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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
VERSES ON CLERGY PREACHING POLITICS, by JOHN BYROM Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Indeed, sir peter, I could wish, I own Last Line: If these good folks would keep within their tether! Subject(s): Bible; Christianity; Churches; Cathedrals | |||
INDEED, Sir Peter, I could wish, I own, That parsons would let politics alone; Plead, if they will, the customary plea For such like talk when o'er a dish of tea; But when they tease us with it from the pulpit, I own, Sir Peter, that I cannot gulp it. If on their rules a Justice should intrench, By preaching us a sermon from the bench, Would you not think, your brother magistrate Was touch'd a little in his hinder pate? Now, which is worse, Sir Peter, on the total, The LAY vagary or the SACERDOTAL? In ancient times when preachers preach'd indeed Their sermons, ere the learned learnt to read, Another Spirit and another life Shut the Church doors against all party strife; Since then how oft is heard from sacred rostrums The lifeless din of Whig and Tory nostrums! 'Tis wrong, Sir Peter, I insist upon't, To common sense a manifest affront. The parson leaves the Christian in the lurch, Whene'er he brings his politics to Church. If he his cant, on either side, calls preaching The man's wrong-headed, and his brains want bleaching. Recall the time from Conquering William's reign, And guess the fruits of such a preaching vein: How oft is nonsense must have veer'd about, Just as the politics were in or out! The pulpit govern'd by no Gospel data, But new success still mending old errata. Were I a king,God bless me!I should hate My chaplains meddling with affairs of state; Nor would my subjects, I should think, be fond Whene'er their priests the Bible went beyond. How well, methinks, we both should live together, If these good folks would keep within their tether! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...VIRGIN IN GLASS by JOSEPHINE JACOBSEN THE HOUR BETWEEN DOG AND WOLF: 3. FEEDING THE RABBITS by LAURE-ANNE BOSSELAAR EXPLICATION OF AN IMAGINARY TEXT by JAMES GALVIN DOMESDAY BOOK: FATHER WHIMSETT by EDGAR LEE MASTERS HALF-AND-HALF by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE AT THE CHURCH DOOR by GEORGE SANTAYANA A HYMN FOR CHRISTMAS DAY (2) by JOHN BYROM |
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