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121
EPISTLE
To Rev. Jno. Mitchell, after the publication of his celebrated Fast Sermon.—Jer. VI. 16.
Kind sir, I beg you to excuse
This bold intrusion of the Muse!
Know thou I lately did peruse
Discourse of thine,
And on most points, dear sir, your views
Are strictly mine.
This bold intrusion of the Muse!
Know thou I lately did peruse
Discourse of thine,
And on most points, dear sir, your views
Are strictly mine.
To see good people running mad,
Aiming at good, yet doing bad,
Moved me—I called the evil sad,
And cried them leave it!
So far from that, I would be glad
If they 'd believe it.
Aiming at good, yet doing bad,
Moved me—I called the evil sad,
And cried them leave it!
So far from that, I would be glad
If they 'd believe it.
How sadly have we gone astray
In this enlightened latter day
From that well-trod and “good old way”
Our fathers knew!
Cry for reform we truly may—
We 've reason to.
In this enlightened latter day
From that well-trod and “good old way”
Our fathers knew!
Cry for reform we truly may—
We 've reason to.
Would every erring mother's son
Could see and read thy good sermon!
He needs, I think. just such an one
To set him right.
Read, and believe it when he 's done,
For well he might.
Could see and read thy good sermon!
He needs, I think. just such an one
To set him right.
Read, and believe it when he 's done,
For well he might.
I honor, sir, your sentiment,
Your motives pure and good intent;
Comment on them, by one assent,
Is wholly needless;
But true frankness, when apparent,
Should not be meedless.
Your motives pure and good intent;
Comment on them, by one assent,
Is wholly needless;
But true frankness, when apparent,
Should not be meedless.
122
That there are those both far and near
Whose better judgment guides them clear
Of Error's shoals, where others steer,
Is past a doubt;
And yet to raise their voice they fear
In warning shout.
Whose better judgment guides them clear
Of Error's shoals, where others steer,
Is past a doubt;
And yet to raise their voice they fear
In warning shout.
Why should they fear to speak? I ask.
Does it impose a heavy task?
To drop the figure and the mask
And show the cause,
Do they not rather love to bask
In man's applause?
Does it impose a heavy task?
To drop the figure and the mask
And show the cause,
Do they not rather love to bask
In man's applause?
Base subterfuge! it cannot hide
However well it be applied.
Let moral courage be denied
The mind of man,
And tho' he would with truth abide
He never can!
However well it be applied.
Let moral courage be denied
The mind of man,
And tho' he would with truth abide
He never can!
Would every sacred desk were proud
Of men with Mitchell's force endowed,
Who would not fear to speak, tho' loud
Mad zealots storm;
And bid the great reforming crowd
Themselves reform!
Of men with Mitchell's force endowed,
Who would not fear to speak, tho' loud
Mad zealots storm;
And bid the great reforming crowd
Themselves reform!
Then might the good old days return;
Then might our wise true wisdom learn,
And o'er disunion dark discern
The peaceful dawn
Refulgent, as it once did burn
In times agone.
Then might our wise true wisdom learn,
And o'er disunion dark discern
The peaceful dawn
Refulgent, as it once did burn
In times agone.
POSTSCRIPT.
Sir, I am loath to trouble you,And yet I ask permission to:
123
I wish 't were mine!
And I may often read it through
If gift is thine!
Gill, Nov. 2, 1837.
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