ON WORKS OF MERCY AND COMPASSION,
CONSIDERED AS THE PROOFS OF
TRUE RELIGION.
I
Of true Religion Works of Mercy seem
To be the plainest Proof in Christ's Esteem;
Who has Himself declar'd what He will say
To all the Nations at the Judgment Day:
“Come,” or “Depart,” is the predicted Lot
Of brotherly Compassion shown, or not.
II
Then, they who gave poor hungry People Meat,
And Drink to quench the thirsty Suff'rer's Heat;
Who welcom'd in the Stranger at the Door,
And with a Garment clothed the naked Poor;
Who visited the Sick to ease their Grief,
And went to Pris'ners, or bestow'd Relief:—
III
These will be deem'd religious Men, to whom
Will sound: “Ye blessèd of my Father, come,
Inherit ye the Kingdom, and partake
Of all the Glories founded for your Sake;
Your Love for others I was pleas'd to see,
What you have done to them was done to Me!”
IV
Then, they who gave the hungry Poor no Food;
Who with no Drink the parch'd with Thrift bedew'd;
Who drove the helpless Stranger from their Fold,
And let the Naked perish in the Cold;
Who to the Sick no friendly Visit paid,
Nor gave to Pris'ners any needful Aid;—
V
These will be deem'd of irreligious Mind;
And hear the: “Go, ye Men of cursèd Kind;
To endless Woes, which ev'ry harden'd Heart
For its own Treasure has prepar'd, depart;
Shown to a Brother of the least Degree,
Your merciless Behaviour was to Me!”
VI
Here, all ye learnèd, full of all Dispute,
Of true and false Religion lies the Root.
The Mind of Christ, when He became a Man,
With all Its Tempers, forms its real Plan,
The Sheep from Goats distinguishing full well;—
His Love is Heav'n, and Want of It is Hell.
