 | Poems |  |
54
SUNDAY MORNING.
“For by th' Almighty this great holy-day
Was not ordain'd to daunce, and mask and play,
To slugg in sloath, and languish in delights,
And loose the rains to raging appetites.”
Sylvester's Du Bartas.
Was not ordain'd to daunce, and mask and play,
To slugg in sloath, and languish in delights,
And loose the rains to raging appetites.”
Sylvester's Du Bartas.
Welcome, thou peaceful dawn!
O'er field and wooded lawn
The wonted sound of busy toil is laid.
And hark, the village-bell!
Whose simple tinklings swell,
Sweet as soft music, on the straw-roof'd shed;
And bid the pious Cottager prepare,
To keep th' appointed rest, and seek the house of Pray'r.
O'er field and wooded lawn
The wonted sound of busy toil is laid.
And hark, the village-bell!
Whose simple tinklings swell,
Sweet as soft music, on the straw-roof'd shed;
And bid the pious Cottager prepare,
To keep th' appointed rest, and seek the house of Pray'r.
55
How goodly 'tis to see
The rustic family
Duely along the church-way path repair:
The mother trim and plain,
Leading her ruddy train,
The father pacing slow with modest air.
With honest heart in humble guise they come,
To serve Almighty God, and bear his blessing home.
The rustic family
Duely along the church-way path repair:
The mother trim and plain,
Leading her ruddy train,
The father pacing slow with modest air.
With honest heart in humble guise they come,
To serve Almighty God, and bear his blessing home.
At home they gayly share
Their sweet and simple fare,
And thank the Giver of the festal board;
Around the blazing hearth
They sit in harmless mirth,
Or turn with awe the volume of the Lord:
Then full of heav'nly joy retiring pay
Their sacrifice of pray'r to him who blest the day.
Their sweet and simple fare,
And thank the Giver of the festal board;
Around the blazing hearth
They sit in harmless mirth,
Or turn with awe the volume of the Lord:
Then full of heav'nly joy retiring pay
Their sacrifice of pray'r to him who blest the day.
56
O Sabbath bell, thy voice
Makes hearts like these rejoice;
Not so the child of vanity and pow'r:
He the blest pavement treads,
Perchance as custom bids,
Perchance to gaze away a listless hour;
Then crowns the bowl, or scours along the road,
Nor hides his shame from men, nor heeds the eye of God.
Makes hearts like these rejoice;
Not so the child of vanity and pow'r:
He the blest pavement treads,
Perchance as custom bids,
Perchance to gaze away a listless hour;
Then crowns the bowl, or scours along the road,
Nor hides his shame from men, nor heeds the eye of God.
When the sev'nth morning's gleam
Purpled the lonely stream,
On its green bank of old the Christian bow'd;
The hand adoring spread;
And broke the mystic bread;
And, leagu'd in bonds of holy concord, vow'd,
From the cleans'd heart to wash each foul offence,
And give his days to peace and saintly innocence.
Purpled the lonely stream,
On its green bank of old the Christian bow'd;
The hand adoring spread;
And broke the mystic bread;
And, leagu'd in bonds of holy concord, vow'd,
From the cleans'd heart to wash each foul offence,
And give his days to peace and saintly innocence.
57
In vain the Roman Lord
Wav'd the relentless sword,
And spread the terrors of the circling flame;
In vain the Heathen sought,
If chance some lurking spot
Might mar the lustre of the Christian name:
Th' Eternal Spirit, by his fruits confest,
In life secur'd from stain, and steel'd in death the breast.
Wav'd the relentless sword,
And spread the terrors of the circling flame;
In vain the Heathen sought,
If chance some lurking spot
Might mar the lustre of the Christian name:
Th' Eternal Spirit, by his fruits confest,
In life secur'd from stain, and steel'd in death the breast.
O, would his influence bless
With faith and holiness
The laggart people of our favour'd isle!
But if too deep and wide
Have spread corruption's tide,
O, might he deign on me and mine to smile!
So shall we ne'er with due devotion fail
The consecrated day of solemn rest to hail:
With faith and holiness
The laggart people of our favour'd isle!
But if too deep and wide
Have spread corruption's tide,
O, might he deign on me and mine to smile!
So shall we ne'er with due devotion fail
The consecrated day of solemn rest to hail:
58
So shall we still resort
To Sion's hallow'd court,
And lift the heart to him who dwells above;
Thence home returning muse
On sweet and solemn views,
Or fill the void with acts of holy love;
Then lay us down in peace to think we've given
Another precious day to fit our souls for heaven!
To Sion's hallow'd court,
And lift the heart to him who dwells above;
Thence home returning muse
On sweet and solemn views,
Or fill the void with acts of holy love;
Then lay us down in peace to think we've given
Another precious day to fit our souls for heaven!
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