Cottage Poems | Page 9

web, all tattered flees,
Like thought, away.
Thus worldlings lean on broken props,?And idly weave their cobweb-hopes,?And hang o'er hell by spider's ropes,
Whilst sins enthral;?Affliction blows--their joy elopes--
And down they fall! {235}
EPISTLE TO A YOUNG CLERGYMAN.
"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."--2 TIMOTHY ii. 15.
My youthful brother, oft I long?To write to you in prose or song;?With no pretence to judgment strong,
But warm affection--?May truest friendship rivet long
Our close connection!
With deference, what I impart?Receive with humble grateful heart,?Nor proudly from my counsel start,
I only lend it--?A friend ne'er aims a poisoned dart--
He wounds, to mend it.
A graduate you've just been made,?And lately passed the Mitred Head;?I trust, by the Blest Spirit, led,
And Shepherd's care:?And not a wolf, in sheepskin clad,
As numbers are.
The greatest office you sustain?For love of souls, and not of gain:?Through your neglect should one be slain,
The Scriptures say,?Your careless hands his blood will stain,
On the Last Day.
But if pure truths, like virgin snows,?You loud proclaim, to friends and foes,?Consoling these, deterring those--
To heaven you'll fly;?Though stubborn sinners still oppose,
And graceless die. {237a}
Divide the word of truth aright,?Show Jesus in a saving light,?Proclaim to all they're dead outright
Till Grace restore them: {237b}?The great Redeemer, full in sight,
Keep still before them.
Dare not, like some, to mince the matter--?Nor dazzling tropes and figures scatter,?Nor coarsely speak nor basely flatter,
Nor grovelling go:?But let plain truths, as Life's pure water,
Pellucid flow.
The sinner level with the dead,?The Lamb exalt, the Church's Head,?His holiness, adoring spread,
With godly zeal:?Enforce, though sinless, how He bled
For sinners' weal.
Pourtray how God in thunder spoke?His fiery Law, whilst curling smoke,?In terror fierce, from Sinai broke,
Midst raging flame!?Then Jesu's milder blood invoke,
And preach His name.
Remember still to fear the Lord,?To live, as well as preach, His word,?And wield the Gospel's two-edged sword,
Though dangers lower--?Example only can afford
To precept power.
And dress nor slovenly nor gay,?Nor sternly act; nor trifling play;?Still keep the golden middle way
Whate'er betide you;?And ne'er through giddy pleasures stray,
Though fools deride you.
As wily serpent ever prove,?Yet harmless as the turtle-dove,?Still winning souls by guileful love
And deep invention--?So once the great Apostle strove
With good intention. {238}
And inly to thyself take heed,?Oft prove your heart, its pages read,--?Self-knowledge will, in time of need,
Your wants supply;?Who knows himself, from dangers freed,
Where'er he lie.
So God will own the labours done,?Approving see His honoured Son,?And honoured Law; and numbers won
Of souls immortal,?Through grace, will onward conquering run
To heaven's bright portal.
And on that last and greatest day,?When heaven and earth shall pass away,?A perfect band, in bright array,
Will form your crown,?Your joys triumphant wide display,
And sorrows drown.
And now farewell, my youthful friend--?Excuse these lines, in candour penned;?To me as freely counsel lend,
With zeal as fervent--?For you will pray, till life does end,
Your humble servant.
EPISTLE TO THE LABOURING POOR.
All you who turn the sturdy soil,?Or ply the loom with daily toil,?And lowly on through life turmoil
For scanty fare,?Attend, and gather richest spoil
To soothe your care.
I write with tender, feeling heart--?Then kindly read what I impart;?'Tis freely penned, devoid of art,
In homely style,?'Tis meant to ward off Satan's dart,
And show his guile.
I write to ope your sin-closed eyes,?And make you great, and rich, and wise,?And give you peace when trials rise,
And sorrows gloom;?I write to fit you for the skies
On Day of Doom.
What, though you dwell in lowly cot,?And share through life a humble lot??Some thousands wealth and fame have got,
Yet know no rest:?They build, pull down, and scheme and plot,
And die unblest.
Your mean attire and scanty fare?Are, doubtless, springs of bitter care--?Expose you blushing, trembling, bare,
To haughty scorn;?Yet murmur not in black despair,
Nor weep forlorn.
You see that lordling glittering ride?In all the pomp of wealth and pride,?With lady lolling at his side,
And train attendant:?'Tis all, when felt and fairly tried,
But care resplendent.
As riches grow his wants increase,?His passions burn and gnaw his peace,?Ambition foams like raging seas
And breaks the rein,?Excess produces pale disease
And racking pain.
Compared with him thrice happy you;?Though small your stock your wants are few--?Each wild desire your toils subdue,
And sweeten rest,?Remove all fancied ills from view,
And calm your breast.
Your labours give the coarsest food?A relish sweet and cleanse the blood,?Make cheerful health in spring-tide flood
Incessant boil,?And seldom restless thoughts obtrude
On daily toil.
Those relish least who proudly own?Rich groves and parks familiar grown;?The gazing stranger passing on
Enjoys them most--?The toy possessed--the pleasure's flown,
For ever lost.
Then grateful let each murmur die,?And joyous wipe the tearful eye:?Erect a palace in the sky--
Be rich in grace:?Loathe this vain world, and longing sigh
For Jesu's face.
Both rich and poor, who serve not God,?But live in sin, averse to good,?Rejecting Christ's atoning blood,
Midst hellish shoals,?Shall welter in that fiery flood,
Which hissing rolls.
But all who worship God aright,?In Christ His Son and image bright,?With minds illumed by Gospel light,
Shall find the way?That leads to bliss, and take their