 | A Collection of Poems on Various Subjects |  |
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Divine Worship.
In vain do they worship Me, teaching for Doctrines
the Commandments of Men.
Mat. xv. 9.
Of Worship I presume to sing,
Yet from the Nine no Aid implore,
Shiloh's out-vies Castalia's Spring,
Assist blest Pow'r whom I adore;
Breath on my Muse, and fill her Quill
With sacred Dews from Hermon-hill.
Yet from the Nine no Aid implore,
Shiloh's out-vies Castalia's Spring,
Assist blest Pow'r whom I adore;
Breath on my Muse, and fill her Quill
With sacred Dews from Hermon-hill.
Momus be gone, fly all ye Vain,
Who the Wit of Poems place
In florid Strains, my Muse is plain;
Fine Cloth exceeds fantastick Lace
On Kersey set; I leave those Flights,
To such as Fiction most delights.
Who the Wit of Poems place
In florid Strains, my Muse is plain;
Fine Cloth exceeds fantastick Lace
On Kersey set; I leave those Flights,
To such as Fiction most delights.
Let them also avoid the Place,
Should there be of that scoffing Stock,
Who are so destitute of Grace,
They at the Spirit's Infl'ence mock;
To such my Muse no Pleasure brings,
Who scorn the Power by which she sings.
Should there be of that scoffing Stock,
Who are so destitute of Grace,
They at the Spirit's Infl'ence mock;
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Who scorn the Power by which she sings.
But come all ye who Truth embrace,
Whose Souls do pure Religion love,
Who prize the Gift of sacred Grace,
Whose Treasure lies in Realms above;
Nay all, that are not Foes, draw near,
And grant my Song a willing Ear.
Whose Souls do pure Religion love,
Who prize the Gift of sacred Grace,
Whose Treasure lies in Realms above;
Nay all, that are not Foes, draw near,
And grant my Song a willing Ear.
In early Times, when Man was made,
Before the Priesthood was confin'd,
While Truth in Adam's Houshold stay'd,
And God ador'd by all Mankind;
No Form of Worship, that appears,
Had been prescrib'd for many Years.
Before the Priesthood was confin'd,
While Truth in Adam's Houshold stay'd,
And God ador'd by all Mankind;
No Form of Worship, that appears,
Had been prescrib'd for many Years.
While Men with God a Converse kept,
And on Him did devoutly wait,
He gracious, while they wak'd or slept,
Did so their Minds illuminate,
That they not only knew His Will,
But by His Aid could it fulfill.
And on Him did devoutly wait,
He gracious, while they wak'd or slept,
Did so their Minds illuminate,
That they not only knew His Will,
But by His Aid could it fulfill.
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Before the Flood, and after long,
The Patriarchs directed were,
Both when to warble out their Song,
And how to ope Heav'ns Gate by Pray'r;
Whatever Act the Lord requir'd,
Their Hearts He thereunto inspir'd.
The Patriarchs directed were,
Both when to warble out their Song,
And how to ope Heav'ns Gate by Pray'r;
Whatever Act the Lord requir'd,
Their Hearts He thereunto inspir'd.
But after that, Heav'n did decree,
In special Love to Abraham,
That his Posterity should be
Sacred to Him, and bear His Name;
A Worship asked at their hand,
Which did in Observations stand.
In special Love to Abraham,
That his Posterity should be
Sacred to Him, and bear His Name;
A Worship asked at their hand,
Which did in Observations stand.
What must be offer'd, when and where,
Each Part was carefully exprest;
The various Modes prescribed were
For sacrificing, and the rest;
Set-times were fix'd for solemn Feasts,
Diff'rence 'twixt clean, and unclean Beasts.
Each Part was carefully exprest;
The various Modes prescribed were
For sacrificing, and the rest;
Set-times were fix'd for solemn Feasts,
Diff'rence 'twixt clean, and unclean Beasts.
This legal Worship, as it stood
In Meats and Drinks, and carnal Rites,
Were Types of that eternal Good,
To which the Gospel all invites;
The longest Date that it could claim,
Was but till Reformation came.
In Meats and Drinks, and carnal Rites,
Were Types of that eternal Good,
To which the Gospel all invites;
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Was but till Reformation came.
When that auspicious Time drew nigh,
The Morning of that Day was come,
The Word, descending from on high,
Took sinless Flesh in Virgin's Womb;
At whose blest Birth, Heaven's Host rejoice,
And pour their Hymns with raptur'd Voice.
The Morning of that Day was come,
The Word, descending from on high,
Took sinless Flesh in Virgin's Womb;
At whose blest Birth, Heaven's Host rejoice,
And pour their Hymns with raptur'd Voice.
Shiloh, so oft foretold, thus come,
His Death the Temple-vail did rend,
And being of those Types the Sum,
That Dispensation had its End;
'Twas meet the Servant should withdraw,
When he the Master's Presence saw.
His Death the Temple-vail did rend,
And being of those Types the Sum,
That Dispensation had its End;
'Twas meet the Servant should withdraw,
When he the Master's Presence saw.
But yet, e'er Christ would abrogate
A Worship so long Time in Use,
And disannul the legal State,
He did a better introduce;
This Law was not in Marble cut,
But in the Heart and Conscience put:
A Worship so long Time in Use,
And disannul the legal State,
He did a better introduce;
This Law was not in Marble cut,
But in the Heart and Conscience put:
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For so the Prophets, in God's Name,
While yet the Law in Vigour stood,
Did by Authority proclaim:
He said (who what He says makes good)
After those Days, I in the Heart
My Fear will place, and Law impart.
While yet the Law in Vigour stood,
Did by Authority proclaim:
He said (who what He says makes good)
After those Days, I in the Heart
My Fear will place, and Law impart.
Again;
And it shall come to pass,
My Spirit on all Flesh I'll pour,
On Young and Old, the Lad and Lass,
Shall feel the Virtue of this Show'r;
Not of the Priest shall Law be sought,
But all thy Sons, of God be taught.
My Spirit on all Flesh I'll pour,
On Young and Old, the Lad and Lass,
Shall feel the Virtue of this Show'r;
Not of the Priest shall Law be sought,
But all thy Sons, of God be taught.
Happy they! who such a Teacher have,
And yield thereto a willing Ear;
From all that's hurtful He will save,
If in His Law they persevere:
O! that Mankind therein would walk,
Nor some against, some only for, it talk.
And yield thereto a willing Ear;
From all that's hurtful He will save,
If in His Law they persevere:
O! that Mankind therein would walk,
Nor some against, some only for, it talk.
The Son of God, who from Heav'n came,
And fully Man's Redemption wrought,
When met by the Samarian Dame,
The true approved Worship taught:
Not at that City, or this Mount,
Tho' rever'd for Jacob's Fount;
And fully Man's Redemption wrought,
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The true approved Worship taught:
Not at that City, or this Mount,
Tho' rever'd for Jacob's Fount;
But who the Father will adore,
Whether Bond or Free, Ag'd or Youth,
Must worship not as heretofore
In Types, but in Spirit and Truth:
God's a Spirit! — among Jews and Greeks,
Such inward Worshipers He seeks.
Whether Bond or Free, Ag'd or Youth,
Must worship not as heretofore
In Types, but in Spirit and Truth:
God's a Spirit! — among Jews and Greeks,
Such inward Worshipers He seeks.
Not those who serve in Repititions,
Or in Prescriptions, as the Jews,
Nor yet in oral, vain Traditions,
Such as Samaritans did use:
Th' Jewish Faith in Symbols stood,
Th' Samaritan's was never good.
Or in Prescriptions, as the Jews,
Nor yet in oral, vain Traditions,
Such as Samaritans did use:
Th' Jewish Faith in Symbols stood,
Th' Samaritan's was never good.
Types, Shadows, Sacraments and Signs,
Did on this Dispensation wait;
Who to the Gospel-worship joins,
Shadows must leave to th' shad'wy State:
'Tis not the fatted Calf that skips,
Is offer'd now, but Calves of Lips.
Did on this Dispensation wait;
Who to the Gospel-worship joins,
Shadows must leave to th' shad'wy State:
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Is offer'd now, but Calves of Lips.
Thanks and Praise, Sacrifices are
To God most pleasing, when they spring
From a pure Heart he doth prepare,
And then excites His Acts to sing:
True Christ'ans use both Heart and Tongue,
Whene'er a Hymn or Psalm is sung.
To God most pleasing, when they spring
From a pure Heart he doth prepare,
And then excites His Acts to sing:
True Christ'ans use both Heart and Tongue,
Whene'er a Hymn or Psalm is sung.
Not chanting, in a formal Note,
States touch'd in ancient Song,
Perverting what the Psalmist wrote,
Whose Case cannot to all belong;
'Tis who their own Exper'ence bring,
With Spirit and with Judgment sing.
States touch'd in ancient Song,
Perverting what the Psalmist wrote,
Whose Case cannot to all belong;
'Tis who their own Exper'ence bring,
With Spirit and with Judgment sing.
Instead of Incense to perfume
The Altar, from the Soul arise
In Flames (that warm but not consume)
Sighs, Supplications, Groans and Cries,
Which tho' but weak, do never fail,
At Mercy's Fountain to prevail.
The Altar, from the Soul arise
In Flames (that warm but not consume)
Sighs, Supplications, Groans and Cries,
Which tho' but weak, do never fail,
At Mercy's Fountain to prevail.
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We know not what to ask—Paul taught;
Who then shall Forms appoint?
True Pray'r is by the Spirit wrought,
With which Heav'n does each Child anoint;
He that best knows what we should have,
Inwardly teacheth what to crave.
Who then shall Forms appoint?
True Pray'r is by the Spirit wrought,
With which Heav'n does each Child anoint;
He that best knows what we should have,
Inwardly teacheth what to crave.
This then of Worship is the Sum,
To wait in Spirit on the Lord,
That at what Time He deigns to come,
The Soul may hear His living Word,
And with Alacrity fulfill,
What He makes known to be His Will.
To wait in Spirit on the Lord,
That at what Time He deigns to come,
The Soul may hear His living Word,
And with Alacrity fulfill,
What He makes known to be His Will.
For when the Mind on God is stay'd,
In Silence waiting to be taught,
The World's Concerns aside are laid,
Nor Licence gi'n to one vain Thought;
The Lord doth to that Soul draw near,
And with Instruction fills its Ear.
In Silence waiting to be taught,
The World's Concerns aside are laid,
Nor Licence gi'n to one vain Thought;
The Lord doth to that Soul draw near,
And with Instruction fills its Ear.
Instructed still, the Soul doth cleave,
The Lord His Virtue doth impart,
Discoveries of His Will He leaves,
Which operate upon the Heart;
A Sacrifice He doth prepare,
Whether Thanksgiving, Praise or Pray'r.
The Lord His Virtue doth impart,
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Which operate upon the Heart;
A Sacrifice He doth prepare,
Whether Thanksgiving, Praise or Pray'r.
Great is the Pleasure God doth take
In such Oblations; in His Sight
That Soul is dear, he'll not forsake,
But in His Book his Name will write:
The Joys that the Obedient feel,
Nor Men nor Angels can reveal.
In such Oblations; in His Sight
That Soul is dear, he'll not forsake,
But in His Book his Name will write:
The Joys that the Obedient feel,
Nor Men nor Angels can reveal.
| A Collection of Poems on Various Subjects | |