What friend to scripture, then, sir, can displace "his inward witness of redeeming grace? and rest the gospel on such outward view, Is any Turk may rest his Coran too? lay, he can own a written word, or work That Christians do, and yet continue Turk. Why do the Christian disputants so fill The world with books, of a polemic skill, Then 'tis the sacred, and acknowledg'd one hat all their jarring systems build upon? ut that the Spirit does not rule their wit, y which at first the sacred one was writ: f whose support great scholars stand in need, s much as they who never learnt to read: nhappy they! but for that living guide, Thom God himself has promis'd to provide! guide, to quote the blessed text again, For ever to abide with Christian men." Fond of its books, poor Learning is afraid; nd higher guidance labours to evade : ooks have the Spirit in supreme display! fen but in lower, ordinary way! his strange account of men and books is true, seems, according to the promise too! Such wild conceits all men have too much wit r learned, or unlearned, to admit; at when some interest, or custom rules, nd chains obsequious wills to diff'rent schools, e wisest, then, sir, will relinquish thought, ad speak, like parrots, just as they are taught. That this should be, what spends in vain the fire -brisker tempers-let us next inquire. LETTER V. 'HEN Christians first receiv'd the joyful newsMessiah come"-unmixt with worldly views; Then the whole church with heav'nly grace was nd (from the Spirit Comforter) possest [blest, ne heart, one mind, one view to common good; hen was the real gospel understood. Then was the time-to cite what you will find he preacher noting-" when the world combin'd $ pow'rs against it, but could not destroy; Then holy martyrs, with enraptur'd joy, ncounter'd death; enabled to sustain s utmost terror, and its utmost pain: t such a juncture, Heav'n's uncommon aid on forth, to help humanity display'd. "But now"-his reason for abated grace, ff'rence of primitive and present caseNow ease, and honour" (mind the maxim, friend) On the profession of the faith attend: t first, establish'd by diviner means, In human testimony, now, it leans; upports itself, as other facts must do, That rest on human testimony too; afficient strength is the conviction there, o make the present Christian persevere." Here lies the secret-that may soon unfold Why modern Christians fall so short of old; Why they appear to have such diff'rent looks, The men of spirit, and the men of books: When racks and gibbets, torment and distress Attended them who ventur'd to confess, They had, indeed, a fixt, and firm belief, lo die for one who suffered like a thief; Stretch'd on the wheel, or burning in the flame, But when the world, with a more fatal plan, And divers like discoveries, that grant stow'd. These suppositions, if a man suppose, You see th' immediate consequence that flows; That men, and churches afterwards attack'd, Are pre-demolish'd, by asserted fact; Which, once advanc'd may, with the greatest ease, Condemn whatever Christians he shall please: Owing to his forbearance, in some shape, If aught the extensive havoc shall escape. With such a fund of learning, and a skill To make it serve what argument he will; With choice of words, for any chosen theme, With an alertness rulingly supreme; What, sir, can single persons, or a sect, When he is pleas'd to preach at 'em, expect? Just what they meet with, in the present caseAll the dogmatic censure, and disgrace, That a commanding genius can exert, When it becomes religiously alert; With narrow proofs, and consequences wide, Sets all opponents of its rote aside; The papists first, and then th' inferior fry, Fanatics; vanquish'd with a-who but I? These are the modish epithets that strike At true religion, and at false alike; Of these reproaches infidels are full; Their use in others verging down to dull: How one, who is no infidel, applies The hackney'd terms- -may next salute your eyes. LETTER VI. By reformation from the church of Rome Of all the churches, justly loth to claim What form, of her composing, can we trace That she may always think aright, and act, Did but one spark of so supreme a grace Burn in the breast, when preaching is the case, How would a priest, unpersecuted, dare To treat, when mounted on a sacred chair, A church of Christ, or any single soul, By will enlisted on the Christian roll, With such a prompt, and contumelious ire, As love, nor blessing ever could inspire? Altho' untouch'd with the celestial flame, How could an English priest mistake his aim? So far forget the maxims that appear, Throughout his church's liturgy, so clear? Wherein the Spirit's ever constant aid, Without a feign'd distinction, is display'd; Without a rash attempting to explain, The vain distinction, which the world has found, To gospel promise; equally sublime, If, not confining any promis'd pow'rs, Do awful words" Receive the Holy Ghost"- [brough May be the subject of succeeding rhymes. MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. CONSISTING OF THOUGHTS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS WITH peaceful mind thy race of duty run; NATURAL knowledge is a moonshine light, And dreaming sages still kept sleeping by❜t; But heav'nly wisdom, like the rising sun, Awakens nature, and good works are done, LET thy repentance be without delay- To be religious something it will cost; HE that does good with an unwilling mind, IF outward comforts, without real thought Of any inward holiness, are sought, O! let me play the hypocrite no more! But strive to cure my own obstructed sight! Then shall I see, much clearer than before, To set my undiscerning brother right. ON THE EPICUREAN, STOIC, AND THREE diff'rent schemes philosophers assign; For first; what wisdom, or what sense, to cry To see such order, and yet own no laws; Feel such effects, and yet confess no cause; What can be more extravagant and odd? He only reasons, who believes a God. While I dwell in his presence 'tis then that I live In all other things I have labour'd to find AN EPIGRAM, ON THE BLESSEDNESS OF DIVINE LOVE. FAITH, Hope, and Love, were question'd, what they thought Of future glory, which Religion taught: |