'd and unshrouded, laid.
There Halket, Shirley, there a num'rous band
Of brave Virginians, (oh! my native land!
How great thy loss! yet greater thy renown,
To call these brave heroic souls thy own.)
Ah! there they fell, to wolves and bears a prey,
Or human savages, more fierce than they.
There men and steeds in common ruin lie;
Some lifeless; wounded some; some seek to fly,
In vain; the skulking savages forsake
Their Thickets; and their thirst of blood to slake,
Like furious lions, rush into the field,
To butcher those not mercifully kill'd.
Now direr terrors o'er the wounded spread,
They envy now their fellow-soldiers dead.
For simple death, or death by hands of men,
Was now a privilege they wished in vain.
Now horrid shrieks, and dying groans and cries,
Mixt with wild shouts of Indian triumphs rise:
Tygers and bears felt pity at the sound,
And wilds, and vales, and mountains trembled round.
The dying now just ope' the closing eye,
And tawny murd'rers hov'ring o'er them spy.
The ear just stopt in death perceives their yell,
And trembles lest it be the cry of hell.
The wounded feel the blow that ends the strife,
Extinguishing the faint remains of life,
And kindly leaves them senseless to the scalping knife.
Infernal weapon!—Death o'erspreads the plain
With heaps of carnage: pray'rs and tears are vain.
Loud cries for mercy vengeance but provoke,
And supplicating hands but tempt the stroke.
The bended knee but stoops to take the blow,
As hell itself, implacable's the foe.
There toss'd in heaps, or scattered o'er the plain,
Naked, unburied, lie the mighty slain.
The soil is with their blood luxuriant grown,
And still their bones lie whitening in the sun.
There birds of prey long fed, and wheel'd their flight;
And savage beasts carous'd and howl'd by night.
Oh fatal spot! with theee be nam'd no more,
Cannae, Pharsalia, wash'd with Roman gore:
There men with men, here hellish furies fight,
Riot in slaughter, and in blood delight.—
Blood flow in larger streams, and thicker ranks
Of heroes fall. Unfortunately brave,
Braddock alone was honour'd with a grave;
A hasty grave, in consternation made,
And there, uncoffin'd and unshrouded, laid.
There Halket, Shirley, there a num'rous band
Of brave Virginians, (oh! my native land!
How great thy loss! yet greater thy renown,
To call these brave heroic souls thy own.)
Ah! there they fell, to wolves and bears a prey,
Or human savages, more fierce than they.
There men and steeds in common ruin lie;
Some lifeless; wounded some; some seek to fly,
In vain; the skulking savages forsake
Their Thickets; and their thirst of blood to slake,
Like furious lions, rush into the field,
To butcher those not mercifully kill'd.
Now direr terrors o'er the wounded spread,
They envy now their fellow-soldiers dead.
For simple death, or death by hands of men,
172
Now horrid shrieks, and dying groans and cries,
Mixt with wild shouts of Indian triumphs rise:
Tygers and bears felt pity at the sound,
And wilds, and vales, and mountains trembled round.
The dying now just ope' the closing eye,
And tawny murd'rers hov'ring o'er them spy.
The ear just stopt in death perceives their yell,
And trembles lest it be the cry of hell.
The wounded feel the blow that ends the strife,
Extinguishing the faint remains of life,
And kindly leaves them senseless to the scalping knife.
Infernal weapon!—Death o'erspreads the plain
With heaps of carnage: pray'rs and tears are vain.
Loud cries for mercy vengeance but provoke,
And supplicating hands but tempt the stroke.
The bended knee but stoops to take the blow,
As hell itself, implacable's the foe.
There toss'd in heaps, or scattered o'er the plain,
Naked, unburied, lie the mighty slain.
The soil is with their blood luxuriant grown,
And still their bones lie whitening in the sun.
There birds of prey long fed, and wheel'd their flight;
And savage beasts carous'd and howl'd by night.
Oh fatal spot! with theee be nam'd no more,
Cannae, Pharsalia, wash'd with Roman gore:
There men with men, here hellish furies fight,
Riot in slaughter, and in blood delight.—
173
The Blessing of Hope in Death; or Comfort in a dying Hour earnestly implored.
Proverbs xiv. 32. Long Metre.
I
Yes; I must bow my Head and die!What then can bear my Spirit up?
In Nature's last Extremity
Who can afford one Ray of Hope?
II
Then all created Comforts fail,And Earth speaks nothing but Despair;
And you, my Friends, must bid Farewel,
And leave your Fellow-Traveller.
III
Yet, Saviour, thine Almighty Pow'rEv'n then can sure Support afford,
Ev'n then that Hope shall smile secure,
That's now supported by thy Word.
IV
Searcher of Hearts! O try me now,Nor let me build upon the Sand;
O teach me now myself to know,
That I may then the Trial stand!
174
The universal Call of God to Repentance.
Acts xvii. 30. Common Metre.
I
Hark! from the Skies the great CommandSounds thro' the Earth abroad;
“Repent, ye Sons of Men, repent;
“Return unto your God.”
II
The Times of Ignorance are past,The Gospel-Day now shines:
The sov'reign Judge no more o'erlooks,
But marks down all your Crimes.
III
Sinners on Thrones, in Cottages,All on this guilty Ball,
Whate'er you are, whate'er you be,
This Charge includes you all.
IV
Come Thousands then, come all MankindFall at your Sov'reign's Feet:
With broken Hearts, and weeping Eyes,
Approach the Mercy-Seat.
175
V
There sits the Sin-forgiving God,And spreads his Arms to All;
There his free Pardons deals abroad
To each who hears his Call.
AN HYMN
BY THE AUTHOR OF THE SERMON FOREGOING,
With
grateful hearts come let us sing,
The gifts of our ascended King;
Though long since gone from earth below,
Through every age his bounties flow.
The gifts of our ascended King;
Though long since gone from earth below,
Through every age his bounties flow.
The Saviour when to heav'n he rose
In splendid triumph o'er his foes,
His gifts on rebel men bestow'd,
And wide his royal bounties flow'd.
In splendid triumph o'er his foes,
His gifts on rebel men bestow'd,
And wide his royal bounties flow'd.
Hence sprung th' apostles' honour'd name,
More glorious than the hero's fame;
Evangelists and prophets hence
Derive the blessings they dispense.
More glorious than the hero's fame;
Evangelists and prophets hence
Derive the blessings they dispense.
176
In humbler forms, to bless our eyes,
Pastors from hence and teachers rise;
Who, though with feebler rays they shine,
Still gild a long-extended line.
Pastors from hence and teachers rise;
Who, though with feebler rays they shine,
Still gild a long-extended line.
From Christ their various gifts derive,
And fed by Christ their graces live:
While, guarded by his mighty hand,
'Midst all the rage of hell they stand.
And fed by Christ their graces live:
While, guarded by his mighty hand,
'Midst all the rage of hell they stand.
Thus teachers, teachers shall succeed
When we lie silent with the dead!
And unborn churches, by their care,
Shall rise and flourish large and fair.
When we lie silent with the dead!
And unborn churches, by their care,
Shall rise and flourish large and fair.
Pastors and people, join and sing,
This constant, inexhausted spring,
Whence through all ages richly flow
The streams that cheer the church below.
This constant, inexhausted spring,
Whence through all ages richly flow
The streams that cheer the church below.
177
Self-Examination.
Gal. iv. 19, 20. Long Metre.
I
What strange Perplexities arise?What anxious Fears, and Jealousies?
What Crowds in doubtful Light appear?
How few, alas! approv'd and clear!
II
And what am I?—My Soul, awake,And an impartial Prospect take:
Does no dark Sign, no Ground of Fear
In Practice, or in Heart appear?
III
What Image does my Spirit bear?Is Jesus form'd, and living there?
Say, do his Lineaments Divine
In Thought, and Word, and Action shine?
IV
Searcher of hearts, O search me still;The Secrets of my Soul reveal,
My Fears remove: let me appear
To God, and my own Conscience clear:
178
V
Scatter the Clouds, that o'er my HeadThick Glooms of dubious Terrors spread;
Lead me into celestial Day,
And to my Self my Self display:
VI
May I at that blest World arrive,Where Christ thro' all my Soul shall live,
And give full proof that he is there,
Without one gloomy Doubt or Fear.
An HYMN
From Dr. Doddridge, varied.
“Ye feeble Lambs, fly to His Arms,That open wide for you;
He'll save you from the Lion's Rage,
And all th' infernal Crew.”
179
[CHRISTIAN, PREACHER, FRIEND]
The Colours of Expression are too faint,Let Thought describe what Thought alone can paint:
Think what the Christian, Preacher, Friend should be,
You've then his Character: for such was He.
The Glories of God in pardoning Sinners.
Micah vii, 18.I
Great God of Wonders! all thy WaysAre matchless, godlike, and divine,
But the fair Glories of thy Grace
More godlike and unrivall'd shine:
Who is a pard'ning God like Thee?
Or who has Grace so rich and free?
II
Crimes of such Horror to forgive,Such guilty daring Worms to spare,
This is thy grand Prerogative,
And none shall in the Honour share.
Who is a pard'ning God like Thee?
Or who has Grace so rich and free?
180
III
Angels and Men, resign your ClaimTo Pity, Mercy, Love, and Grace,
These Glories crown Jehovah's Name
With an incomparable Blaze.
Who is a pard'ning God like Thee?
Or who has Grace so rich and free?
IV
In Wonder lost, with trembling Joy,We take the Pardon of our God,
Pardon for Crimes of deepest Die,
A Pardon bought with Jesus' Blood.
Who is a pard'ning God like Thee?
Or who has Grace so rich and free?
V
O may this strange, this matchless Grace,This godlike Miracle of Love,
Fill the wide Earth with grateful Praise,
And all th' Angelic Hosts above!
Who is a pard'ning God like Thee?
Or who has Grace so rich and free?
181
Christ's Tenderness to the bruised Reed and smoking Flax.
Matthew xii. 20. Long Metre.
I
Weak in myself, and burden'd too,Lo here I am, a bruised Reed;
And see th' Almighty Conqu'ror comes,
And I might feel his angry Tread.
II
But, O the condescending Grace,The humble Pity of his Soul,
He sees the Straw, he sees its State,
Stoops down, supports, and makes it whole.
III
The weak low Music of this Reed,To his kind Ear is Melody;
Nor will he break the useless Thing,
But tune it for the Choirs on high.
182
IV
If e'er his Love inflam'd my Breast,Alas! 'tis just expiring now:
A dying Snuff is all remains,
And furious Storms against it blow.
V
Deep in the Socket of my HeartThe Flame breaks, catches, quivers, dies,
But Jesus breathes upon the Spark,
And the fresh Oil of Joy supplies.
VI
Angels, thro' all your shining RanksSuch Tenderness was never known;
The brightest Wonders of his Grace
To our rebellious Race are shown.
VII
But, Angels, ye with Rapture viewThat Pity which we Mortals share;
Come then, assist a bruised Reed
Emanuel's Praises to declare:
VIII
Low are its Notes, but you can raiseStrains of sublimest Praise above,
Yet your sublimest Strains must fall
Far, far below his matchless Love.
183
The one Thing needful generally neglected.
Luke x. 42. Long Metre.
I
O, Was my Heart but form'd for Woe,What Streams of pitying Tears should flow,
To see the thoughtless Sons of Men
Labour, and toil, and live in vain!
II
One Thing is needful, one alone;If this be ours, all is our own:
'Tis needful now, 'twill needful be
In Death, and thro' Eternity.
III
Without it we are all undone,Tho' we could call the World our own:
Not all the Joys of Time and Sense
Can countervail the Loss immense.
IV
Yet, (O the Horrors of the Thought!)The one Thing needful is forgot;
Forgot, while Trifles of an Hour
Our Love, and Hope, and Zeal devour.
184
V
Hurry, and Toil, and anxious Care,The busy Life of Mortals share,
Till Death compels them to bemoan
Their Folly, when their Sands are run.
VI
The Bliss of Heav'n they disregard,Hell's flaming Terrors rage unfear'd;
Eternity a Trifle seems;
Immense Realities are Dreams.
VII
O Sinners! will you now return?Or must I still your Madness mourn?
O will you now at length be wise,
And strive to gain the only Prize?
VIII
Great God! that powerful Grace of thine,Which rous'd a Soul so dead as mine,
Can rouse these thoughtless Sinners too
The one Thing needful to pursue.
185
Spiritual Want and Misery confessed, and the Communication of spiritual Blessings implored.
Rev. iii. 17, 18. Long Metre.
I
No, I'll indulge vain Hopes no more;I see I'm wretched, blind, and poor;
By mad Delusions led astray,
Till now Conviction shot its Ray.
II
Blest Jesus! 'tis thine heav'nly LightThat opens this surprizing Sight,
Shows me myself so long unknown,
And by my Ignorance undone.
III
Welcome this Heart-affecting View,Tho' dreadful, just; tho' painful, true!
Ye visionary Hopes, farewel,
Ye dreams of Bliss that end in Hell!
186
IV
Lord, since my Danger now I see,O let me view my Remedy!
And let the Day, that shows my Wound,
Show me where Healing may be found!
V
The wretched, helpless, poor, and blindRelief in Thee alone can find.
See one more Sinner from the Dust
Look up, and make thy Name his Trust.
VI
O may that Sun which saw me poor,Tho' proud of my imagin'd Store,
Dart down his setting Beams on me,
Enrich'd, and safe, and blest in Thee!
187
Applying for Relief to the All-Sufficiency of Christ.
Rev. iii. 17, 18. Long Metre.
I
I hear the Counsel of a Friend;To the kind Voice, my Soul, attend.
“Come, Sinners, wretched, blind, and poor,
“Come, draw from my unbounded Store.
II
“I only ask you to receive,“For freely I my Blessings give.”
Jesus, and are thy Treasures free,
Then I may dare to come to Thee?
III
I come for Grace, that Gold refin'd,T' enrich and beautify my Mind,
Grace that will Trials well endure,
By Trials more divinely pure;
188
IV
Naked I come for that bright Dress,Thy perfect spotless Righteousness,
That glorious Robe, so richly dy'd
In thine own Blood, my Shame to hide.
V
Like Bartimeus, Lord, to TheeI come: O give the Blind to see!
Ev'n Clay is Eye-salve in thine Hand,
If Thou the Blessing but command.
VI
Poor, naked, blind I hither came,O let me not depart the same!
Let me return, All-gracious Lord,
Enrich'd, adorn'd, to Sight restor'd.
189
The holy Spirit invoked, and his purifying and quickening Influences implored.
I
Eternal Spirit, Source of Light,Enliv'ning, consecrating Fire,
Descend, and with celestial Heat
Our dull, our frozen Hearts inspire,
Our Souls refine, our Dross consume!
Come, condescending Spirit, come!
II
In our cold Breasts O strike a SparkOf the pure Flame which Seraphs feel,
Nor let us wander in the Dark,
Or lie benumb'd and stupid still.
Come, vivifying Spirit, come,
And make our Hearts thy constant Home!
III
Whatever Guilt and Madness dare,We would not quench the heav'nly Fire:
Our Hearts as Fuel we prepare,
Tho' in the Flame we should expire:
Our Breasts expand to make Thee Room:
Come, purifying Spirit, come!
190
IV
Let pure Devotion's Fervors rise!Let ev'ry pious Passion glow!
O let the Raptures of the Skies
Kindle in our cold Hearts below!
Come, condescending Spirit, come,
And make our Souls thy constant Home!
The Transcendent Excellency of Christ in his Person and Offices, and the Soul desirous to love Him.
I
Jesus, how precious is thy Name!The great Jehovah's Darling, Thou!
O let me catch th' immortal Flame,
With which Angelic Bosoms glow!
Since Angels love Thee, I would love,
And imitate the Blest above.
II
My Prophet Thou, my heav'nly Guide,Thy sweet Instructions I will hear,
The Words, that from thy Lips proceed,
O how divinely sweet they are!
Thee, my great Prophet, I would love,
And imitate the Blest above.
191
III
My great High-Priest, whose precious BloodDid once atone upon the Cross,
Who now dost intercede with God,
And plead the friendless Sinner's Cause;
In Thee I trust; Thee I would love,
And imitate the Blest above.
IV
My King supreme, to Thee I bow,A willing Subject at thy Feet;
All other Lords I disavow,
And to thy Government submit:
My Saviour-King this Heart would love,
And imitate the Blest above.
V
Transcendant Prince! for ever dear,Dearer than thousand Worlds to me,
Shall bold presumptuous Rivals dare
Pretend to share my Love with Thee?
Thee above all this heart would love,
And imitate the Blest above.
192
Christ most worthy of Esteem, but ungratefully neglected in our World.
Long Metre.
I
Welcome to Earth, Great Son of God!His best-belov'd, his only Son!
Hail, Thou blest Messenger of Peace
To Sinners helpless and undone!
II
Hail, great Deliv'rer!—Bow the Knee,Ye Rebel-Nations, and adore!
Jesus, who would not love thy Name?
What Rebel dare offend Thee more?
III
See ev'n this stubborn Heart of mineConquer'd by sov'reign Love, submit,
And shall not all the Nations fall
In humble Homage at thy Feet?
193
IV
[Shall not thy Praise from Tongue to TongueBe spread? Thy Love from Breast to Breast?
Thy Name the universal Song
From North to South, from East to West?]
V
But, O my Heart, with Sorrow break,Mine Eyes pour out incessant Tears!
The Son of God, the Sinner's Friend,
Neglected in our World appears.
VI
The Wonders of his dying LoveThe Riches of his Grace forgot!—
Strange! Justice should behold the Sight,
And yet its Vengeance kindle not.
VII
[O Thou, whose Mercy deign'd to prayFor those who nail'd Thee to the Tree,
The Wonders of thy Pow'r display,
And turn the Hearts of Men to Thee!]
VIII
Make Thyself Room in ev'ry Heart;Great Saviour! welcome into mine;
Welcome, great Conqu'ror, to our World,
To make all Tribes and Nations thine!
194
Pious Breathings amidst general Wickedness and Desolation.
Isaiah xxxii, 13–19. Common Metre.
I
While in a thousand open'd VeinsContending Nations bleed,
While Bri'rs and Thorns on blooming Plains
And fruitful Fields succeed;
II
While Desolation rages round,Like an o'erwhelming Flood,
Where can a Remedy be found
To stop these Streams of Blood?
III
Eternal Spirit! Source of Good!The Author of our Peace,
Pour down thine Influence, like a Flood,
On this wide Wilderness.
IV
O grant us one reviving Show'r,And let it spread afar:
Thine Influence alone can cure
The bleeding Wounds of War.
195
V
Come, Thou—and then the WildernessShall bloom a Paradise,
And heav'nly Plants t' adorn and bless
O'er this wild Waste shall rise:
VI
Then Peace shall in large Rivers flow,Where Streams of Blood have run;
Then universal Love shall glow,
And all the World be one;
VII
Then num'rous Colonies shall rise,A People all Divine,
To fill the Mansions of the Skies,
And bright as Angels shine.
196
Self-Dedication at the Table of the Lord.
Long Metre.
I
Lord, I am thine, entirely thine,Purchas'd and sav'd by Blood Divine,
With full Consent thine I would be,
And own thy sov'reign Right in me.
II
Here, Lord, my Flesh, my Soul, my AllI yield to Thee beyond Recal;
Accept thine own so long withheld,
Accept what I so freely yield!
III
Grant one poor Sinner more a PlaceAmong the Children of thy Grace;
A wretched Sinner lost to God,
But ransom'd by Emanuel's Blood.
197
IV
Thine would I live, thine would I die,Be thine thro' all Eternity:
The Vow is past beyond Repeal,
Now will I set the solemn Seal.
V
Be Thou the Witness of my Vow,Angels and Men attest it too,
That to thy Board I now repair,
And seal the sacred Contract there.
VI
Here at that Cross, where flows the BloodThat bought my guilty Soul for God,
Thee my new Master now I call,
And consecrate to Thee my All;
VII
Do Thou assist a feeble WormThe great Engagement to perform:
Thy Grace can full Assistance lend,
And on that Grace I dare depend.
| Collected poems of Samuel Davies : 1723-1761 | |