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POETRY.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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the Art ofPreachings § c . in i ?/ Htation of Horaces' * s Art of Poetry . Bj R . Dodsley-[ From a copy , reprinted at . Philadelphia ; L by B . Franklin , 1739 . J
SHOULD some strange poet , in Ins piece affect pope ' s nervous style , with Ward ' s low puns bedeck'd ; Print Milton ' s true sublime , with Swift ' s true wit ; ind BlackmoreV Gravity with Gay ' s
conceit ; Would you not laugh ? Trust roe that priest ' s as bad . Who in a style now grave , now raving mad , Doth the wild whims of dreaming- schoolmen vent , Whilst drowsy congregations nod assent . The priests 'tis true , have always been allow'd
Toteacli religion , and ' tis fit they shou'd - But in that sacred name , when they dis pease Flat contradictions to all common sense ; Tho' fools and bigots wonder and believe
The wise ' tis not so easy to deceive . Some take a text sublime and fraught with sense , But quickly fall into impertinence , On trifles eloquent , with great delight They flourish out on some strange mystic
rite Clear up the darkness of some useless text , Or make some crabbed passage more perplext ; JM to subdue the passions , or direct , And all life ' s moral duties they neglect . Iff Most . preachers err ( except the wiser few ) ^ Making established doctrines , therefore true :
Others too fond of novelty and schemes , Amuse the world with airy idle dreairis : ' "ustoo much faith , or too presuming * wit , \ w rocks , where bigots , or free-thinkers split : The very meanest dabbler at Whitehall J-an rail at 1 ' apists , or poor Quakers maul ; Kut when of some g * reat truth he aims to preach , ¦ ^ j ne finds it far beyond his reach , l oiujg deacons try your strength , and strive to find - ^ Ubject suited to your turn of mind ; . et W and words are easiiy your own , r should they fail you—steal from
Tillotsoa . Much of its beauty , usefulness and force , e peads on rightly timing- a discourse . oet the L—ds or C-m-ns far from n 3 ce > dy b"l % —Bribery ^ a dirty vicc—
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But quickly chock yourself—and with a sneer—Of which this Honourable House is clear . Great is the work , and tvorthy of the gown , To brinsr forth hidden truths and make
them known . Yet in all new opinions have a care , Truth is too strong- for some "weak minds to
bear . And are new doctrines taught ^ or old reviv'd , Let them from scripture plainly be deriv'd . Barclay or Baxter , wherefore do we blame
For innovations , yet approve the same In Wicklifteand in Calvin ? Why are these CalL'd wise Reformers ? Those mad
sectaries ? 'Tis most unjust . Men always had a right , And ever will , to think , to speak , to write Their various minds 5 yet sacred ought to be The public peace as private liberty . Opinions are like leaves , which every \ ear
Now flourish greeii , now fall and disappear . Once the Pope ' s bulls could terrify his foes , And kneeling * princes kiss'd his sacred toes 5 Now he may damn , or curse , or what he will . There ' s not a prince in Christendom will kneel . Reason now reigns , and by her aid we hope Truth may revive and sickening Error droop :
She the sole Judge , the Rule , the " gracious Light Kind Heaven has lent to guide our minds aright . States to embroil and Faction to display , In wild harangues , Sacheverell shew'd the way . The fuiTral sermon , when it first began , Was usM to weep the loss of some go , d man :
Now any wretch , for one small piece ofc gold , Shall have fine praises from the pulpit sold
But whence this custom rose , who can decide ? From priestly av ' rice ? or from human pride ? Truth , moral Virtue , Piety and Peace Are noble subjects , and the pulpit ' s grace : But zeal for ' trifles arm'd imperious Laud , His power and cruelty the nation aw'd . Why was he honour ed with the name of priest , And greatest made , unworthy to be least , Whose zeal was fury , whose devotion pride , Power his great God , and Interest his sole Guide ?
Poetry.
POETRY .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1815, page 377, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1761/page/49/
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