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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
FAMILIAR EPISTLES ON A SERMON, 'OFFICE & OPERATIONS OF HOLY SPIRIT': 1, by JOHN BYROM Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: A strange discourse, in all impartial views Last Line: A god-like love embracing ev'ry man. Subject(s): Advice; Friends, Religious Society Of; Mankind; Reason; Religious Education; Sermons; Teaching & Teachers; Quakers; Human Race; Intellect; Rationalism; Brain; Mind; Intellectuals; Sunday Schools; Yeshivas; Parochial Schools; Educators; Professors | |||
A STRANGE discourse, in all impartial views, This that you lent me, Doctor, to peruse: Had you not ask'd, a subject of this sort Might, of itself, a few remarks extort, To shew how much a very learned man Has been mistaken in his preaching plan. Preaching (a talent of the gospel kind, Bypreaching peace throug JESUS CHRISTdefin'd) Should, one would think, in order to increase The gospel good, confine itself to peace; Exert its milder influence, and draw The list'ning crowds to love's uniting law. For should the greatest orator extend The pow'rs of sound to any other end; Regard to healing sentiments postpone, And battle all that differ from his own; Tho' he could boast of conquest, yet how far From peace through Jesus, through himself is war! How widely wanders, from the true design Of preaching Christ, the bellicose divine! If amongst them who all profess belief In the same gospel, such a warlike chief Should, in the pulpit, labour to erect His glaring trophies, over ev'ry sect That does not just fall in with his conceit, And raise new flourish upon each defeat; As if, by dint of his haranguing strain, So many foes had happily been slain; Tho' it were sure that what he said was right. Is he more likely, think you, to invite, To win th' erroneous over to his mind, By eloquence of such a hostile kind, Or to disgrace, by arts so strongly weak, The very truths that he may chance to speak? Like thoughts to these would naturally rise Out of your own occasional surprise, When, purchasing the book, you dipp'd into't, And saw the preacher's manner of dispute; How man by man, and sect by sect display'd, He pass'd along from preaching to parade; Confuting all that came within his way, Tho' too far off to hear what he should say: Reason, methinks, why candour would not choose, Where no defence could follow, to accuse; Where gen'rous triumph no attacks can yield To the unquestion'd master of the field: Where names, tho' injur'd, without reason why, Absent or present, can make no reply To the most false or disingenuous hint, Till time, perchance, produces it in print: When, we may take for granted, it is clad In its best fashion, tho' it be but bad. This one discourse is printed, we are told, The main of several sermons to unfold. For one grand subject all of them were meant The Holly Spirit, whom the Father sent; Th' indwelling Comforter, th' Instructing Guide; "Who was," Christ said, "for ever to abide "With, and in his disciples here below, "And teach them all that they should want to know." A glorious theme! A comfortable one! For preachers to exert themselves upon; First taught themselves, and fitted to impart God's truth and comfort to an honest heart. Some such, at least, imagine to have been Amongst the flock that came to Lincolns Inn; With a sincere desire to hear and learn That which became a christian's chief concern; Pleas'd with the preacher's text, with hopes that he Might prove an instrument, in some degree, Of their perception of a holy aid, Fruit of that promise which the Saviour made; Might help them, more and more, to understand How near true help and comfort is at hand; How soon the Spirit moves upon the mind, When it is rightly humbled and resign'd; With what a love to ev'ry fellow-soul One member of the church regards the whole; Looks upon all mankind as friends, or shares To heartiest enemies his heartier pray'rs. I might go on; but you, I know, will grant, Such is the temper that we really want: And such, if preachers ever preach indeed, If pastors of a flock will really feed, They will endeavour solely to excite And move divided christians to unite; If not in outward forms, that but supply A loftier Babel without inward tie, Yet in a common friendliness of will, That wishes well to ev'ry creature still; That makes the centre of religion's plan A god-like love embracing ev'ry man. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CORRESPONDENCE-SCHOOL INSTRUCTOR SAYS GOODBYE TO HIS POETRY STUDENTS by GALWAY KINNELL GRATITUDE TO OLD TEACHERS by ROBERT BLY TWO RAMAGES FOR OLD MASTERS by ROBERT BLY ON FLUNKING A NICE BOY OUT OF SCHOOL by JOHN CIARDI HER MONOLOGUE OF DARK CREPE WITH EDGES OF LIGHT by NORMAN DUBIE OF POLITICS, & ART by NORMAN DUBIE SEVERAL MEASURES FOR THE LITTLE LOST by NORMAN DUBIE A HYMN FOR CHRISTMAS DAY (2) by JOHN BYROM |
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