 | Poems on several occasions |  |
80
SUNDAY.
The holy morn is come, the solemn bell
Bids man prepare, and worldly thoughts expel;
Bids him arise on Contemplation's wing,
And to Omniscience grateful praises sing:
To sing the kindness of a Saviour's love,
Who dy'd to fix him with the blest above;
Who rent the grave, man's enemy to quell,
And rose triumphant over Death and Hell!
Who then vouchsaf'd, a Comforter divine,
T'improve the heart and make devotion shine;
T'instil pure notions of th'Almighty's sway,
And raise a rev'rence for this sacred day;
A day ordain'd for holiness and praise,
Made sacred by Jehovah's wond'rous ways!
Bids man prepare, and worldly thoughts expel;
Bids him arise on Contemplation's wing,
And to Omniscience grateful praises sing:
To sing the kindness of a Saviour's love,
Who dy'd to fix him with the blest above;
Who rent the grave, man's enemy to quell,
And rose triumphant over Death and Hell!
Who then vouchsaf'd, a Comforter divine,
T'improve the heart and make devotion shine;
T'instil pure notions of th'Almighty's sway,
And raise a rev'rence for this sacred day;
A day ordain'd for holiness and praise,
Made sacred by Jehovah's wond'rous ways!
81
The willing steer, likewise the useful steed,
And drudging ass, are now from labour freed.
Oh Goodness great! thus gracious to ordain,
To man and beast, relief from slav'ry's pain.
While at each altar rev'rend pastors stand,
With zeal pronouncing this all-wise command;
Remember that the Sabbath holy be
To thou, O man, and what belongs to thee:
Command divine! but hark, what noise abounds;
What's that which now the heav'nly charge confounds?
Behold Necessity erects her shrine,
With sway most absolute, to undermine
The holy precept; while her vot'ries plead
Her pressing sanction for each impious deed:
'Tis she that's urg'd, when members of a state
Renown'd for wisdom, sacred laws defeat:
When nobles drive like Phæton round the world,
Nor heed his fate, who was in folly hurl'd:
When, deaf to all restraint, each high-bred chief
Bids grov'ling clowns obey, nor yields relief
Unto the weary beast: lo! this is man
That first promotes, then braves the sacred plan.
And drudging ass, are now from labour freed.
Oh Goodness great! thus gracious to ordain,
To man and beast, relief from slav'ry's pain.
While at each altar rev'rend pastors stand,
With zeal pronouncing this all-wise command;
Remember that the Sabbath holy be
To thou, O man, and what belongs to thee:
Command divine! but hark, what noise abounds;
What's that which now the heav'nly charge confounds?
Behold Necessity erects her shrine,
With sway most absolute, to undermine
The holy precept; while her vot'ries plead
Her pressing sanction for each impious deed:
'Tis she that's urg'd, when members of a state
Renown'd for wisdom, sacred laws defeat:
When nobles drive like Phæton round the world,
Nor heed his fate, who was in folly hurl'd:
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Bids grov'ling clowns obey, nor yields relief
Unto the weary beast: lo! this is man
That first promotes, then braves the sacred plan.
Like to the head o'er which infection reigns,
That soon pollutes the blood in distant veins;
E'en so ill precepts will their poison spread
Among inferiors, when by greatness led.
That soon pollutes the blood in distant veins;
E'en so ill precepts will their poison spread
Among inferiors, when by greatness led.
They, tho' in midst of pray'r, sin to atone,
And begging blessings from a gracious throne:
Should but the clatt'ring chaise Sir John convey,
Or should his Grace or Lordship pass this way,
Would leave Religion, cease t'adore their God,
Nor heed the smart of his avenging rod.
And begging blessings from a gracious throne:
Should but the clatt'ring chaise Sir John convey,
Or should his Grace or Lordship pass this way,
Would leave Religion, cease t'adore their God,
Nor heed the smart of his avenging rod.
But let us view how this assertion stands,
And those who ready follow base commands.
His lordship's just arriv'd at yonder inn,
Long time renown'd respect from all to win,
And is forth shew'd into a spacious room,
Which by his presence throws off Sorrow's gloom.
He takes his seat; while Fashion, at his heel,
The town extols for curious gloves and steel.
The hint thus giv'n; lo! messages are sent
To those well skill'd, the precious wares to vent.
These, now at worship, cloath'd in ermin'd state,
And bending underneath the pond'rous weight
Of magistracy; pray'r and pomp resign,
To offer sacrifice at Mammon's shrine:
Yea, forthwith shun devotion as a crime,
Like Felix leaving till another time.
And those who ready follow base commands.
83
Long time renown'd respect from all to win,
And is forth shew'd into a spacious room,
Which by his presence throws off Sorrow's gloom.
He takes his seat; while Fashion, at his heel,
The town extols for curious gloves and steel.
The hint thus giv'n; lo! messages are sent
To those well skill'd, the precious wares to vent.
These, now at worship, cloath'd in ermin'd state,
And bending underneath the pond'rous weight
Of magistracy; pray'r and pomp resign,
To offer sacrifice at Mammon's shrine:
Yea, forthwith shun devotion as a crime,
Like Felix leaving till another time.
Of fur divest, th'artizans now see,
To quiet qualm, invoke Necessity,
Who sat enthron'd betwixt the hungry cares
Of deep Distress and Wealth's abounding fears.
While lawless Rapine, by Profusion rear'd,
Join'd idle Sloth, and at her shrine appear'd;
With ruffians, thieves, and state-knaves, to renew
Their plea for wrongs that Need had led them to.
To quiet qualm, invoke Necessity,
Who sat enthron'd betwixt the hungry cares
Of deep Distress and Wealth's abounding fears.
84
Join'd idle Sloth, and at her shrine appear'd;
With ruffians, thieves, and state-knaves, to renew
Their plea for wrongs that Need had led them to.
Absolv'd from inward fears by such deceit,
Thus frequent crimes oft form a callous state;
For, leaving self-delusion, we behold
Each artist hugging his delightful gold;
Nor will, tho' arm'd with pow'r, advance one plea
'Gainst thus abusing this most hallow'd day:
Or tell his lordship what destruction's made
With Virtue, when a Sabbath's spent in trade.
No; first let Virtue fall, let Sabbaths fly,
When gold commands, all justice we defy!
Thus frequent crimes oft form a callous state;
For, leaving self-delusion, we behold
Each artist hugging his delightful gold;
Nor will, tho' arm'd with pow'r, advance one plea
'Gainst thus abusing this most hallow'd day:
Or tell his lordship what destruction's made
With Virtue, when a Sabbath's spent in trade.
No; first let Virtue fall, let Sabbaths fly,
When gold commands, all justice we defy!
Prophaneness now beheld the laws asleep,
That rulers, like false shepherds, would not keep
Charge o'er their straggling flocks, call'd in her train
Of scoffers profligate, Vice to maintain;
Then sent forth Custom, with extensive sway,
To banish Sanctity in open day;
Pluckt Reason down, bid senseless Ign'rance rise,
And her great charms extoll'd unto the skies.
That rulers, like false shepherds, would not keep
Charge o'er their straggling flocks, call'd in her train
Of scoffers profligate, Vice to maintain;
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To banish Sanctity in open day;
Pluckt Reason down, bid senseless Ign'rance rise,
And her great charms extoll'd unto the skies.
Deluded by the force of this vile deed,
Whole troops now follow of yet lower breed;
No more the sacred sounds now glad the ear,
But each one loads himself with carking care.
The toiling carrier in a former age,
When Virtue flourish'd, gladly would asswage
His thirst of gain; and, with a pious breast,
Return Him thanks who sent a day of rest.
But now an age most impiously renown'd,
That ill for good, alas! does oft confound;
Brings forth those men who will destruction draw,
Nor heed the curse of breaking sacred law.
Yet will these wretches put on Need's great plea,
Thinking to keep Omnipotence at bay;
Or, Naaman like, a composition make,
Tho' Christian faith they'd quit for Mammon's sake.
Whole troops now follow of yet lower breed;
No more the sacred sounds now glad the ear,
But each one loads himself with carking care.
The toiling carrier in a former age,
When Virtue flourish'd, gladly would asswage
His thirst of gain; and, with a pious breast,
Return Him thanks who sent a day of rest.
But now an age most impiously renown'd,
That ill for good, alas! does oft confound;
Brings forth those men who will destruction draw,
Nor heed the curse of breaking sacred law.
Yet will these wretches put on Need's great plea,
Thinking to keep Omnipotence at bay;
86
Tho' Christian faith they'd quit for Mammon's sake.
Ye self-will'd herd, call Reason to unbend
Your ill-warp'd minds, and to her theme attend:
When waters flow, and floods abroad remain,
When icy snows the groaning wheels detain,
Need's then a virtue; lighten each vast load,
The day revere, and silent pass the road.
But should foul Practice follow at your heels,
And Sabbaths oft be spent in trimming wheels;
Should parcels be deliver'd from each cart,
Nay, load and unload like as in a mart;
Though usage so far sway the thoughtless great,
As now to hold days sacred obsolete;
Tho' magistrates their duty will neglect,
And even treat Prophaneness with respect:
Yet will stern Vengeance baffle such vile ways,
And send Distraction forth instead of Ease;
Yea, tho' Prosperity's all-pleasing state
Here you attend: alas! the book of fate
Is ready op'd, and life stands on the verge
Of infinite duration; can we urge
One plea of merit to support the cause
Of violating the Almighty's laws?
Rather, while Time awaits, let each amend,
And strive to make an injur'd God a friend:
Then shall Religion with true pleasure shine,
And Sabbaths be rever'd with zeal divine!
Your ill-warp'd minds, and to her theme attend:
When waters flow, and floods abroad remain,
When icy snows the groaning wheels detain,
Need's then a virtue; lighten each vast load,
The day revere, and silent pass the road.
But should foul Practice follow at your heels,
And Sabbaths oft be spent in trimming wheels;
Should parcels be deliver'd from each cart,
Nay, load and unload like as in a mart;
Though usage so far sway the thoughtless great,
As now to hold days sacred obsolete;
Tho' magistrates their duty will neglect,
And even treat Prophaneness with respect:
Yet will stern Vengeance baffle such vile ways,
And send Distraction forth instead of Ease;
87
Here you attend: alas! the book of fate
Is ready op'd, and life stands on the verge
Of infinite duration; can we urge
One plea of merit to support the cause
Of violating the Almighty's laws?
Rather, while Time awaits, let each amend,
And strive to make an injur'd God a friend:
Then shall Religion with true pleasure shine,
And Sabbaths be rever'd with zeal divine!
| Poems on several occasions | |