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If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: A Book of Christian Sonnets - -Author: William Allen - -Release Date: December 27, 2016 [EBook #53816] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A BOOK OF CHRISTIAN SONNETS *** - - - - -Produced by Richard Hulse, Daniel Lowe and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - -A BOOK OF CHRISTIAN SONNETS. - -BY WILLIAM ALLEN, D. D., - -Late President of Bowdoin College; Author of the American Biographical -Dictionary, and of Wunnissoo or the Vale of Hoosatunnuk a Poem. - - NORTHAMPTON: - PUBLISHED BY BRIDGMAN & CHILDS. - 1860. - - - - - Metcalf & Company, Printers, - Northampton. - - - - -PREFACE. - - -For some remarks on the nature and history of the _Sonnet_ and its -peculiar excellence, as exemplified by Milton, the reader is referred -to the Notes at the close of this book. The Author regards it as by -its fixed laws and its structure the very best form of poetry for one -short, complete, meditative lesson. A collection of such distinct, -separate little poems,――mostly written within a recent period,――and not -mingled with other forms of poetry,――constitutes this little volume. - -The notes annexed are historical and illustrative, elucidatory of -what from the necessary brevity of the verse might be otherwise left -obscure, or such as seemed to be required by the unevasible claims and -the infinite worth of the revealed Christian truth, which makes the -texture of these sonnets. - -While Petrarch, the inventor of the _Sonetto_, Spenser, Shakespeare, -Wordsworth, and other foreign poets have written a multitude of -sonnets, it is to the author a matter of surprise, that not more than -half a dozen sonnets――within his knowledge――have ever been sent forth -by any one of our poets; so that this may be regarded as the first book -of American Sonnets ever published. - -An old man, the tenant for a year past of a sick chamber, who from -early life has been a student and cultivator of poetry, has found not -a little pleasure in such musings, as he now offers to the public. -His meditations, it may well be supposed, have not been of fictitious -scenes. Aware of his liableness at any moment to be summoned away from -this world,――which to his eye is filled with beauty mingled indeed with -deformity,――into a world of undefaced loveliness and eternal glory, -he could not have excused himself, if he had employed the precarious -time lent to him in drawing idle, uninstructive, unprofitable pictures; -but his mind has been filled with intense thoughts on God's pure, -unchanging, soul-saving Truth; and he has endeavored to give true -sketches, however faint and feeble, of divine and eternal realities not -unworthy of the contemplation nor unfit to awaken the affections of -rational, immortal men. The uninterrupted study of God's Word for 50 -or 60 years may be his apology for declaring what in his judgment are -plainly and indubitably some of the great truths of that Word. But he -earnestly asks the reader to search the Scriptures with his own eyes. -What God has said is true. - - Northampton, Dec. 19, 1859 - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - Sonnet Page - - 1. On Washington, 9 - 2. The Stars, 10 - 3. Last Wish of Wm. H. Prescott, 10 - 4. On War, 11 - 5. Truth's Testimony of Christ, 11 - 6. Corrupted Youth, 12 - 7. Penitence, 12 - 8. God's Omnipresence. Psalm 139, 13 - 9. The Prometheus Chained of Aeschylus, 13 - 10. On Tyndale, the Martyr, 14 - 11. Miserable Old Age, 14 - 12. Idols. Psalm 135, 15 - 13. To four Presidents alive. 1826, 15 - 14. The Way of Salvation, 16 - 15. The Overthrow of Popery, 16 - 16. The Fall of Babylon, 17 - 17. The Scoffers at the Bible, 17 - 18. Prayer, 18 - 19. Christ's Table, 18 - 20. Death. Job 14, 19 - 21. The Storm on the Lake, 19 - 22. On Jacques Balmat, 20 - 23. Controversy, 20 - 24. The Sabbath, 21 - 25. The Widow's Son Raised, 21 - 26. Thanksgiving-Day, 1859, 22 - 27. The Lord my Shepherd, 22 - 28. Christ's Resurrection, 23 - 29. Darkness until Heavenly Light, 23 - 30. Maria Malleville Allen, 24 - 31. Prayer for Mercy, 24 - 32. The Lost Child, 25 - 33. Mexican Idol, 25 - 34. God our Safety. Psalm 91, 26 - 35. The Believer Encouraged, 26 - 36. On Rev. Dr. John Codman, 27 - 37. Northampton Grave-Yard, 27 - 38. The Lord's Prayer, 28 - 39. Praise to God. Ps. 148, 28 - 40. On my Father, Rev. T. Allen, 29 - 41. Time's End. Rev. 10, 29 - 42. Written in a Thunder-Storm, 30 - 43. Impiety, 30 - 44. On the Death of my Daughter, 31 - 45. The Last Day of the Year, 31 - 46. Transfiguration of Christ, 32 - 47. Sleepers in the Grave-Yard, 32 - 48. Song of the Redeemed. Rev. 7, 33 - 49. Nature Reproved, 33 - 50. Removal of Severe Illness, 34 - 51. God Man's All-Sufficient Good, 34 - 52. The Death of Rev. Dr. I. Nichols, 35 - 53. The Voice of Nature to Poets, 35 - 54. The Cross and Crown, 36 - 55. Dying I am Blest, 36 - 56. Compact on Board the Mayflower, 37 - 57. To Jesus Christ, God's Son, 37 - 58. To Dr. Thomson, Missionary, 38 - 59. Happy Old Age, 38 - 60. Pilgrims on Plymouth Rock, 39 - 61. No Sorrow in Death, 39 - 62. On John Robinson, 40 - 63. Sudden Sickness. 1845, 40 - 64. On Truth, 41 - 65. Two Views of Death, 41 - 66. God's Marvellous Works. Ps. 104, 42 - 67. The last Words of a Minister, 42 - 68. Plymouth Monument laid, 1859, 43 - 69. Effect of Death on Man, 43 - 70. Christmas, 44 - 71. New Year's Day, 1859, 44 - 72. Donati's Comet, 1858, 45 - 73. Execution for Murder, 1630, 45 - 74. Oneness with God. John 17, 46 - 75. My Birth Day, Jan. 2, 1859, 46 - 76. God and his Son, 47 - 77. On Martyrs, 47 - 78. To Rev. Dr. Spring, New York, 48 - 79. Perseverance in Christ's Service, 48 - 80. Glorying in the Cross, 49 - 81. Man without Revelation, 49 - 82. God is One, 50 - 83. What is it to die? 50 - 84. Churches of Piedmont, 51 - 85. The Lord's Supper, 51 - 86. Occom, the Indian Preacher, 52 - 87. My Sermon, July, 1851, 52 - 88. National Convulsions, 53 - 89. Psalm VIII., 53 - 90. To my Native Town, 54 - 91. To Sarah Anna Hopkins, 54 - 92. To Mrs. Douglass in jail, 55 - 93. Ready for Either, 55 - 94. To Miss Hannah Lyman, Montreal, 56 - 95. Visit to Pontoosuc or Pittsfield, 56 - 96. Company of Old Men, 57 - 97. Joy in a Dying Hour, 57 - 98. Niagara Falls, 58 - 99. Justification by Faith, 58 - 100. Universal Triumph of the Gospel, 59 - - - - -A BOOK OF CHRISTIAN SONNETS. - - -1. ON WASHINGTON. - - Great WASHINGTON! Mount Vernon's shade were naught, - Except as close allied to thine own name; - And what but noblest virtues without blame - Have all the lustre of thy glory wrought? - Our country's chief in freedom's battle fought, - Thy sword laid down in triumph's loud acclaim; - Then "First in peace," our nation's good thine aim, - To Rulers many a lesson thou hast taught. - The model patriot thou, thy life unstain'd; - A rev'rent worshipper of God, we see - Thine end was peace; one noble act remain'd,―― - Thy dying voice said to thy slaves, "Be Free!"―― - With no dear son, each Freeman is thy Son, - And thou his Father lov'd, Great WASHINGTON! - - -2. THE STARS. - - In the sweet silence of a cloudless night - The glory-studded firmament on high - With wonder overwhelms my gazing eye, - Lost in the wilderness of worlds of light. - Around these suns do systems wheel their flight, - All pure and spotless as the crystal sky, - Th' abodes of bliss serene without a sigh, - Where mists and clouds ne'er rise nor storms affright? - O, for an angel's wings to fly away - From this low world of sin, and woe, and care, - And gain those orbs of purity and love! - Wish not for angel's wings: thy God obey, - And soon his grace thy ransom'd soul will bear - Up to his own more glorious throne above! - - -3. LAST WISH OF WM. H. PRESCOTT. - - Still beautiful in this thy rest so deep, - Thy final wish fulfill'd, we see thy face - Calm as in life, with not a marring trace - Of the swift blow, which calls thy friends to weep. - What hosts of mighty dead around thee keep - On these rich-loaded shelves their silent place?―― - "Farewell, companions lov'd; like your's my race - Is run; tomorrow in the ground I sleep."―― - What would he teach us, living, by this scene?―― - Books! books! are earth's invaluable lights; - Treasures of truth, the richest gifts terrene, - Left by fled spirits in their upward flights! - And what does man demand, in age and youth, - But heav'n-descended, heav'nward-guiding TRUTH? - - -4. ON WAR. - - "Thou shalt not kill,"――the Almighty God hath said. - Then, Mighty Kings! who glory in your shame - And swim in blood to gain a hero's name, - What awful doom――with all your greatness fled―― - When, rising with your subjects from the dead, - Ye stand in judgment? What will then be fame? - And will not fiery courage be quite tame;―― - On ev'ry side th' Almighty's terrors spread? - O, Living Monarchs! within reach of grace, - Of love and mercy from the throne of God, - Forgiveness may ye find, and faith t' embrace - The offer'd pardon through redeeming blood; - Then to the world great Benefactors prove, - Your pride exchang'd for happy subjects' love! - - -5. TRUTH'S TESTIMONY OF CHRIST. - - Truth to the earth came down from heav'n above, - Cloth'd in celestial beauty to the eye, - Willing to see; man's guide to God on high. - Her voice is voice of sweetness and of love, - Of pow'r all feelings of the soul to move. - When she but speaks, all wild'ring phantoms fly, - Each cheat, and fraud, and vile, illusive lie, - Which in our murky air around thick rove. - She speaks of Him, who ere the earth was made - Was God's own Son in heav'nly glory bright; - Yet dwelt with man in mortal flesh array'd, - Redeemer blest! of this dark world the light;―― - Whose death by cruel nails our life has won, - Whose cross for us a bright, immortal crown. - - -6. CORRUPTED YOUTH. - - I've seen the morning sweet, serene, and bright, - Cheer'd by th' effulgence of the orb of day, - And ev'ry object drest in pure array; - But soon the splendor chang'd to dismal night. - Dark clouds and raging storms spread round affright, - While lightnings gleam, and thunders bring dismay. - And such too oft is Youth: thoughtless and gay, - With ev'ry charm to bless th' admiring sight. - But soon how chang'd! The face is mark'd with care, - The furious passions cast away control, - And outrag'd conscience shakes a glist'ning dart. - Poor Youth! Would'st thou the marred scene repair, - The sway of holy laws must guide thy soul, - And love, and hope, and faith must fill thy heart. - - -7. PENITENCE. - - Heard ye the anguish of that broken sigh, - Bursting from wretched sinner's smitten heart? - Or did ye mark the contrite tears, which start - In pearly drops from that uplifted eye? - Blest is that groan; 'tis heard by him on high, - Whose grace from prostrate soul will ne'er depart, - Whose tender love will soothe the mental smart, - And to Himself bring humble aliens nigh. - Blest are those tears;――with brighter ray they shine, - Than costliest gem, which tyrant's crown adorns, - When beaming on the gaze of subject throngs. - The grief of penitence wakes bliss divine - Before His throne, who bore the crown of thorns, - And Angels' harps resound with rapt'rous songs! - - -8. God's omnipresence. Psalm 139. - - O, whither from thy Spirit shall I go? - Or whither from thine eye shall I repair? - Thou, Lord, if I ascend to heav'n, art there; - And there, if I lie down in grave below: - Or if the wings of morning on me grow, - And with the speed of light I pierce the air - And find the shores, which India's billows wear,―― - Ev'n there thy presence will around me flow.―― - If I should say,――"night's veil will me conceal;" - Yet in thy view the darkness shall be light, - And deepest gloom will shine like flood of day.―― - Thy presence, Lord, then let me ever feel - Each budding, sinful aim and thought to blight, - And urge to deeds of holy, blest array. - - -9. THE PROMETHEUS CHAINED OF AESCHYLUS. - - 'Tis piteous tale, in Grecian numbers told,―― - Prometheus chain'd by Vulcan to a rock; - Expos'd aloft to ev'ry tempest's shock, - To burning sun, and winter's shiv'ring cold: - And all his woe, as minstrel doth unfold, - From love to man, whom other gods would mock. - For man his hands Jove's treasury unlock; - The stolen fire he breathes on man's dull mould. - O, could this Bard have liv'd in Christian days, - And seen our blessed Lord nail'd to the tree, - Expos'd, from love to man, to scorn and woe; - He would have sung of JESUS; and his lays - Would shame our empty, soulless minstrelsy, - Whose strains in praise of JESUS never flow! - - -10. ON TYNDALE, THE MARTYR. - - Tyndale! Blest martyr to the truth and right, - Who in thy zeal didst cause, with labor long, - God's word to shine out in thy native tongue, - In killing thee the men, who to the light - Darkness prefer, would shroud the world in night. - Vain hope! for on the day of this great wrong - The sun of truth arose on England's throng - With not a cloud t' obscure its splendor bright. - What though the men of Rome did strangle thee, - Then burn thy body at the stake? Thy name - Is honor'd in the earth, while infamy - Attends thy foes, and bigots blush with shame. - But more than this: in the last day God's Son - Will give the glorious crown, which thou hast won! - - -11. MISERABLE OLD AGE. - - 'Tis weary through the race of life to run, - Expos'd to noon-tide heat and chilly night, - Mid storms, that well the boldest may affright, - When clouds with lightnings arm'd obscure the sun. - Our cares are vain; the good is never won; - Sweet joys are fleeting as the meteor's light; - Unfix'd as shadows are our hopes most bright; - And toil of years is toil but just begun. - Backward from long ascent we turn the eye, - If haply the review may cheer the heart: - The graves of those we love heave through the way. - Forward we gaze: thick mists obstruct the sky, - But precipice is near, from which we start; - Yet naught remains but down to slide and die! - - -12. Idols. Psalm 135. - - The heathen gods are gods of yellow gold, - Of shining silver, or perchance of wood,―― - Moulded in various shapes, as moulder would, - And for large sums to godless sinners sold. - These gods have mouths, but speak not;――that were bold:―― - Eyes have they, but they see not――as eyes should;―― - Ears have they, but they hear not――yet are wooed; - They breathe not through their throat――may it be told? - Nor eyes, nor ears, nor thought, nor sense have they, - Who to these idol-gods their homage give, - And pray for succor to a stubborn block. - We pity such strange folly――as we may;―― - But if we worship idols, though they live, - Do we not, too, the one Jehovah mock? - - -13. TO 4 PRESIDENTS ALIVE. 1826. - - Ye've run a race of glory here below, - Such as no rolls of hist'ry can display;―― - Have held o'er Freedom's land a gentle sway, - Have seen its prosp'rous tide unceasing flow, - And now, retir'd, a welcome peace ye know. - Methinks ye calmly smile,――as well ye may,―― - At those, who mingle in the public fray, - O'erwhelm'd by cares, that no repose allow. - Ye've run your race of honor, and full soon - The darkness of the grave will close the scene; - And after death your Judge will weigh your ways. - My heart desires for you the blessed boon, - That, ransom'd by the blood outpour'd for sin, - Ye run th' immortal race of heav'nly praise! - - -14. THE WAY OF SALVATION. - - If we with conscious guilt and humble shame - Our sins confess to God and deep deplore, - Resolv'd his holy laws to break no more, - For pardon trusting in his Son's great name, - Whose wondrous love brought him to bear our blame; - Then let a rush of troubles whelm us o'er, - As stormful billows dash upon the shore,―― - E'n dying, we in peace may each exclaim,―― - "My spirit into life doth die away, - And my poor body shall now rest in hope, - Awaiting with the sav'd the rising day, - When at the trumpet's blast each grave shall ope, - And in the likeness of Christ's body I - Shall share in glory endless in the sky!" - - -15. THE OVERTHROW OF POPERY. - - An angel rais'd a stone as millstone great, - And cast it in the sea, and loudly cried―― - "Thus shall great Bab'lon perish in her pride, - No fragment left of her once glorious state!" - Down sank the stone beneath the wave; when straight - The earth, by guilt o'erburden'd, heav'd her side, - And down the city fell in ruin wide, - And naught was seen of walls, that tower'd so late. - "Alas, that city great!" Cry mighty kings, - Whose sceptres had sustain'd her bigot sway, - While she by sorc'ries propp'd their tyrant throne. - While swells her smoke, as of burnt-offerings, - Standing afar, through fear, they mournful say―― - "Alas! that mighty city, BABYLON!" - - -16. THE FALL OF BABYLON. - - Her shorn, and cowl'd, and mitred merchants weep, - Since perishes with her their gainful trade - Of long indulgencies, for silver weigh'd, - Pledg'd from sad purgatory souls to keep,―― - Of holy water, oil, and relics cheap, - As blood, tears, rags, and bones in grave-yard laid, - Of crosses, roods, and forms for Mary made, - Of beads and bulls, and various wares a heap; - Of idols, masses, pray'rs, and souls of men, - By sale of which they liv'd in indolence, - And laugh'd while their poor cred'lous dupes did groan. - Seeing her smoke afar, they cry again,―― - "Alas for all her lost magnificence! - Fall'n is that proud, great city, BABYLON!" - - -17. THE SCOFFERS AT THE BIBLE. - - If God is holy Governor supreme, - And star-born, earth-born subjects must obey, - Or bear the Judge's sentence as they may;―― - If they, endow'd with intellect's bright gleam, - Free-will, and conscience, see God's Truth outstream, - Yet scoff, instead of trembling with dismay, - And infidels defiant prove; the day - Is nigh, when Christ will say――(it is no dream, - They'll hear the trumpet's blast, no soothing lyre――) - Unto the devil's proud, poor dupes ensnar'd, - No longer bold against God's Son t' conspire, - Their sin and all its damage unrepair'd,―― - "Depart, ye cursed, into endless fire, - For Satan and his angel-hosts prepar'd!" - - -18. PRAYER. - - The humble peasant on the mountain's side - May feel th' oppressor's gripe, and seem his prey; - But in compacted state, of just array, - His country's arm will be to his allied. - Though trampled on, and justice be denied, - Yet let him in his Sov'reign's ear display - His wrongs, and quick a just and mighty sway - Shall lift him up, and check the spoiler's pride.―― - The ear of God is open to our cry: - Though high his throne, beyond our feeble sight, - He hears from this far world each humble sigh; - And swift to do his will, in squadrons bright, - From heav'n to earth his mighty angels fly, - Outstripping in their course the speed of light. - - -19. CHRIST'S TABLE. - - The monarch's table, grac'd with golden plate, - With viands loaded, brought from ev'ry clime, - Garnish'd with beauty, cheer'd with minstrel's chime, - Is poor, compar'd with that, at which I sate. - The humble feast outvied all royal state;―― - The bread from far beyond where sun doth climb, - The wine more ancient than the birth of time,―― - Present the King of Kings o'er worlds elate; - The guests in purity of heart array'd, - Their songs the glad emotions of the soul, - Their faces beaming with celestial love.―― - Like this no table e'er shall be display'd - Till o'er the earth the car of fate shall roll, - And bear the worthy to the feast above. - - -20. DEATH. Job 14. - - Poor man, of woman born, is child of woe; - His days are few and fill'd with bitter grief, - With cares and pains, from which is no relief, - Till scythe of death shall lay his blossoms low. - The gen'rous tree cut down will once more grow, - And spread its branches after ruin brief - Loaded with fruits almost beyond belief;―― - Such pow'r have living roots, that creep below. - But man decays, and wastes away, and dies, - His noble frame dissolving in the ground, - His spirit fled――ah, whither who can say? - Beneath the valley's clod in sleep profound - He rests, and there the sleeper quiet lies, - Till earth shall burn and heav'ns shall flee away. - - -21. THE STORM ON THE LAKE. - - The vessel floated on the inland sea, - And Jesus found repose to nature dear, - When straight the angry storm comes wing'd with fear, - And heaving billows roll tumultuously. - Asleep in undisturb'd tranquillity, - The voice of terror breaks upon his ear, - "Master! now save us, or we perish here;―― - We sink, unless deliv'rance comes from Thee!" - He rose and said――"Ye tempests! cease to blow; - Ye billows! be ye calm as infant's sleep:"―― - When lo, the winds are hush'd and smooth the waves. - Ye toss'd and tempted souls! to Jesus go; - In him your faith and trust unshaken keep, - And ye shall be secure, for JESUS saves! - - -22. ON JACQUES BALMAT. - - Mont Blanc! That he first gain'd thy snow-built height - Was his great pride and boast. Yet crevice deep - Became his sudden grave, where he doth sleep, - Slid in some icy chasm with wild affright, - Shut out from human reach and human sight. - Of man's strange pride, for which the angels weep, - From this a useful lesson let man reap, - Whatever point he gains by struggling might. - First scholar, artist, genius of the age, - First with the sword or with the tongue's debate, - Poet strong-wing'd or philosophic sage,―― - However loud the trump, that calls thee great,―― - Proud, boasting worm! just think of poor Balmat, - In ice-chink plung'd from all his high eclat! - - -23. CONTROVERSY. - - I've struck the milk-white quartz with gentle blow, - And split with hammer fragment from the rock, - When lo, unquarried by the shiv'ring shock, - The precious Em'rald's crystal beauties glow! - Thus from the mine of thought, obscure and low, - Does force of argument the gem unlock, - Whose charms the beams of star-born diamond mock;―― - That gem is _Truth_――the truth, which angels know! - Delve patient; make the stubborn barriers fly; - Though long the toil, let hope assuage thy care; - Each blow the glad and glist'ning beams may wake. - With zeal contend; the inquisition ply; - Yet in debate this needful caution bear―― - Be gentle, or the crystal thou mayst break! - - -24. THE SABBATH. - - Sweet is the dawn of tranquil holy day, - Hallow'd, e'en from the birth of time, to rest, - To purest joys, and contemplations blest;―― - The cares of this vain world put far away. - God said, "Let there be light:" and straight the play - Of varied hues all nature did invest: - Creation ended,――this was God's behest;―― - "Let Sabbath peace return, while earth shall stay." - Once more, near thrice the hundred thousandth time, - The blessed light upon the world is spread, - And wakes an heav'nly flame in many an eye:―― - Just emblem of that Sabbath day sublime, - Whose beams in heav'n on ransom'd souls are shed - In glorious brightness through eternity! - - -25. THE WIDOW'S SON RAISED. - - No company of revellers is here, - But sad procession solemn moves and slow, - While sobs are heard, and tears of anguish flow;―― - A widow's only son is on the bier. - But now the mighty Son of God comes near, - And stops the moving spectacle of woe, - And says――"Young man, I tell thee, rise!" When lo - The dead man lives, and speaks in accents clear! - O, what a tide of ecstasy was thine, - Blest widow, kissing that son's face once more, - Then falling at _His_ feet, who wak'd the dead! - So, at another day, that voice divine - Shall reach all caverns of the grave with power, - And rapture through innum'rous hearts shall spread. - - -26. THANKSGIVING-DAY, 1859. - - Thanks be to God on this Thanksgiving-Day - For all his wondrous goodness to our Land; - To mine, and me. Ah, who can understand - The myst'ries of his love? To Him I pray, - With millions whom his truth and spirit sway, - That all our people may discern his hand - In their rich blessings and in one great band - Serve Him, whom all the hosts of heav'n obey.―― - Yet what is now our pride is but our shame―― - "Our Country's FREEDOM!" 'Tis not known by all, - Though loud we cry, 'tis man's most rightful claim. - Methinks I hear in thunder tones heav'n's call,―― - "Ye glorying States, that boast of LIBERTY, - Look on four million SLAVES and make them FREE!" - - -27. THE LORD MY SHEPHERD. - - The Lord my Shepherd is――the Psalmist said―― - In pastures green he gives me soft repose, - And leads where living water gently flows; - Thus ev'ry want is by his bounty fed. - When from his paths I err, by pride misled, - My soul his kind restoring mercy knows; - He brings me joy, and saves from direful woes; - Then let my tongue his praises ever spread. - Yea, though I walk through death's most dreary vale, - Where unshap'd shadows glide and bring affright, - Since thou art with me naught shall wake my fear. - The path, tho' dark and fill'd with mis'ry's wail, - Guides to yon distant, growing, glorious light, - Gleaming from throne of God in heav'ns most clear. - - -28. CHRIST'S RESURRECTION. - - Welcome, O Day, in dazzling glory bright, - Emblem of yet another day most blest, - When all Christ's friends with him in heav'n shall rest; - For on this day, in his recover'd might, - The sleeper wak'd to see this morning's light;―― - "The Son of God!" glad angel-hosts attest: - So, when alive, most fully shown, confest, - For on this day he took his heav'n-ward flight. - When therefore our glad eyes this morning's sun - See rising on the earth, we'll lift our thought - To Him, who by his death our life hath bought, - And victor-king for us a crown hath won. - It e'er shall be a day of sweetest joy, - Till we shall see our Lord in yonder sky! - - -29. DARKNESS UNTIL HEAVENLY LIGHT. - - Dark is the soul of man all hist'ry shows, - Until outshines God's pure and heav'nly light; - Till then delusions play upon his sight―― - Misleading ev'ry step, as on he goes, - Each vile imposture working him great woes, - Each cheat and lie, sprung up in murky night, - Withstanding ever what is true and right, - And love of gain all honesty o'erthrows.―― - Reason, a flick'ring taper, is but dim, - While pride and ev'ry passion keep their sway. - Where then can help be found except in Him, - Who spake at first, and night was turn'd to day?―― - God's only Son! Shine thou on us in love; - Then shall we dwell with thee in light above! - - -30. MARIA MALLEVILLE ALLEN. - - My MALLEVILLE! mature like fruitful vine - About my house, while flourishing most fair - Thou'rt smitten to the ground. Sighs fill the air, - And here no longer can I call thee mine. - But how can I against God's will repine? - He will restore thee, and my loss repair, - Sweet, growing, endless joys with thee to share, - And with the holy who in glory shine! - E'en now thy spirit lives, and joins the song, - Which breaks like torrent from the harps of gold - Resounding through heav'n's arches by the throng - Of ransom'd sinners and with joys untold,―― - "Let Wisdom, Honor, Pow'r in highest strain - To thee, O LAMB, be paid, for Thou wast slain!" - - -31. PRAYER FOR MERCY. - - I dare not, Lord, claim aught of good from thee - As in reward of virtue my just right; - Up to thy throne on high, all-glorious, bright, - I dare not lift my eyes. Humility - Befits the child of sin and misery: - Repenting tears may well bedim his sight. - Yes, Savior, on my guilty breast I smite, - And "Mercy! Mercy!" this is all my cry. - 'Twas mercy, in thy vast, amazing love, - Awaking wonder in th' angelic throng, - That brought thee down from God's right hand above, - Upon the cross to die, t' atone for wrong. - Then wilt thou not my sad petition hear, - And give me peace and hope, instead of fear? - - -32. THE LOST CHILD. - - Two days had pass'd; the anxious search was vain - The wilder'd child in forest wide to find; - But pity call'd once more the neighbors kind - Each darksome nook t' explore with care and pain. - In far-stretch'd rank, like fleet upon the main, - Well rang'd by wisdom are their toils combin'd,―― - With law――"If dead, a single horn shall wind:―― - Alive, let gun and horn ring merry strain!"―― - "Hark!"――as the Father lay with ear to ground, - He cried;――"Alas, my wife, the single horn!―― - Oh no! Gun, horn, and shout the forest shake!"―― - So, when the wilder'd, sinning man is found, - By grace recover'd and to goodness born, - From angel hosts the shouts of joy outbreak. - - -33. MEXICAN IDOL. - - Of giant height, carv'd from basaltic block, - Two snakes the monster bears for arms and hands; - On either side a vulture's wing expands; - The noble face of man its features mock. - Beneath, the fangs of Rattlesnake unlock; - On Tiger's claws the fearful idol stands; - Men's hearts and skull do make his necklace bands;―― - Meet ornaments, that ev'ry gazer shock! - Here is the form of true idolatry! - Worship of serpent――vulture――tiger god,―― - Curst Lucifer, the rebel flung to hell! - Can Christians to such idol bow the knee? - The idol WAR is such; thus cloth'd, thus shod, - Inwreath'd with skulls, hissing with malice fell! - - -34. GOD OUR SAFETY. Psalm 91. - - Who in the Most High's secret place doth dwell, - Beneath th' Almighty's shadow shall abide. - God is my refuge, where I safe may hide,―― - My fortress strong and inaccessible. - From thee the noisome plague he will repel, - And safe from fowler's snare, with skill applied; - Although a thousand fall down at thy side, - No evil shall approach thy house or cell. - His kind, protecting wings o'er thee shall spread; - His truth shall be to thee a brazen shield, - His promise stronger than a tow'r on high; - Of nightly terror be not then afraid, - Nor of the day's swift arrow: 'tis reveal'd, - Thy God, thy trust, shall lift thee to the sky! - - -35. THE BELIEVER ENCOURAGED. - - Pilgrim! do thickest clouds of grief and woe - Shut from thine eye that sweet and heav'nly light, - So lately spread upon thy pathway bright? - Is a dark wing outstretch'd o'er all below? - Fear not: more glorious beams shall surely flow - From fount perennial on thy gladden'd sight. - Thy God is faithful. In his love and might - Thou'rt safe; and naught thy bliss can overthrow. - Gaze now upon the wondrous cross. There hung,―― - Victim for sins, which claim'd avenging hell,―― - God's own beloved Son in agony: - Then hear the strains in heav'nly arches sung. - Can He, who gave the gift unspeakable, - Deny thee strength, and hope, and light, and joy? - - -36. ON REV. DR. JOHN CODMAN. - - CODMAN, in early paths of life my friend, - When we together walk'd the flow'ry way - Of science, nor from virtue went astray, - Where Charles's stream by Harvard's walls doth wend; - Then woven were the ties, no force can rend―― - The ties of Christian love; from day to day - Our constant aim, our constant, firm essay, - God's Truth first known, its dictates to attend.―― - Through many a year and many a changing scene - Our early bond unbroken, when at last, - As all thy earthly prospects were o'ercast, - I bid farewell to thee with anguish keen, - Then did'st thou say,――"We meet again above―― - This faith I have――where sits ETERNAL LOVE!" - - -37. NORTHAMPTON GRAVE-YARD. - - Thick are the branches of o'ershad'wing trees, - Of deep, unfading green: does this proclaim, - That many a sleeper here hath deathless name, - Immortal glory by God's just decrees? - These monumental stones no eye that sees―― - Of whitest marble as for purest fame, - Recording deeds of high and holy aim―― - But must their forms approve. Each passing breeze - Bears richest odors from these graves, where rest - The fathers and their children; men of prayer, - Of faith, and love, and ev'ry virtue blest.―― - For the great rising day be it our care - To be ourselves companions of the wise; - With them to meet our Savior in the skies. - - -38. THE LORD'S PRAYER. - - Our heav'nly Father, whom we fear and love, - Hallow'd by all thy children be thy name; - Thy kingdom come――an empire without blame; - Let men obey thee, like the blest above. - Give us this day our daily bread; remove - Our guilt, as we forgive a brother's shame; - Let not temptation urge its mighty claim, - Nor web of evil be around us wove; - For thine the kingdom is, and thine the praise; - And thine the pow'r, which no resistance knows: - To thee, O God, be endless glory given.―― - Thus will I pray, while heart within me plays, - Or tongue is free my feelings to disclose, - Till I shall join the choral song in heaven. - - -39. PRAISE TO GOD. Psalm 148. - - Praise ye the Lord. Ye Angels, give him praise - And all his hosts throughout the heav'ns on high; - Both sun and moon, and stars that fill the sky, - For his command made all your lights to blaze. - Let all earth's hosts their voices loud upraise; - Ye mountains proud that human feet defy, - And dragons which in ocean-deeps do lie; - Fire, hail, and vapors, tempests that amaze - The seaman in his barque; the drifting snow; - All lofty cedars and each fruitful tree; - The fowl that fly, and beasts that creep below; - All kings and people, old and young, come ye, - And praise God's name, all glorious, good, and great,―― - God's name, in majesty o'er all elate! - - -40. ON MY FATHER, REV. T. ALLEN. - - I give thee thanks and praise, Great God above! - That though one half a hundred years be fled - Since my dear earthly father join'd the dead, - He lives within my heart. His faith, his love, - His zeal for right, the thoughts that him did move - The foes of truth t' encounter without dread,―― - All foes of Him who on the cross once bled,―― - Such things for him a web of honor wove. - My years are more than his: O, could I say, - My virtues are but equal; and that, when - I reach the closing hour of my life's day, - My God would give me his strong faith; for then, - As told he could not live, he made reply―― - "I'm going to _live_ forever in the sky!" - - -41. TIME'S END. Rev. 10. - - Cloth'd with a cloud an angel-form I see; - A beaming rainbow decks his glorious brow; - Like dazzling noon-tide sun his features glow; - One blazing foot is planted in the sea, - The other on the earth, like burning tree; - He cried aloud, as lion, roaring slow; - Seven angry thunders mutter'd their echo; - His red right arm he lifted high and free; - Then with an oath, that shook heav'ns mighty arch, - He sware by Him, that made the sea and earth, - And scattered far abroad the worlds of light,―― - Whose years proceed in never-ending march, - That Time, which ow'd to his decree its birth, - Should cease fore'er to wing its rapid flight. - - -42. WRITTEN IN A THUNDER-STORM. - - In that loud voice, that shakes the earth and skies, - The ancient pagan heard Jove's angry tone, - Speaking to mortals from the clouds, his throne; - In that keen light, which rapid bursts and flies, - And darts to earth, and dazzles mortal eyes, - The pagan saw Jove's vengeful jav'lin thrown, - To check man's pride, and cast presumption down, - And vindicate the god as strong and wise. - But now, since Franklin drew a spark from cloud, - And prov'd it merely electricity,―― - Though, God! thou speak in thunders e'er so loud, - Our empty science makes us deaf to Thee; - And though thy lightnings glare, yet we are proud, - And blind to Thy most glorious majesty! - - -43. IMPIETY. - - The pagan pays his worship to a block, - Or lifts his homage to the glorious sun, - Who, like a giant, in his race doth run;―― - Such folly well our thinking sense may shock. - But what if Christian nam'd his God should mock, - Or wrapp'd in web, by atheist's fingers spun, - All nature's brightness seem obscure and dun, - Not deem'd His work, who guides the starry flock? - Is there not here a guilt of deeper dye, - A mind less cheer'd by rays of truth divine, - A heart more cold, enchain'd by Greenland frost? - Ah! can the wretch e'er dwell in purest sky, - Where God's perfections all in glory shine? - Is he not blinded, cheated, wilder'd, lost? - - -44. ON THE DEATH OF MY DAUGHTER. - - Poor man, who name of Father dost not know, - Nor e'er hast felt that bond of sweetest might, - Which binds thee to thy child; on whose glad sight - That fairest image on the earth below,―― - In beauty like heav'n's various-tinted bow,―― - Her Mother's picture, lovely daughter bright - Ne'er shone;――thou hast not seen joy's earthly height!―― - All this I've seen, and lost to my huge woe! - And yet I do not need thy pity, friend; - For though the flow'r of seventeen summers' bloom - Was smitten, still it blossoms without end - In garden, where ne'er falls a blighting doom. - A ransom'd sinner did my Daughter die, - In Christian hope, with glory in her eye! - - -45. THE LAST DAY OF THE YEAR. - - This day another year of life is fled, - With ev'ry change; its gloom and beaming light, - Its woes and joys all vanish'd from the sight: - Yet deeds of good and evil are not dead. - If ill, their record we shall see with dread - O'erwhelming to our sight and wild affright, - Unless through Christ our conscience is set right - And his atoning blood our peace hath bred. - If good our deeds, and Christ through faith our friend, - Then gladly may we hail life's final day,―― - The heirs of glory we when time shall end.―― - In the new year be our's the bliss to say, - Each truly,――"Lord, in thee my hope is strong - Of thee, the Lamb, to sing heav'n's ceaseless song!" - - -46. TRANSFIGURATION OF CHRIST. - - Nature's idolater the mount ascends - To gaze around: Jesus went up to pray; - And as he pray'd, there beam'd a tenfold day, - And brightness, that all earthly light transcends. - What company is this, that Him attends? - Celestial forms appear in pure array, - And speak of suff'rings at a future day, - His certain death, which shame and anguish blends. - But soon the light recedes; there comes a cloud, - Dark and terrific in th' apostles' eyes, - And spreads its curtains round, beneath, above; - And from that gloom a voice is heard most loud―― - "This is my Son, who came from upper skies, - My Son beloved, hear ye Him and love!" - - -47. SLEEPERS IN THE GRAVE-YARD. - - In this fair grove of thick-branch'd evergreen - How many sleepers wide are scatter'd round, - Having their quiet rest beneath the ground, - On ev'ry side their marble tablets seen? - Their sleep, now quiet, will not be, I ween, - When the archangel's trumpet loud shall sound: - Not one of all will then be heedless found - But all will spring to life; a mingled scene - Of grief, despair, and sweet and high delight. - I speak not of the bad; but sure a throng - Of loving friends will meet the judge's sight, - Skill'd in the notes of ransom'd sinners' song.―― - Shall we be with these sleepers as they rise? - Say, shall we join them in yon blessed skies? - - -48. SONG OF THE REDEEMED. Rev. 7. - - Behold, before the Lamb, before God's throne - In robes of white a countless multitude, - All bearing palms, in glorious order stood, - From ev'ry tribe and tongue by goodness won; - Their voices high are join'd, as if but one; - All cry aloud――Salvation to our God, - And to the glorious Lamb, whose precious blood - For all our deepest sins did once atone! - Then fell the angels prostrate, and they said―― - While with enraptur'd hearts they God adore, - And to the Lamb of sacrifice they bend―― - "Let honor, glory, blessing, thanks be paid, - All might, and wisdom, majesty, and power - Unto our God for ages without end!" - - -49. NATURE REPROVED. - - For ages worshipp'd by the Minstrel throng, - By rippling brook, in air, and field, and wood, - On mountain top, and ridge of billowy flood, - Nature! thou dost thy Maker mighty wrong. - Hast thou no speech to check the erring song? - Glows not thy beauteous cheek with mantling blood - Thyself to take His praise, "FIRST FAIR, FIRST GOOD?" - Wilt thou this wild delusion still prolong? - Vain Idol! this thy folly thou shalt rue: - A voice is swelling on the mountain breeze, - And echoes loud from yonder azure sky―― - "Thy beauty's light shall turn to deadly hue; - On all thy charms the kindling flames shall seize, - And worshipper and god in ashes lie!" - - -50. REMOVAL OF SEVERE ILLNESS. - - Short seem'd the step down to the awful grave, - Where ev'ry vig'rous limb all stiffen'd lies, - And greedy worms in us hold revelries, - While weeds and grasses o'er my bed shall wave. - This world of ours, built up so beauteous, brave, - Must it be faded ever from my eyes? - Shall my dull ear hear no sweet symphonies? - And from this dreaded doom can naught me save? - Naught sav'd me but thy pow'r, O God of love! - I live again: to Thee be all the praise; - And let me live with heart on things above, - As one, in all things whom thy Spirit sways; - So serving Christ, as sure to me 'tis given - To see him in a brighter world――in heaven! - - -51. GOD MAN'S ALL-SUFFICIENT GOOD. - - Although no blossom'd fig tree deck the field, - Nor fruit hangs clust'ring on the joyful vine, - To give, when press'd, the spirit-cheering wine, - Nor cultur'd ground the needful food doth yield; - Although the flocks the fold no longer shield, - Nor sheep and goats from rav'nous wolves confine; - Although no grazing herds, as once, are mine, - And all my gold to robbers is reveal'd; - Yet in Jehovah will my soul rejoice, - The God of my salvation; songs shall rise - To him, whose favor is my treasur'd gold. - His bounty forces on my better choice - The ever-gladd'ning fruits of paradise, - And heav'n's unmeasur'd good, and joys untold. - - -52. THE DEATH OF REV. DR. I. NICHOLS. - - In boyhood's prime our four years' course being done - In band of numbers unsurpass'd before, - All said,――as richest gems we counted o'er,―― - "The highest rank Thou, youngest, yet hast won." - Again, when now brief interval was run, - Our toils renew'd as long a time once more - In Harvard's walls, t' acquire the honey'd store.―― - Since then just fifty years our lives have spun.―― - A few days past I hail'd my birth-day light; - Alas, it was thy day of death, my friend, - When thy keen eyes were clos'd in deepest night: - Yet 'twas thy birth to life without an end! - Thy trust be mine――is now my sick-bed pray'r―― - In God's own Son, who came our sins to bear. - - -53. THE VOICE OF NATURE TO POETS. - - Your homage has been paid me much too long, - Withheld from him, who made me fair and good, - His image to reflect from earth and flood, - And wake for him the Bard's sublimest song.―― - No eagle, mounting on his pinions strong, - Nor sweetly-warbling Nightingale in wood, - No humble flow'r with tint of sky or blood, - Nor scaly fish, nor murm'ring insect throng; - No shaggy beast beneath the forest wide, - No crystal gleaming in its rocky bed, - Nor glossy shell beneath the em'rald sea; - No rippling brook, nor stream of swollen pride, - No golden cloud, nor star in silence led, - FATHER OF ALL! but speaks aloud of Thee! - - -54. THE CROSS AND CROWN. - - Bright symbols, which a daughter's hand hath wove, - What more significant before mine eyes - Or showing forth sublimer mysteries,―― - The color'd Cross the suff'ring Savior's love, - The Crown of green his Father's gift above?―― - Why bear these autumn leaves such crimson dyes, - Save to express his death, his agonies, - Whose hand outspread each decorated grove? - If all be, then, the purchase of his blood,―― - All who repent, and love, believe, obey, - Who, now redeem'd, walk in the upward way, - Cheer'd with the hope of heav'n's eternal good,―― - Let me not boast of all within my thought, - Save in Christ's CROSS, by which my CROWN was bought. - - -55. DYING I AM BLEST. - - Great kings must leave their thrones and rule unjust, - Philosophers forget their idle schemes, - Beauty her form, and poets too their dreams, - And rich men mingle with the worthless dust. - Alas, what is the earth to poor man's trust? - How fleeting all earth's joys, like rushing streams! - Yet 'tis not dark to me: I see bright gleams, - Which from my God on high on me outburst,―― - Visions of good eternal in the skies:―― - My sins effac'd by blood,――redeeming love,―― - God's Son, once on the cross, enthroned above,―― - My long-lost ones again before my eyes, - With all the good.――I cry, "Death brings me rest; - Through thee, O Jesus, DYING I AM BLEST!" - - -56. COMPACT ON BOARD THE MAYFLOWER. - - The wondrous "Mayflow'r," floating on the sea, - Wafting the noble Pilgrims to the west, - As yet had found no circling shore for rest, - Though land was near; 'tis now her Company - To guard against disorders, which might be, - And firm foundation lay for empire blest, - Their "Solemn Compact" made, that none might wrest, - Each pledg'd the Rule to follow cheerfully. - Freedom and Law are bound in union sweet; - For all have equal pow'r till common vote - Authority confer, to which all bow, - Its exercise restrain'd, as is most meet, - To Public Good. No acts of their's denote - A thought their Chief could private int'rest know. - - -57. TO JESUS CHRIST, GOD'S SON. - - O, blessed, first-born Son of God most high, - By whom the sun and all the worlds of light - Were summon'd from the gloom of deepest night, - While this low earth was shap'd before thine eye,―― - Didst Thou earth's ills in human form defy, - Leaving thy glorious, heav'nly mansion bright, - To save lost man, and vindicate God's right, - And on the cross, nail'd hands and feet, didst die?―― - O, wondrous truth, beyond all truths we know! - With love our trembling lips pronounce thy name; - With speechless gratitude our hearts o'erflow! - But Thou didst rise from thy sad doom of shame, - And, while angelic hosts hail Thee and greet, - At God's right hand didst find thine ancient seat. - - -58. TO DR. THOMSON, MISSIONARY. - - Old WARRIOR, two decades of years and more - Have sped, since thou didst arm thee for the fight, - Since thou didst wield thy sword with hero's might, - Warring just where apostles fought of yore. - 'Twas Charity, which o'er two oceans bore - Thee and thy fellows from this land of light - To seek God's ancient mount in error's night - And Zion's long-lost glory to restore. - Thy warfare is to last while thou hast breath; - Sure is the vict'ry which to Christ is given; - Earth shall yet bear the sun-light stamp of heaven. - And when at last thine eye shall close in death, - Thy life, we know, through Christ's atoning blood, - Shall be where God outbeams light's endless flood. - - -59. HAPPY OLD AGE. - - 'Tis good our destin'd course in life to run, - New forms of beauty bursting on the sight, - The clouds soon gone, that bring a feeble night, - Still holding on our way, like glorious sun. - What noble prize has sluggishness e'er won? - 'Tis toil of day, that brings sweet rest at night, - And mingled joys make e'en our sorrows light: - The bliss we taste is bliss but just begun. - From height of age we gaze on years gone by; - The fruits of many a deed of good appear, - From which new plants are waving to the eye. - Forward we look; no terrors we descry, - But all is light, and peace, and pleasures dear: - One step will gain the glories of the sky! - - -60. PILGRIMS ON PLYMOUTH ROCK. - - The "Mayflow'r"'s anchor'd in the wintry bay; - And now the crowded boat with busy oar - Glides onward to the solitary shore, - Where, just emerging from the wave, there lay - A Rock, which trusting feet would not betray. - On this the Pilgrims land, to float no more - On angry billows, as they ceaseless roar;―― - But here to fix their dwelling-place for aye.―― - This scene may well the future good unfold, - Which o'er th' Atlantic wave their feet had sought―― - THE LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE, prize untold, - Each shackle broke which bigotry had wrought―― - Symbol, which sure our eyes do not bemock, - Of FREEDOM'S Empire, founded on a Rock! - - -61. NO SORROW IN DEATH. - - As now, methinks, my fated hour draws nigh, - With all its scenes before my vision clear, - Why must I take my flight without a tear - To dim the lustre of my heav'n-lift eye? - Why leave I sweetest joys without a sigh, - As though to my blest soul not rich and dear? - Is all my love to lov'd ones insincere, - That I am calm while other spirits cry? - Oh no! I love them; but love others more―― - Our common SAVIOR, victim on the tree―― - Their Mother and their Sister gone before - To heav'n, there ready now to welcome me. - Harvests of glorious Good about to reap,―― - Dying to enter LIFE,――how can I weep? - - -62. ON JOHN ROBINSON. - - I see thee, outcast from thy native shore, - Exile from England lov'd, to toil and die; - And ne'er didst thou behold our western sky;―― - Yet in both lands what name is honor'd more - Than thine, O ROBINSON? We hence adore - That Providence, which thus uplifts on high - The worthy from their deep humility, - And makes them stars to shine forevermore. - The Truth thou didst discern and didst maintain―― - Freedom to worship God――with courage bold, - Unaw'd by foes in pow'r and pride arrayed. - This claim the world will ne'er forget again, - Nor thee forget, its champion of old, - But breathe thy noble spirit undismayed. - - -63. SUDDEN SICKNESS. 1845. - - As city, near volcanic mountain's brow, - When heav'd by earthquake in its strongest wall, - Trembles, and seems just tott'ring to its fall; - Such seem'd my frame of clay beneath the blow. - 'Twas Wisdom's way to make the suff'rer know - The lesson oft forgot, needful for all, - That fleeting life soon flies beyond recall,―― - That heav'nly bliss is nigh or endless woe. - One day death's gloom seem'd settling on my head; - The next I joyful felt God's arm of might, - And rose as one recover'd from the dead. - To whom then now belongs my life of right? - Thee, Lord, I praise, whose mercies overflow; - Thee will I serve with angel's zeal below! - - -64. ON TRUTH. - - Of intellectual worlds Truth is the sun, - Outpouring on the mind heav'n's purest light, - Before which quickly fly all shades of night. - And as his daily course the Truth doth run, - He sheds a vivifying heat. This done, - Each plant of virtue grows up in our sight; - But ev'ry vile imposture feels a blight.―― - With thee has truth, God's truth, the vict'ry won? - Alas! by ev'ry cheat and wicked lie - Man is misled, deluded to his woe; - And o'er him Satan holds dominion high, - Reigning o'er all the wretched race below, - Till God doth interpose in wondrous love, - On man his Spirit pouring from above. - - -65. TWO VIEWS OF DEATH. - - O death, how dreadful is thy certain doom, - The beautiful all hidden from my eye - In the dark pit, where their stiff bodies lie! - And must I join them in the loathsome tomb? - Yet sure the spring-flow'r does not fail to bloom, - When wintry frosts give way to genial sky. - For body's happy change we need not sigh; - Nor for the spirit's flight from all earth's gloom. - Then, Death, thy presence brings me no affright, - But wakes my loud, exulting voice through grace, - A shout of glorious victor in the fight, - Or of the winner in the struggling race. - Death is quick transfer of the soul to heaven, - A boon to all Christ's friends in mercy given. - - -66. GOD'S MARVELLOUS WORKS. Ps. 104. - - 'Tis God, who made and heav'n and earth sustains: - We render homage due.――When floods arose, - The Lord did quell them to a quick repose.―― - He made all springs for mountains and for plains. - T' enrich the earth he gives his plenteous rains; - The herb for man and grass for cattle grows.―― - The moon for seasons made, the sun too knows - His going down, when thickest darkness reigns; - Then forest beasts creep forth, who shun the light. - To God young lions for their meat do cry; - The sun ariseth,――down in their dens they lie: - But man unto his work goes out till night.―― - Thy works, O Lord, how manifold and great! - In searchless wisdom didst thou all create! - - -67. THE LAST WORDS OF A MINISTER. - - CHRIST and redeeming mercy,――these alone - His themes, as soon his life would cease to move; - Then hear as if his voice still with you strove:―― - "My Friends! whom I would meet before Christ's throne, - And welcome where all ransom'd souls are one, - The Son of God from his high throne above - Came down to this low world in boundless love - By anguish of the cross our guilt t' atone, - Immortal life by rising bring to light, - For the deprav'd God's Spirit to procure, - For weakest Christian all his promis'd might, - And thus the failing hope to re-assure:―― - Compar'd with Christ count all things then but loss, - Nor glory save in Christ and in his cross!" - - -68. PLYMOUTH MONUMENT LAID 1859. - - This upbuilt monument, though broad and high - As tow'ring pyramid on Egypt's plain, - Our Pilgrim-Fathers' rarest worth in vain - Attempts to show forth to the kindled eye. - They said――"We'll seek a land of Liberty; - No child of ours shall wear a galling chain!"―― - Such purpose bore them o'er the stormy main: - Here was their home, and here their bodies lie. - We'll build their noble virtues in our hearts,―― - The love of Truth, the love of Good and Right, - The Faith which sees beyond our earthly sight, - The Zeal which love to God and man imparts:―― - SUCH MONUMENT we will not fail to raise, - When rock-built piles shall fall to bear their praise! - - -69. EFFECT OF DEATH ON MAN. - - How vast the change by death in man's estate? - How silent now the orator's proud tongue, - On which so many thousands often hung? - How fled the concord of sweet sounds, which late - Drew to the songstress admiration great? - How heedless now the monarch to the throng - Of worshippers? Alas, to whom doth now belong - The rich man's gold, which yielding to his fate - He leaves behind?――Whate'er on earth ye love - Ye soon must lose; then seek with earnest heart - The proffer'd blessings near Christ's throne above: - Once gain'd, there's naught can them and you dispart - While you shall live; nor shall one joy be gone - While endless centuries of bliss roll on! - - -70. CHRISTMAS. - - This is the day of all earth's days the best;―― - This is the bright, and wondrous, glorious morn, - On which the Son of God from heav'n was born, - First offer'd to his mother's vision blest. - Think not the harps of angel-hosts could rest, - Louder than warring notes of trump and horn; - The universe was glad at that day's dawn, - For Mercy beam'd on sinners lost, unblest. - Christ dwelt as man upon this globe he built, - And, having taught the world Truth pure and bright, - Died as a sacrifice for man's great guilt, - But rose again to fill all heav'n with light! - We hail the glad return of this glad day; - Sing, O ye heav'ns; in joy sing on for aye! - - -71. NEW YEAR'S DAY, 1859. - - Hail to the day I am allow'd to see, - Though helpless on the bed of sickness laid,―― - Another year's return! All undismay'd, - I've daily thought, to me it might not be. - It has not been to millions now set free, - And this year millions more, to death betray'd, - Will reach their doom. For them I've earnest pray'd, - "Lord, give them faith in thy salvation free!" - Three quarter-centuries of years my own - Will end their flight this day in winter's cold: - Praise to my God for joys and hopes not flown! - Hasten, O Lord, the year by thee foretold, - When thou wilt all the fallen nations raise, - And earth shall be one temple to thy praise! - - -72. DONATI'S COMET, 1858. - - Strange Comet, with thy long, curv'd tail so bright, - Hast thou before e'er visited our sphere? - From what dark depths of space dost thou draw near? - What is thy aim thus blazing on our sight? - Hast thou a charge with pestilence to smite? - Full many an eye now looks on thee with fear; - But unknown good may spring from thy career - And nigh approach to the great fount of light. - From guiding hand of God, enthron'd above, - Thou art not free; thou comest at his will, - Either to work the counsels of his love, - Or judgment on the wicked to fulfil. - Perchance on thee some, doom'd to woe, may dwell,―― - Some demon-spirits, whose abode is hell! - - -73. EXECUTION FOR MURDER, 1630. - - Alas, among the Pilgrims came there one - Not of their church nor of their heart and mind, - Who ne'er unruly passions knew to bind, - Nor ever learn'd a heav'nly race to run. - At last a brother's blood he shed, and won - A retribution just; nor could he find - A charity misguided, and so blind, - As not to see fit doom for deed he'd done. - Instructed from above, by reason led, - The Pilgrim Company disclos'd their plan:―― - Intent to give to life security - Without revenge, with purpose stern they said―― - As law had said e'er since the world began―― - "Whoso shall shed man's blood, by man shall die!" - - -74. ONENESS WITH GOD. John 17. - - Friends of the Son of God! How blest are ye, - That when his fated hour he saw was near, - This prayer he lifted to his Father dear,―― - "O let them all be one, as thou in me - And I in thee, so give them unity."―― - He meant a Oneness in the Truth, 'tis clear, - For as God's Word he low descended here - To teach the truth to all; to me and thee;―― - Next, oneness of design and holy love, - Oneness of soul, of spirit, and of mind;―― - For thus his friends will dwell with him above, - While never-ending ages shall unwind. - Lord! on our souls each grace and virtue trace, - So shall we see God's glory in thy face! - - -75. ON MY BIRTH-DAY. Written Jan. 2, 1859. - - While fourscore years wanting but five have fled, - The author of my frame hath it sustain'd. - This morning's light my waiting vision gain'd - With thankful joy. What multitudes are dead,―― - The earth twice emptied,――since on infant's bed - My blood began to run in circuits train'd?―― - Destroying angel who but God restrain'd? - The past how doom'd hereafter will be read: - I pray the Lord from heav'n, for me who died, - Me to assist the future so to spend - Becoming one to Him by faith allied;―― - So when, as He shall order, life shall end, - A new and glorious life will then begin - With God in heav'n, eternal, without sin! - - -76. GOD AND HIS SON. - - There is a God the universe doth show, - By whom were form'd the countless stars on high, - Which glitter in the wide, o'erarching sky; - All angel forms above and men below. - There is a God, who reigns supreme, we know; - Yet is he not alone; his presence nigh, - In glory streaming on th' uplifted eye, - Sits one, to whom all holy angels bow. - Lo, near God's heav'nly throne, at his right hand - His only Son,――God's image true and bright,―― - With various gifts divine endow'd, doth stand - To execute his Father's will with might. - By him God made and rules all worlds above; - By him unfolds to man his wondrous love. - - -77. ON MARTYRS. - - There's no man great like him, who dares to die; - Die for the truth, reveal'd from God's own throne. - Weak is the soul of man, when left alone, - Unaided by the Spirit from on high; - But when the God of grace and pow'r is nigh, - Weakness is strength and at the stake, alone, - Taunted by madden'd foes, yet not a groan, - When kindling flames wrap him in agony, - Breaks from the lips of martyr, as he died. - John Huss, and Jerome, and a noble host - A vict'ry gain'd.――Not in the hero's pride, - But in such men,――of God sustain'd,――we boast. - Ye Bigots! When the martyrs take their crown, - Shall ye not meet with God's terrific frown? - - -78. TO REV. DR. SPRING, NEW YORK. - - Old Soldier of the Son of God, the Lord! - For half a cent'ry hast thou kept the field, - And never didst thou to the foe yet yield; - Thine arms divine, the Spirit and the Word; - Truth, faith, and pray'r, these all in sweet accord. - Nor have thy wondrous vict'ries been conceal'd; - Some to thy Master's glory are reveal'd, - E'en now th' achievements of his flaming sword. - Be thou, my friend, yet faithful unto death; - Then, when the blood-stain'd heroes too must die, - And proudest despots yield their fleeting breath, - And all shall meet before the throne on high, - While justice drives the lost ones down to hell, - Thine endless song will just begin to swell! - - -79. PERSEVERANCE IN CHRIST'S SERVICE. - - My friends, be firm and faithful to the last, - That ye in Christian peace and hope may die, - Redeem'd by Him who died in agony. - Then as ye hear the trumpet's awful blast, - Ye will not with the wicked be downcast - Into unfathom'd depths of misery, - There in despair, beyond all hope to lie, - While ages never counted shall be past; - But ye shall see your great Redeemer blest, - Array'd in form most gladd'ning to your sight, - And he shall say, in majesty most bright, - "Come, my disciples, enter into rest!" - Then shall the Savior, whom ye serve and love, - Transport you to his throne, near God's, above! - - -80. GLORYING IN THE CROSS. - - Let it not be, that e'er my soul in aught - Should glory touching on delight or pride, - Save in the wondrous cross of HIM, who died - A sacrifice of worth beyond all thought, - With inf'nite blessings to the guilty fraught. - Give me faith's vision――let who will deride―― - O blessed JESUS! of thy pierced side: - I boast of thee and what thy love has wrought. - Beauty, and wealth, fame, dignity, and might, - A victor army dress'd in splendid show, - A throne and rev'rent crowds around that bow,―― - Say, what is all that dazzles human sight, - Compar'd with glories, which in thee, God's Son, - My eyes shall see while endless years roll on? - - -81. MAN WITHOUT REVELATION. - - Poor man without God's heav'nly glorious light - By ev'ry lie is cheated to his woe,―― - As hist'ry of the world doth fully show,―― - His reason shrouded in the thickest night. - But when the Truth beams on his purged sight, - Instant are fled all wild'ring shapes below, - Whose terrors waken'd all his spirit's throe: - Thus chang'd the scene where shines the Gospel bright. - Alas, my brother, art thou then so wise, - Thou know'st the Gospel false? And dost thou choose - To put to hazard yon, blue, blessed skies, - And all, that God can give, wilt madly lose? - Keen voice from one, now lost among the dead, - I hear,――"Ah! whither has thy Reason fled?" - - -82. GOD IS ONE. - - That God is One by all his works is shown, - Which unity of kind design display. - Behold the distant, glorious orb of day; - Behold the moon, and stars so thickly strown; - God's goodness by their harmony is known: - One Mind, most wise and good, bears boundless sway. - Yet man deprav'd refuses to obey, - Nor gains without electing love the crown. - Thanks be to God for his redeeming love, - Announc'd by Him, who hung upon the tree,―― - His Son, who left his glorious seat above - Our guilt t' atone; but who from death set free - Lives on his throne. Then let us all adore - The Father and the Lamb forevermore! - - -83. WHAT IS IT TO DIE? - - The when and how we know not, but to die - Is but one fix'd and common, mortal lot; - Yet death is wondrous to our human thought! - We quit this earth and far away we fly―― - But whither? Is it to the Sun on high, - Our central light, that our freed soul is brought, - If worthy of such place, without a blot; - Or to more distant orb in yon blue sky, - To some scarce-seen but faintly-twinkling star, - Whose rays have travell'd journeys to our sight, - Unmeasur'd by our leagues, they come so far? - Yet sure at last to dwell in heav'n's own light,―― - Our bodies rais'd from dust by Christ, our friend, - In his own likeness,――ages without end! - - -84. CHURCHES OF PIEDMONT, 1851. - - Long since it was th' unrivall'd poet's prayer, - That God, who governs all things here below, - The ashes of his slaughter'd saints would sow - O'er all the fields of Italy, so fair - To sight, but desolate of truth and bare.―― - But centuries with God may onward flow, - Ere man his ripen'd purposes can know: - We see the op'ning bud: the Alpine air - Not now is fill'd with moans but praise of God; - And peaceful churches meet in open day, - Where once the vallies were all red with blood. - With hopeful faith we will not cease to pray, - That from its Alpine fount truth's mighty stream - May flow, o'er all th' Italian fields to gleam! - - -85. THE LORD'S SUPPER. - - "This do," said CHRIST, "in memory of me." - Yes: I will drink the wine and eat the bread, - The heav'nly gift, which vivifies the dead; - Mindful of thine unequall'd charity. - No thrall, who drops his chain, and walks forth free, - From dungeon to his home and fireside led, - E'er felt through all his frame such rapture spread, - As I do feel, O CHRIST, redeem'd by thee! - And thou wilt yet still greater bliss bestow, - When from the prison――barriers of the grave - My captive dust in heav'nly form shall rise. - Then shall I taste the joys, which angels know, - In regions calm, where tempests never rave, - Nor clouds e'er float across the crystal skies. - - -86. THE INDIAN PREACHER. - - Mohegan OCCOM!――not a chieftain's son,―― - Yet chieftain's soul hadst thou, for thou didst say, - Thy God should have thy toil from day to day, - Till heav'nly life and glory thou hadst won. - So in thy youth thou didst begin to run - The race of Christian goodness, and to pray - In humble faith and love to God alway, - Utt'ring, "thy kingdom come, thy will be done."―― - To preach the gospel to thy Brethren dear - And guide their wand'ring steps to heav'n above - Was e'er thy soul's delight――though work of fear―― - For close to their's thy heart was knit in love. - O blessed sight, if thou at last shalt see - The ransom'd ones the Lord hath giv'n to thee! - - -87. SERMON IN MY NATIVE PLACE. 1851. - - Of swift-wing'd years how rapid is the flight? - For half a hundred, on this day, save three - Have fled since God in his great love to me - Allow'd me to put on the armor bright, - By him supplied to fit me for the fight, - The ceaseless contest for true liberty;―― - For truth alone can set the sinner free, - And bring the blind from darkness into light. - Alas, how chang'd the scene? For then were here - Full many a form of loveliness now fled,―― - Father and Mother, Brothers, Sisters dear, - And many friends,――all sleeping with the dead. - What were I now, did not God's truth divine - With bright-hued hopes upon my vision shine? - - -88. NATIONAL CONVULSIONS, 1849. - - The tempest rages through the earth around, - Tossing the ocean into mountain waves: - Thrones shake and totter, as the storm-wind raves, - And mightiest empires tremble at the sound: - Man has no structure on the solid ground, - Which bides the tumult, or its fury braves: - The sev'n-hill'd City, which the Tiber laves, - Though call'd eternal, shakes and is astound: - E'en its proud chief and priest, in sad affright, - Flees for his safety to a distant shore, - Lest falling temples on his head alight: - What is there stable 'mid this wild uproar?―― - The CHURCH heeds not the angry billows' shock;―― - THY CHURCH, O LORD, is founded on a rock! - - -89. PSALM VIII. - - In all the earth, O Lord, thy name how great, - How glorious in the heavens doth it shine! - Sun, moon, and stars, which thou hast made, are thine, - And o'er all worlds, in majesty elate, - Thou reignest king. Then what is man's estate, - How low,――in which through pride he doth repine? - Yet thou didst give him rank almost divine, - When him with pow'r to rule thou didst create―― - (Only a step beneath the angels high――) - O'er oxen, sheep, and beasts wild roving wide, - O'er all the fowl that in the air do fly, - And fish, that in the ocean-depths do glide. - O, God! who dost all praise and glory claim, - In all the earth how excellent thy name! - - -90. TO MY NATIVE TOWN. - - PITTSFIELD, my native town, how chang'd art thou, - Since first, in childhood's years, thy streets I trod, - And in thy single temple worshipp'd God, - My father then thine only teacher!――Now - On ev'ry side the rival temples grow, - As though upspringing from prolific sod, - With tow'r, or spire high-tap'ring to a rod; - And num'rous teachers now heav'n's pathway show: - But Truth is one, unchang'd, always the same,―― - Its sempiternal source with God on high, - Whence God's own Son in wondrous mercy came, - Pure light to pour on man's dark, wild'ring eye. - May all thy pastors guide their flocks aright, - And lead them to the heav'nly pastures bright. - - -91. TO SARAH ANNA HOPKINS. - - SARAH, my much-lov'd grandchild, thou dost bear - An ancient name of honor; on this day, - Which marks just sixteen years, quick fled away - Since first thou didst draw in the vital air; - No greeting need I give thee, but my prayer, - Utter'd with all the fervency I may, - That of her "faith in God" the pow'rful sway, - Like ancient Sarah, thou wilt keep with care. - So shall thy future years, of unknown count, - Be years of honor, usefulness, and joy, - For thou wilt drink at Christian joy's pure fount, - And hopes, like these, will thy best thoughts employ―― - 'A glad exchange to me will sure be given,―― - For death new life, for earth a glorious heaven!' - - -92. TO MRS. DOUGLASS, IN JAIL. - - Lady, who late didst teach the blinded slave, - And hidden truth didst open to his sight, - God's minister of his own heav'nly light,―― - I honor thee, most noble, good, and brave. - Let despots of the "Old Dominion" rave, - And for this, in their chivalry and might, - A woman shut in prison! This poor spite - From dark forgetfulness thy name shall save. - So Galileo was in dungeon deep - By bigots thrust, because he dar'd to say, - Our system's centre is the orb of day, - And earth revolves by laws that never sleep. - Though him they silenc'd, still the earth turns round: - Though thee they bind, God's light shall not be bound! - - -93. "READY FOR EITHER." - - Fit emblem of Christ's servant,――him whose love - Has borne him to his distant heathen field, - Which, if not by him reach'd, can nothing yield - But crimes, that shut men out from heav'n above: - There, heedless of fatigue, his footsteps move - In ceaseless toil; nor from his view conceal'd - Lies hid the peril, when God's truth reveal'd - The worshipper is sham'd in idol's grove. - Brave man! toil on; thou shalt not toil in vain: - Thy master's promise trust; the good seed sow; - A glorious harvest thou wilt help to gain. - And should the madmen's dagger lay thee low, - Yet from thy outpour'd blood may spring the truth, - Life's nutriment to Old men and to Youth! - - -94. TO MISS HANNAH LYMAN, MONTREAL. - - I owe thee many thanks, my distant friend, - That on the broad Canadian river's shore - Thy home being gain'd with joyfulness once more - Thou didst remember me, and to me send - These clust'ring Grapes, which now on me attend - To soothe a sick man's taste. From God's rich store - They came,――from where the northern tempests roar,―― - His bounty wide, his mercy without end! - They speak to faith of greater sweetness far - Denoted by the wine that Jesus gave, - The Son of God, who came from heav'n to save,―― - The Blood of Him, the framer of each star, - Which purchases our life, salvation free, - High glory, honor, immortality! - - -95. VISIT TO PONTOOSUC OR PITTSFIELD. - - PITTSFIELD, so nam'd from British statesman bold, - Who dar'd command the struggles of the free, - What time men forg'd the chains for liberty; - How dear art thou to my pain'd vision old? - And many a scene now past dost thou unfold, - And many a wither'd joy, as well might be, - For years have fall'n, as leaves from autumn tree, - Since first thy light I saw and bliss untold. - Swift as the shadow of a flying cloud - All earthly good departs; but as a rock, - Which heeds not ocean's waves nor tempest loud, - My faith in Jesus, Savior, bides the shock:―― - The same I held, when first in early youth - I here proclaim'd the heav'n-descended truth. - - -96. COMPANY OF OLD MEN. - - "Hail, OLD MEN! Quite a goodly Company!"―― - True, we are old; this day assembled here - In this new mansion to partake this cheer, - Of ancient friend to wake the memory.―― - Though old, yet have we undimm'd eyes to see - And ears that fail not yet the truths to hear, - Once taught by our deceased pastor dear, - Which some in life's fair morn cannot descry, - Sin's thick, delusive veil spread o'er their sight. - We see time's speed, and death to be no cheat; - To us the Sun of Righteousness shines bright, - And bright yon heav'ns, up where we hope to meet. - We see the worth of Truth, of Faith, of Love,―― - Our certain guides to ENDLESS LIFE above. - - -97. JOY IN A DYING HOUR. - - To change for good alone my mingled state - In this brief life, and what I have to hold - By God's firm word while endless years unfold,―― - This wakens joy; and this will be my fate, - When soon shall come my final, worldly date.―― - Now hear I this――"O, chosen one, behold - Wonders of love divine, by Christ unroll'd;―― - Come, share our bliss unmeasurably great!"―― - Not one is toss'd by tempest, all at rest;―― - Not one is conscience-smitten of the throng;―― - Not one a suff'rer, all I see are blest;―― - All know God's truth, all lift th' eternal song.―― - Thus hearing calls from ev'ry heav'nly voice―― - These scenes in vision――DYING I REJOICE! - - -98. NIAGARA FALLS. - - Great are the works of God, which meet our sight. - Proud, sinful man! thyself above all fear - Of him who made the earth, come, stand but here, - And here be taught his majesty and might. - This stream from western lakes how broad and bright? - But now its waves in froth and rage appear, - And as they plunge down deep, their voice we hear, - Like thunders bursting from the clouds of night. - This river from his hand doth God outpour: - Then say, O sinner! hast thou naught to dread - From Majesty Divine, whom thou each hour - Dost treat with scorn, though soon to join the dead? - Pause in thy guilty path:――consider well―― - God's wrathful flood may plunge thee down to hell! - - -99. JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH. - - How can a sinning man with God be just? - This grand inquiry all men need to make, - For all are guilty; and they well may quake - For flagrant evil deeds or secret lust, - For which God's law smites down their prideful trust. - Ye sleepers on the brink of woe! awake - And to the Gospel listen:――that can break - The fetters binding all the lost unjust. - Justice and love in wonderful display, - Mercy and truth in union sweet combine, - And shine forth glorious in the scheme divine. - The word reveal'd unfolds to us the way, - By which we, sinners, can be just with God;―― - It is by FAITH in Christ's atoning blood. - - -100. TRIUMPH OF THE GOSPEL. - - O, blessed day, when through the world below - JESUS shall reign the prince of love and peace, - For then shall men their angry contests cease, - And never more appear in hostile show;―― - The sword transform'd into th' unbloody plow - And spear to pruning hook for thriving trees. - The kid lies down with leopard at his ease, - And grizzly bear feeds harmless with the cow. - The wolf and lamb together peaceful dwell, - The calf with the young lion too are led - By hand of little child. Ah, who can tell - How chang'd the scene, when, fiery passions fled, - No stain is seen on human hand of blood, - But all men live in holy Brotherhood? - - - - -REMARKS ON THE NATURE AND HISTORY OF THE SONNET. - - -In the judgment of some of the greatest poets and literary men the -_Sonnet_ is a form of poetry of very high value; in its structure a -precious gem. It is of Italian origin and was invented by _Petrarch_ in -the 14th century. In his retreat at Vaucluse near Avignon he wrote the -greater part of his sonnets, all devoted to the idolatry of woman――to -the praise of Laura: 227 of them were written while she was living; and -he continued to extol her in 90 sonnets after her death. - -The laws of the sonnet are these. It has one leading subject and should -end with some striking thought, or must bring to a beautiful conclusion -or point the images and musings of the first lines and greater part -of the poem. It has always 14 lines, falling into two unequal lobes, -one of two quatrains, the other of two triplets; or in other words it -is composed of four stanzas, the two first of four lines each and the -two last of three lines each. Then as to the rhymes,――the first eight -lines have only two rhymes, and they always in the same place,――the -first, fourth, fifth and eighth lines rhyming; so also the other four. -The last six lines admit of a little change, and may have either two or -three rhymes; usually the four first lines have alternate rhymes, and -the two last are a couplet; but even in this case the triplet form is -to be preserved. - -The distinction of the stanzas is made, not by a separation from each -other by wider spaces, but while printed compactly by the lines 1, -5, 9, and 12, projecting to the left; as in Milton's sonnets and in -the Venice edition of Petrarch in 1764. Various poets however have -unwisely disregarded this rule: and have variously placed their rhymes -and their lines at their pleasure. Campbell has translated a few of -Petrarch's sonnets, reducing the 14 lines to 12, composed of three -similar quatrains, the first and last lines of which rhyme together. -But this is destroying the Sonnet. - -Our admiration of Petrarch should perhaps be a little moderated; for he -is full of affected turns and paradoxes and smart antitheses. Speaking -of love he says, "O viva morte, O dilettoso male,"――O living death, O -most beloved evil! Speaking also of its effect he says in four lines of -rhyme, which may be thus translated――without rhyme―― - - "I find no peace, and am not the subject of war; - I fear, and hope, and also burn, and freeze; - I fly above the heavens, and walk on the earth; - I grasp nothing, and hold the universe in my arms." - -Addressing a river, in which Laura washed her face, he says, - - "Thou hast no rock beneath thy waves, which does not burn with the - same fires, that are kindled in me." He also said, "O earth, thou art - not worthy to be trodden by her feet. She deserves to adorn heaven!" - -His curious stanza repeating the word _dolce_, sweet, 9 or 10 times may -be thus translated: - - "Sweet sorrow, and sweet joy, and then sweet pain, - Sweet torture, zephyr, fire, and next sweet wounds; - Sweet word, which in my ear most sweetly sounds, - Sweet anger, and sweet rage, and sweet disdain." - -The sonnet in the use of Petrarch did not attain its highest dignity, -for it was wholly appropriated to the praise of Laura, his love for -whom whether real or fictitious has not yet been settled by the -literary world. He died in 1374, aged 70.――The eminent English poet -Spenser followed him after an interval of more than 200 years dying -in 1598: he published 87 sonnets. Then Shakespeare, who died in 1616, -published 154 sonnets; all of which by these two poets are devoted to -love, but with a change of the Italian rhyme and form. - -The following shows the sonnet's structure by _Spenser_. - - "Men call you fair, and you do credit it, - For that your self ye daily such do see, - But the true fair, that is, the gentle wit - And virtuous mind is much more prais'd of me; - For all the rest, however fair it be, - Shall turn to naught, and lose that glorious hue; - But only that is permanent and free - From frail corruption, that doth flesh ensew: - That is true beauty; that doth argue you - To be divine, and born of heav'nly seed, - Deriv'd from that fair Spirit from whom all true - And perfect beauty did at first proceed: - He only fair, and what he fair hath made; - All other fair, like flow'rs, untimely fade." - -It will be observed, that the last couplet is always a rhyme, which is -not the fixed rule of Petrarch; and then he has changed the places of -the rhymes and confused them by abolishing the stanzas. - -The following is a sonnet of _Shakespeare_. - - "O, how much more doth beauty beauteous seem - By that sweet ornament which truth doth give! - The rose looks fair, but fairer we it deem - For that sweet odor which doth in it live. - The canker-blooms have full as deep a dye, - As the perfumed tincture of the roses; - Hang on such thorns, and play as wantonly, - When summer's breath their masked buds discloses: - But for their virtue only is their show; - They live unwoo'd, and unrespected fade; - Die to themselves. Sweet roses do not so; - Of their sweet deaths are sweetest odors made: - And so of you, beauteous and lovely youth; - When that shall fade, my verse distils your truth." - -Here also is an injurious change in the sonnet of Petrarch: the last -couplet is always a rhyme, and it is separated in print from the 12 -lines, which are very simple, composing three stanzas of distinct, -alternate rhymes, much easier to compose than Spenser's or the Italian. - -_Milton_ wrote 5 sonnets in Italian, which were translated by Cowper. -In them he followed Petrarch in his subject. It was in his 18 English -sonnets, that he has given to this form of poetry its true elevation -and dignity. Instead of applying it, like his predecessors, to love -meditations, expressive of fictitious or real affection, he made it the -instrument of conveying most important moral, patriotic, and religious -sentiments. - -The following is a sonnet of Milton, who died in 1675. It was addressed -to - -A VIRTUOUS YOUNG LADY. - - "Lady, that in the prime of earliest youth - Wisely hast shunn'd the broad way and the green, - And with those few art eminently seen, - That labor up the hill of heav'nly truth, - The better part with Mary and with Ruth - Chosen thou hast; and they, that overween, - And at thy growing virtues fret their spleen, - No anger find in thee, but pity and ruth. - Thy care is fix'd, and zealously attends - To fill thy od'rous lamp with deeds of light, - And hope that reaps not shame. Therefore be sure - Thou, when the bridegroom with his feastful friends - Passes to bliss at the mid hour of night, - Hast gain'd thy entrance, Virgin wise and pure." - -It will be seen, that he combined with his rhymes much of the freedom -and force of blank verse. He never allows the absence of good strong -sense nor the presence of unmeaning or useless words in order to make -out the rhyme. - -By printing his sonnets compactly without separating the stanzas from -each other Milton carried on his sentences, as he found desirable, from -stanza to stanza, frequently without any close at the end of a stanza, -sometimes just beginning near the end. In this case the separation of -the stanzas by spaces would evidently be absurd. Read the last five -lines of his sonnet to Cromwell:―― - - "Peace hath her victories - No less renown'd than war: new foes arise - Threat'ning to bind our souls with sec'lar chains.―― - Help us to save free conscience from the paw - Of hireling wolves, whose gospel is their maw." - -Here, in the method of separating the stanzas by wider spaces in -printing, the phrase "new foes arise" would have been separated from -the line which follows, with which it is so intimately connected,――the -head line of the last triplet. - -The author may here be allowed to say, that in his judgment in the -whole compass of English poetry there are no sonnets equal to a few of -Milton's, numbered 8, 9, 14, 15, 18, 19, 22 and 23. If any one would -know, whether Milton's meditations brought out sentiments worthy of -utterance, and whether he knew how to utter them with the melody of -rhyme and at the same time with the unshackled freedom and energy of -blank verse, I leave with him for his refreshment the following lines -from his sonnet on his own Blindness:―― - - "Doth God exact day-labor, light denied?" - I fondly ask: But Patience, to prevent - That murmur, soon replies, "God doth not need - Either man's work, or his own gifts; who best - Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best: his state - Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed, - And post o'er land and ocean without rest: - They also serve, who only stand and wait." - -More recently _Wordsworth_, who died in 1850, aged 80, has followed -Milton in his application of this form of poetry to higher subjects -than that to which it was applied by Petrarch. A very great fault -however is his abolishing Milton's method of designating the stanzas -and thus showing the places of the rhymes, the pleasures of which are -gone if their places are not easily found. He wrote 282 sonnets: he -wrote too many; and they are often diffuse and languid. The following -is one of his sonnets: it is on the Pastoral Character. - - "A genial hearth, a hospitable board, - And a refined rusticity belong - To the neat mansion, where, his Flock among, - The learned Pastor dwells, their watchful Lord. - Though meek and patient as a sheathed sword, - Though pride's least lurking thought appear a wrong - To human kind; though peace be on his tongue, - Gentleness in his heart; can earth afford - Such genuine state, pre-eminence so free, - As when, array'd in Christ's authority, - He from the pulpit lifts his awful hand; - Conjures, implores, and labors all he can - For re-subjecting to divine command - The stubborn spirit of rebellious man?" - -The readers of poetry ought to feel much indebted to Mr. Wordsworth for -his remarks in regard to the language of poetry, and in regard to the -value of enkindled emotions. In his judgment, there ought not to be -a distinct poetic diction, separate from the language of good prose; -the poet should aim at good sense and intelligible diction, using the -language of men, abandoning "a large portion of phrases and figures of -speech, which from father to son have long been regarded as the common -inheritance of poets," and even abstaining from many good expressions, -which bad poets have so foolishly and perpetually repeated, as to -render them disgusting. As illustrating his meaning, he quotes from a -sonnet of _Gray_;―― - - "In vain to me the smiling mornings shine, - And reddening Phœbus lifts his golden fire: - The birds in vain their amorous descants join, - Or cheerful fields resume their green attire: - These ears, alas! for other notes repine." - -Here this false diction destroys the value of every line. - -The other remark of Mr. Wordsworth is this;――"all good poetry is the -spontaneous overflow of good feelings." Perhaps it might be also said, -that in addition to sensibility and impassioned expression there should -be chosen, for the highest poetry, subjects of moral dignity and -religious interest, having a close bearing on human welfare not only -for a moment but for perpetuity. - - - - -NOTES. - - -_Sonnet 1._ The name of WASHINGTON is in the heart of all Americans. -Fifty years ago, that is in 1809, in the first edition of the American -Biographical Dictionary, I devoted nearly 20 pages to a memoir of -Washington. It may be a convenience to the reader of this little book -to have here collected the dates as to the leading events of his -life.――He was born at Bridges Creek, Westmoreland county, Virginia, -Feb. 22, 1732; and died suddenly, after an illness of one day by an -inflammation of the windpipe, Dec. 14, 1799, nearly 68 years old. He -was in early life a major and colonel of the Virginia troops employed -against the French on the Ohio in 1754 and 1755; and was subsequently -commander in chief. About 1758 he married Mrs. Custis, a wealthy widow, -whom he greatly loved. As a planter he had 9,000 acres of land under -his management, and nearly 1,000 slaves in his employment, living -at Mount Vernon, which was the estate of his deceased older brother -Lawrence: his father's name was Augustine: his great grandfather came -from the north of England about 1657.――He was appointed by congress -commander in chief at the commencement of the war in 1775; and at the -close resigned his commission Dec. 1783. - -In 1789 he was chosen the first president of the United States for 4 -years and then re-chosen, continuing in office till 1797, when he was -succeeded by John Adams. By his last will he directed, that on the -death of Mrs. Washington (who died May 22, 1802,) his slaves should -be emancipated. As the ladies of Virginia, with the aid of ladies of -other States, have purchased Mount Vernon in reverence to the name of -Washington, will they not honor him if they manage it without obtruding -upon it any slave labor?――Gen. Washington was a constant attendant on -public worship in an episcopal church, which he principally supported. -It is believed, that he every day had his hour of retirement for -private devotion. - - -_Sonnet 2._ In looking from my eastern window a few evenings since -(Dec. 12th,) I was struck with the magnificent appearance of the -heavens,――the moon just rising in full effulgence, preceded a few -degrees by the splendid planet Jupiter, while still higher and more at -the south was the unequalled constellation Orion, with an uncounted -multitude of stars planted thick in the sky. Jupiter is 1400 times -larger than the earth, being 90,000 miles in diameter: he revolves on -his axis in ten hours, so that a body on his surface flies around at -the rate of 27,000 miles per hour, or 27 times faster than a body on -the earth. It has four satellites. Can it be imagined, that this huge -planet is not furnished with rational inhabitants, like this diminutive -earth? And what reason can be assigned why all the planets and all -the stars should not be inhabited by rational beings? Who can fix the -limits to God's creation? As light flies 192,000 miles every second, -who can say, that the light from the most distant star has yet reached -the earth since the star was created? With what reverence and awe, with -what love and trust and spirit of obedience should Almighty God, the -Creator of the universe, be regarded? - - -_Sonnet 3._ Wm. H. Prescott, the distinguished historian, died at -Boston of the paralysis after a few hours' illness Jan. 28, 1859, aged -62 years. Knowing that he was about to die, it was his remarkable -request, that in his coffin he might lie for a time with his face -uncovered in his library, surrounded by his cherished Books. From his -library he was carried to his grave Jan. 31st. The next evening the -Historical Society of Massachusetts held a meeting in honor of his -memory. Mr. Winthrop, the president, Mr. Ticknor who introduced some -resolutions, and others made speeches on the occasion, which were -published. As a humble associate member of the society I would not -neglect to mention the following apposite and interesting fact, that -_Petrarch_, the inventor of the Italian _sonetto_, was found dead in -his library with his head _resting on a book_. He died of apoplexy July -18, 1374, aged 74.――Milton's memorable words in relation to books ought -never to be forgotten:――"Many a man lives a burden to the earth; but _a -good book_ is the precious life-blood of a master-spirit, imbalmed and -treasured up on purpose to a life beyond life."――But the book of books -is God's Book, which infinitely transcends all others in value, except -as they borrow truth from its pages, for it reveals to man his pathway -to a blessed immortality. Never should the words of Mr. Chillingworth -be forgotten: "The BIBLE, I say, the BIBLE only is the Religion of -Protestants." - - -_Sonnet 4._ In the city of Paris, ten years ago, I was one of a large -company of hundreds of the Friends of Peace from different nations. We -presented to the Emperor,――then only a President,――an Address against -War. In the present year by his inroad into Italy and conflict with -Austria he has fixed upon his soul the unmeasurable guilt of several -tens of thousands of murders. - - -_Sonnet 5._ After the existence of one God there is no truth so -astonishing and holding such a power over the human heart, as the death -of the Son of God on the cross for the sins of men. For who was the Son -of God? He was indeed in the form of a man, born of the virgin Mary; -but he came down from heaven to tabernacle in human flesh. Let us raise -our eyes from the earth to the worlds above us, of enormous magnitude -compared with this little globe of ours. Suppose now the glorious sun -is inhabited by a race of intelligent beings as much exalted above -man, as the sun is greater and more resplendent than the earth. If the -highest of the sun's inhabitants had come to this low world and dwelt -in human flesh――it might have been a most amazing event in our eyes; -yet he would not have been the Son of God. Suppose among the countless -worlds of light there is one world vastly transcending all others and -the dwellers on it transcending in their faculties and endowments -all other world-dwellers; and the first among them had come to dwell -in man's form; yet he would not have been the Son of God. We read of -angels and archangels in heaven――in the place of God's more especial -abode. Suppose the brightest archangel had descended to this ball of -earth and animated a human form, and appeared as a man; yet he would -not have been the Son of God. For the Son of God is he, by whom God -created the sun and moon and stars of light, with all the intelligent -dwellers upon them and the dwellers in the heavenly mansions. It was -this Son of God inconceivably exalted and glorious, who came down -from heaven and appeared as the Son of Mary. And not only so; but he -actually was subject to the evils, which man suffers; he could feel -pain, and anguish, and the agonies of the cross,――and did encounter -them,――if the plain language of scripture is no delusion,――in order to -atone for our sins and to achieve the work of our redemption. Now, did -we believe this: did this most sublime and wonderful truth plant itself -in our inmost persuasion,――unalloyed and unweakened or not destroyed in -its influence by any of our speculative theories;――were we deeply and -thoroughly convinced of this great fact;――then who of us could fail to -exclaim,――"God forbid, that I should glory, save in the cross of our -Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto -the world?" - - -_Sonnet 10._ John Tyndale, born in 1484, and educated at Oxford. -Determined to translate the Bible for England, as he could not do it -safely in London he fled to the continent. At Cologne he published -the English New Testament about 1525. England was filled with light. -The popish priests sent over a traitor, by whose means Tyndale was -seized and martyred near Antwerp Friday, Oct. 6, 1536, being strangled -at the stake and burnt. His translation of the New Testament was the -foundation of our present one. - - -_Sonnet 13._ The four following ex-presidents were all living, when -this sonnet was written in March, 1826.――_John Adams_ died July 4, -1826, aged 90; president from 1797 to 1801.――_Thomas Jefferson_ died -on the same day with Mr. Adams, July 4, 1826, aged 83; president from -1801 to 1809. As a member of congress he drew up the declaration of -Independence in 1776.――_James Madison_ died in 1836, aged 85; president -from 1809 to 1817.――_James Monroe_ died July 4, 1831, aged 83; -president from 1817 to 1825. - - -_Sonnet 16._ In a sonnet Mr. _Wordsworth_ does not lament the -protestant hurricane, which scattered wide - - "The trumpery, that ascends in bare display, - Bulls, pardons, relics, cowls, black, white, and grey, - Upwhirl'd――and flying o'er th' ethereal plain - Fast bound for Limbo lake." - - -_Sonnet 17._ Christ's own clear, ample, minute, most decisive -instruction concerning the Day of Judgment is in Matt. 25th, and ends -with the words, "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: -but the righteous into life eternal." He also said of the unbeliever, -in John 3d, "he shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on -him:" he also said, Matt. 18, "It is better for thee to enter into life -with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire." - - -_Sonnet 20._ Shakespeare in a sonnet says,―― - - "When to the sessions of sweet, silent thought - I summon up remembrance of things past, - I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought, - And with old woes new wail my dear time's waste: - Then can I drown an eye, unus'd to flow, - For precious friends hid in death's dateless night," - - -_Sonnet 22._ Ten years ago, in 1849, I had the satisfaction of visiting -the valley of Chamouni in Switzerland at the foot of Mont Blanc, the -highest point in Europe, 15,600 or 15,673 feet or nearly 3 miles in -height above the sea. Here once lived Jacques Balmat, who, having -discovered a way to the top of the mountain, in his gratitude to Dr. -Paccard, the physician of the village, apprized him of his discovery, -and undertook to conduct him to the summit. After two days' toil the -exploit was accomplished Aug. 8, 1786. The next ascent was by De -Saussure, the elder, of Geneva, accompanied by his servant, by Balmat, -and 17 other guides, Aug. 3, 1787. In 1808 Balmat conducted to the top -15 of the people of Chamouni, one of whom was a woman, Maria Parodis. -Ascents were made by men of different countries in 1802, 1812, and -1818. Two Americans accomplished this ascent in 1819, Dr. Wm. Howard -of Baltimore and Dr. Van Rensselaer, with 9 guides. They reached the -top Monday, July 12th. Remaining more than an hour on the summit, they -reached Chamouni in safety after an absence of 53 hours only.――Capt. -Underhill of England made the ascent in the same year. The lives of -three guides were lost in the attempt of Dr. Hamel in 1820. Since then -there were 27 ascents, to the year 1851, when Albert Smith and other -Englishmen went up with 16 guides Aug. 13th. - - -_Sonnet 23._ The Christian theologian has this ground of controversy, -that the Bible is a revelation from God, which book therefore -contains no error, but is filled with eternal, infallible truth. No -contradiction in doctrine can possibly exist in holy scripture; and -nothing can reconcile the reason, bestowed upon us, with what is -absurd or impossible. If controversialists may gather some expressions, -which seem to conflict with each other, some patience and diligence -of inquiry may be requisite in order to bring them into harmony; a -knowledge of the ancient languages, in which the scriptures were -written, may prove useful, as may also an acquaintance with eastern -customs and manners, and an attention to the circumstances and design -of the utterance which is under consideration. - - -_Sonnet 24._ In a sonnet _Wordsworth_ speaks of the new churches in -England, in which the Truth of God might be taught:―― - - "The wished-for Temples rise! - I hear their Sabbath bell's harmonious chime - Float on the breeze――the heavenliest of all sounds - That hill or vale prolongs or multiplies." - - -_Sonnet 26._ In the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776, the -Thirteen United States said unanimously――"We hold these truths to be -self-evident:――that all men are created equal; that they are endowed -by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are -life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." - -In his last will Washington ordered the emancipation of his slaves; so -also did John Randolph. Patrick Henry declared, that the principle of -slavery is "as repugnant to humanity, as it is inconsistent with the -Bible, and destructive to liberty." Mr. Jefferson said in his Notes -on Virginia, in reference to the holding of slaves, "I tremble for my -country, when I remember, that God is just!" If the leading minds of -the South should adopt the sentiments of these illustrious Virginians, -it will next be their proper business to devise and execute the best -method for giving to their slaves the blessings of freedom. - - -_Sonnet 27._ Dr. Cotton Mather of Boston, published in Boston 141 years -ago a new Version of the Psalms from the Hebrew into English blank -verse,――so called from the absence of rhyme,――the measure of the lines -being adapted to the music in vogue. Melancthon said of the Psalms, -"It is the most elegant work extant in the world." Jewell wrote to -Peter Martyr in 1560, that 6,000 people sung the Psalms together at St. -Paul's Cross in London. The following is his version of the 23d Psalm: - - "1. My shepherd is the Eternal God; - I shall not be in (any) want: - 2. In pastures of a tender grass - He (ever) makes me to lie down: - To waters of tranquillities - He gently carries me (along.) - 3. My _feeble and my wandering_ soul - He (kindly) does fetch back again; - In the plain paths of righteousness - He does lead (and guide) me along. - Because of the regard He has - (Ever) unto his glorious name. - 4. Yea when I shall walk in the vale - Of the dark (dismal) shade of Death, - I'll of no evil be afraid, - Because thou (ever) art with me. - Thy rod and thy staff, these are what - Yield (constant) comfort unto me. - 5. A table thou dost furnish out - Richly (for me) before my face. - 'Tis in view of mine enemies; - (And then) my head thou dost anoint - With fatt'ning and perfuming oil; - My cup it (ever) overflows. - 6. Most certainly the thing that is - Good, with (most kind) benignity, - This all the days, that I do live, - Shall (still and ever) follow me; - Yea I shall dwell and Sabbatize - Even to (unknown) length of days, - _Lodg'd_ in the house which does belong - To him who's the Eternal God." - - -_Sonnet 29._ As Christians we are under inexpressible obligations to -God for his book of revealed truth, proved to be divine by the voice -of prophecy, by the wonders of miracles, by the sublimity of its -doctrines, and by the approval of conscience. Every man, who can read, -is bound to examine this book for himself; for otherwise his faith will -rest on a human not a divine teacher.――According to Mr. Chillingworth, -what God requires of us is "to believe the Scripture to be God's word, -to endeavor to find the true sense of it, and to live according to it." -He also says――"I see plainly and with mine own eyes, that there are -popes against popes, Councils against Councils, some Fathers against -others, the same Fathers against themselves, a Consent of Fathers of -one age against a Consent of Fathers of another age, the Church of -one age against the Church of another age. Traditive interpretations -of Scripture are pretended, but there are few or none to be found. -No tradition, but only of Scripture, can derive itself from the -fountain."――"Propose me any thing out of this book, and require -whether I believe it or no; and seem it never so incomprehensible to -human reason, I will subscribe it with hand and heart: As knowing no -demonstration can be stronger than this; God hath said so, therefore it -is true." But then we ought to be well assured, that God hath said what -we attribute to him; that we understand the import of the divine word; -and that no prepossession, or prejudice, or passion, or mental bondage -leads us into an inexcusable misapprehension. - - -_Sonnet 30._ My wife, MARIA MALLEVILLE, who died very suddenly at -Brunswick in Maine June 3, 1828, aged 40 years, was the only daughter -and child of Dr. John Wheelock, the president of Dartmouth College. -She was of Huguenot descent by her mother, Maria Suhm, the daughter of -Christian Suhm, the Danish commandant and governor of the island of -St. Thomas: he died in 1759, aged 40, being a native of Copenhagen. -Mrs. Suhm's descent was from Thomas Bourdeau of the south or west of -France, a protestant martyr after the revocation of the edict of Nantes -in 1685, as follows. He sent his only daughter Maria at the age of -ten years for safety to the island of St. Thomas. In the same vessel -was a protestant emigrant from the same place, Mr. La Salle, whom she -at the age of 15 married. Their daughter Maria La Salle married John -Malleville of St. Thomas: their daughter, Maria Malleville, married in -1751 governor Suhm, who after his death was succeeded by her brother, -Gov. Thomas Malleville. Her second marriage was to Lucas Von Beverhoudt -of Beverwyck in Parsippany, New Jersey, where she was accustomed to -receive Washington at her house. Their daughter, Adriana, married T. -Boudinot, the descendant of another Huguenot family from France.――She -died in 1798. Her daughter, Maria Suhm, married, as has been mentioned, -president Wheelock.――My wife, whom I married Jan. 28, 1813, was the -mother of 8 children. - - -_Sonnet 32._ About 50 years ago, when the neighborhood of Sackett's -Harbor was a wilderness, a little child of one of the new settlers aged -4 years was lost in the woods. The father's house was 6 miles from the -Harbor. All possible aid in the search was of course called together -under the regulation and with the success described in this sonnet. - - -_Sonnet 35._ As Spenser says of the Lamb;―― - - "His sceptre is the rod of righteousness, - With which he bruiseth all his foes to dust, - And the great Dragon strongly doth repress - Under the rigor of his judgment just; - His seat is Truth, to which the faithful trust, - From whence proceed her beams so pure and bright, - That all about him sheddeth glorious light." - - -_Sonnet 36._ Dr. John Codman died at Dorchester, where he was long -the pastor of a church, Dec. 23, 1847, aged 65. Graduating at Harvard -college in 1802, he pursued his theological studies in Edinburgh from -1805 to 1808, in which year he was ordained. His subsequent life was -devoted to the faithful preaching of the gospel. Among his last words -he said,――"I am willing to be in God's hands." His Memoirs and Sermons -were published in 1853. - - -_Sonnet 37._ The grave-yard of Northampton, laid out in 1661, is one -of peculiar beauty and rich in the deposit of the dead disciples of -Christ; among whom were my own ancestors of several generations. Four -of the earlier and eminent ministers sleep here; Eleazer Mather, -who died in 1669, aged 32; Solomon Stoddard, died 1729, aged 85; -John Hooker, died 1777, aged 48; Solomon Williams, died 1834, aged -82. Another tenant of this grave-yard is Rev. David Brainerd, the -missionary, who died Oct. 9, 1747, aged 29.――In this year, 1859, some -unknown person has erected a handsome marble monument to Rev. E. -Mather, who died 190 years ago. - - -_Sonnet 39._ Spenser in his Hymn on heavenly beauty says;―― - - "For far above these heav'ns, which here we see, - Be others far exceeding these in light, - Not bounded, not corrupt, as these same be, - But infiniteness in largeness and in height, - Unmoving, uncorrupt, and spotless bright, - That need no sun t' illuminate their spheres, - But their own native light far passing theirs." - - -_Sonnet 40._ The record of the first minister of a flourishing American -town and a brave patriot of the revolution is a matter of interest. -Thomas Allen was born in Northampton and was a descendant of Samuel, -one of the first settlers, whose father――dying at Windsor in 1648――is -supposed to have come over from the west of England with the Dorchester -people in the ship Mary and John in 1630.――His grandfather, named also -Samuel, was an unswerving friend of Jonathan Edwards and a deacon -in his church. Mr. Allen graduated at Harvard college in 1762 in a -distinguished class, among whose members were Gov. Gerry, Judge F. -Dana, and Drs. Eliot and Belknap. He was ordained at Pittsfield in -Berkshire county, Mass., April 18, 1764, and here passed the remainder -of his life; he died after a ministry of 45 years Feb. 11, 1810, aged -67 years: I was ordained his successor Oct. 10, 1810.――He was not -only a faithful and eloquent minister; but a patriot, and a chaplain -in the army, and on one occasion he played the part of a soldier. He -marched Aug. 15, 1777 with a company of his own people in a three days' -campaign to Bennington to check the advance of Burgoyne:――the next -day he shared in the assault and the victory;――and the third day he -returned home to preach the gospel to his rejoicing people Aug. 18th. -His trophies often delighted my eyes in subsequent years,――two large, -square, white flint-glass bottles, which he captured with a Hessian -surgeon's horse, and gave the wine to the wounded. - -His wife was Elizabeth, the daughter of Rev. Jonathan Lee, the first -minister of Salisbury, Conn.; she was descended from Gov. Bradford of -Plymouth; she died in 1830, aged 82. Of their 12 children the writer -of this is the only survivor.――On the death of his eldest daughter, -Mrs. White in London, he went to England in 1799 in order to bring his -little grand-child to his house: in London he became acquainted with -the eminent ministers Newton, Haweis, Rowland Hill, and Bogue, and -from them caught a pious zeal for the promotion of foreign missions. -He published sermons on the death of his daughter, E. White, 1798; of -Moses Allen, 1801; of his son Thomas, 1806; Massachusetts election -sermon, 1808. - - -_Sonnet 41._ The sublime passage of scripture, which is here versified, -may admonish us, that we are travelling rapidly to the end of time in -respect to its being our period of probation for eternity. It is the -solemn voice of the Gospel,――"Behold, now is the accepted time! Behold, -now is the day of salvation!" - - -_Sonnet 42._ Paul teaches us, that "the wrath of God is revealed -from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men," and -that "the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are -clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his -eternal power and Godhead." All men therefore, whose "foolish heart is -darkened," are "without excuse." - - -_Sonnet 43._ In the words of Spenser,―― - - "Ah! wretched World! the den of wickedness, - Deform'd with filth and foul iniquity; - Ah! wretched World! the house of heaviness, - Fill'd with the wrecks of mortal misery; - Ah! wretched World! and all that is therein, - The vassals of God's wrath and slaves of sin." - - -_Sonnet 44._ My eldest daughter, Maria Malleville Allen, died Jan. 30, -1833, aged 17. Through God's great goodness this is the only instance -of death, which has occurred among my children; and through his grace -and infinite mercy she died in the hope of immortal life in heaven -through the mediation of her Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. What -greater blessing can I supplicate for all my descendants, than that God -will give them at the hour of their death her Christian faith and hope? - - -_Sonnet 47._ On a church-yard Mr. Wordsworth has the following lines:―― - - "Encincture small, - But infinite its grasp of joy and woe! - Hopes, fears, in never-ending ebb and flow―― - The spousal trembling――and the "dust to dust"―― - The prayers――the contrite struggle――and the trust, - That to the Almighty Father looks through all!" - - -_Sonnet 49._ Even Beattie addresses Nature as follows;―― - - "O Nature, how in every charm supreme! - Whose votaries feast on raptures ever new! - O for the voice and fire of seraphim - To sing thy glories with devotion due!" - - -_Sonnet 50._ As it is a year since this sonnet was written, my present -very ill state of health teaches me and may teach others, that a -recovery from illness, though most gratefully to be acknowledged, may -be a transient blessing. While I was sick, others have fallen around -me. Living or dying, it is my prayer, that I may acquiesce in God's -will, and that I may participate with all penitent believers in the -salvation purchased by the blood of his Son. - - -_Sonnet 51._ One all-important method of God's communicating good to -man is described by Milton; - - "God hath now sent his living oracle - Into the world to teach his final will, - And sends his Spirit of Truth henceforth to dwell - In pious hearts an inward oracle - To all truth requisite for men to know." - - -_Sonnet 52._ Our class, which graduated at Harvard college in 1802, was -larger than any previous class,――consisting of 60 members, an unusual -number of whom became men of distinction, and one quarter part of whom -after 57 years are still living. To my esteemed surviving Brothers -I bid farewell, wishing them faith in the Son of God, who is "the -resurrection and the life." - - -_Sonnet 53._ From a Sonnet by Montgomery, on Nature praising God: - - "The fountain purling, and the river strong, - The rocks, the trees, the mountains raise one song; - "Glory to God!" re-echoes in mine ear:―― - Faithless were I, in willful error blind, - Did I not Him in all his creatures find, - His voice through heav'n, and earth, and ocean hear." - - -_Sonnet 56._ The Compact, entered into by the Pilgrims, was signed on -board the Mayflower Nov. 11, 1620; on which day they anchored in Cape -Cod harbor. More than a month afterwards they landed at Plymouth. They -had in view "the glory of God and the advancement of the christian -faith." Forty-one men signed the paper, forming themselves into "a -civil body-politic," in order to enact, constitute, and frame "just and -equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices." - - -_Sonnet 57._ When Jesus said, John 10, "I and my Father are one," -the Jews accused him of blasphemy, for making himself "God." He -replied, "If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and -the scripture cannot be broken; say ye of him whom the Father hath -sanctified and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest, because I said, I -am the Son of God?" - - -_Sonnet 58._ In the providence of God I am the oldest living member in -Massachusetts of the American Board for Foreign Missions, which was -established by a vote of its General Association in 1810, the year of -my settlement in the ministry. Multitudes of missionaries have died; -and the missionaries living, scattered over the world, are 170 with 230 -assistants: native laborers are 500, of whom 222 are preachers: in all -900. The churches 153, and members 23,500; free schools 313. - - -_Sonnet 59._ Milton, in a sonnet, speaks of submission to God in his -blindness, when of three years' continuance:―― - - "Yet I argue not - Against Heav'n's hand or will, nor bate a jot - Of heart or hope; but still bear up and steer - Right onward." - - -_Sonnet 62._ Mr. Robinson, born in England in 1585 and educated at -Cambridge, becoming a protestant minister, was driven by persecution -with his people into Holland. His church at Leyden consisted of 300 -communicants. He zealously promoted the emigration under elder Brewster -to Plymouth in 1620, intending to follow; but he died in 1625. It was -his memorable remark――"I am very confident the Lord has more truth yet -to break forth out of his holy word." - - -_Sonnet 64._ When Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life," -he announced to us the infinite value of truth as the path-way to -immortal life. Truth is immutable and eternal; it is most pure and -purifying, the source of joy and the foundation of hope; and the denial -of truth is more or less perilous and implies more or less of guilt. -All falsehood is injurious. As the Bible reveals to us divine truth, -how can we doubt, whether we are bound to study it with our own eyes? -For otherwise we must accept for the teachings of the holy word the -faith of some one of the authors of a hundred different creeds; and we -may perchance have for our great teacher and master some bewildered -lunatic, or some hungry impostor, or some proud and boastful promoter -of the purposes of the father of lies. - -The catholic may use the term _mystery_ as a cover for absurdity and -contempt of reason, or in support of a contradiction, and as an excuse -for idolatry; but surely God's Bible contains nothing but truth, and -that revealed in a manner adapted to the human understanding. But -what says archbishop Fenelon in defending transubstantiation or the -imagined change of the bread in the sacrament into the body of Christ? -He says of the doctrine――"in believing its mysteries one immolates -his ideas [or sacrifices his common sense] out of respect to eternal -truth." Thus his blunder, his misunderstanding of Christ's words, "this -is my body," he represents as "eternal truth." So Bourdaloue says――"I -make to God a sacrifice of the most noble part of myself, which is my -reason:" and he professes to believe a mystery "although it seems to be -directly repugnant to my reason;"――or one "which shocks reason itself -and contradicts all its lights," referring to the received doctrine -concerning God's nature. Massillon thinks it is "necessary to believe -certain apparent contradictions:" he says, "it is faith and not reason, -which makes us Christians." All this in my view is a pernicious error: -for _reason_ is the intellectual power, which discerns truth. God -himself is perfect reason, pure intellect, infinite understanding. -To him the universe is all light. But our reason is restricted: man -may grow in knowledge forever; yet he never will know an absurdity or -contradiction to be true. To us one great source of truth is God's -testimony or revelation. _Faith_ is the belief of God's testimony. As -to the word _mystery_, the common meaning of it in scripture, is not -something unintelligible, but a _doctrine, once hidden or secret, which -is now revealed and intelligible_. Thus in teaching the resurrection -Paul says, "Behold, I _shew_ you a mystery; we shall not all sleep," -&c. 1 Cor. 15:51. See also Rom. 16:25. - -It is clear beyond a question, that there cannot be two contradictory -truths; for truth is one; it is but an expression of the reality of -things. But some metaphysicians have lent their aid to the catholic -theologians by asserting that, there are contradictory truths in -philosophy; but the instances adduced are all fallacious, as Achilles -walking 20 times as fast as the turtle, but never able to overtake him. - -A lately deceased philosopher of Scotland, Sir W. Hamilton, seems -to concur in the catholic notion of the contradiction of faith and -reason. He lays down a certain new, strange, unproved, incredible -principle, called "the law of the conditioned," that "the conceivable -always lies between two contradictory extremes;" and then concludes -as "the one true and only orthodox inference" that we must believe -in the infinity of God, which by us cannot be comprehended or -conceived. "Faith,――Belief,――is the organ, by which we apprehend -what is beyond our knowledge." But how can this be correct? When we -exercise _faith_ in God's testimony,――when we exercise _belief_ in -his word,――when we receive the very truth, which he presents to our -understanding or reason and brings to our knowledge,――do we not _know_ -it? Do we thus apprehend any thing "beyond our knowledge?" When Christ -prayed――"sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth;"――did he -not refer to truth _known_? What God reveals must be revealed to our -belief, to our reason. Although we pretend not to comprehend perfectly -the attributes and ways of the infinite God; yet what he has disclosed -we may know; and we may know the meaning of right and wrong, of truth -and falsehood, of faith and unbelief, of reason and contradiction or -absurdity. It cannot then be a right inference――if the author had such -a meaning――that any doctrine concerning the nature of God may be true, -although not _conceivable_, because God is _infinite_. - -God's scheme of mercy towards sinful man is accomplished by the -wide-spread power and triumphs of Truth. But what are the Truths, -that bear intimately on human welfare? Surely it is not a matter of -indifference what is received for truth; men are not safe, because -they think they are so. No bigoted despotism; no boasted liberalism; -no banded relationships of interest or honor; no infidel companionship -or self-applauses can convert error into truth or render it harmless. -Whatever monstrous or astounding notions, whatever wild, fanatical, -profligate, misleading doctrine may be sent forth, no glozing words can -render it otherwise, than that error and falsehood are God's abhorrence -and a delusion of the devil. - -As I have in other notes dwelt upon the character and offices of the -Son of God, the Mediator and Redeemer, I desire now to advert to the -all-important divine teaching concerning God's Spirit, grace, and power -in renewing and sanctifying the depraved and lost soul of man. "God -hath mercy on whom he will have mercy." Rom. 9th. Christ taught, John -3d, the necessity of being "born of the Spirit" in order to salvation. -John the Baptist predicted of Christ, that he should baptize men "with -the Holy Spirit;" and thus his coming was signalized by "the Spirit -like a dove descending upon him," and God's voice from heaven said, -"Thou art my beloved Son." All the powers therefore, prophetical, -miraculous, renovating, and sanctifying, implied in the full endowment -of the Holy Spirit, were possessed by Christ. - -The primitive meaning of the word Spirit is air or breath. Some of its -meanings in scripture are wind; the living soul in man and animals; -the mind, or man's intelligent part and also its various faculties and -powers; an intelligent spirit, simple, superior to man's, not allied -to matter; it is applied to angels good and evil; and also to God, -as we read, "God is a spirit." It means also the divine power, given -to Christ, by which he wrought miracles and fulfilled God's purposes -on the earth, as Matt. 12:28, "if I cast out devils by the spirit of -God," compared with Luke 11:20, "if I with the finger of God cast out -devils." In the same sense is "holy spirit," with which Jesus was -filled used, Luke 4:1.――"The holy spirit" and "spirit" alone relating -to the same matter are found in Mark 12:36, and Matt. 22:43: "doth -David _in spirit_ call him Lord;" that is, David was under divine -_inspiration_ is the one meaning of the two expressions. - -In our inquiry concerning the import of the phrase, "the holy spirit," -in scripture it may be of some consequence to bear in mind, that there -is one peculiarity in our English Bible, which distinguishes it from -other modern European translations; that while the Greek testament -has but one word for Spirit, which is translated by one word,――in -German by Geist, in Dutch by Geest, in French by Esprit,――the same is -rendered by our translators into English by two words at their option, -namely, _Spirit_ and _Ghost_. And in what cases did they choose the -latter word? It would seem that they translated by Holy Ghost and not -by holy spirit whenever they supposed the phrase had reference to -an intelligent, divine Being and not to a gift, endowment, or power -received from God. Thus it is, that the phrase has got an established -meaning; which shows indeed the judgment of our old translators 250 -years ago, but proves nothing as to the true meaning. It might then -be well, if the old word Ghost were laid aside. Indeed they have not -chosen to say, Gala. 4:6, "the Ghost of his Son," nor in v. 27, "born -after the Ghost," but have used the word "Spirit." If one should take -up his New Testament and read in English in Matthew's first chapter -concerning Mary,――"she was found with child of the _Holy Ghost_," and -then again, "that which is conceived of her is of the _Holy Ghost_," -he would be likely to attach a meaning to the scripture, which he -reads, different from the truth. For as the Testament was written in -Greek, we may learn from that language, the translation should not -have been "the Holy Ghost," and not even "_the_ Holy Spirit," but "_a_ -holy spirit," for here the word for spirit has no article before it in -the Greek, as would be requisite if "_the_ Spirit" were meant; and the -meaning is, as learned critics have showed, simply, "a divine energy -or power." Just so in Mark 1:8 and Luke 1:35, the same Greek phrase -has no article; and the apostles do not allude to a great personage -or supposed well known, mighty Being, called "_the_ Holy Ghost," but -refer only to God's miraculous power in respect to the birth of Christ. -The verse in Luke 1, proves this――"a holy spirit shall come upon thee -and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee,"――both phrases -referring to the same energy of almighty God. - -The English translators, although they have employed the phrase, "the -Holy Ghost" about 90 times in scripture, have not once in the Old -Testament, although they have three times there used "the holy spirit" -relating to God's gift, or endowment, or power bestowed: Ps. 51:1. -Isa. 63:10, 11. The same phrase, meaning God's gift to believers, is -in the New Testament: Luke 11:13. Eph. 1:13-4:30. 1st Thess. 4:8. God -gave "his spirit without measure" to Christ; John 3:34; and he also -gave "the spirit of his Son," "the holy spirit," to believers: Gal. -4:6. The "gifts of the Holy Ghost," in Heb. 2:4, should have been, -"distributions of _a_ holy spirit or divine power;" for the phrase has -no article in the Greek, so that the verse might properly read, "God -bearing them witness both with signs, and wonders, and with divers -miracles, and distributions of a divine power." In like manner there -is no article in Acts 11:16, and 24, and other passages, translated -"the Holy Ghost." The meaning is plain, v. 24, "a good man, and full -of a divine power and of faith,"――Yet for the purpose of emphasis the -article is often used. - -The importance of the doctrine concerning the spirit or the holy spirit -in the gospel scheme, importing God's holy influence on the soul, is -evident by the injunction of Christ as to baptism in the faith of it: -"teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of -the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, &c." - -Matt. 28:19, does not indeed present a form of words to be used, -nor does it relate to the authority, by which baptism is to be -administered, for the Greek preposition is not _en_, "_in_ the name," -but _eis_, _into_; which is the same as "to baptize _into_ Christ," -Rom. 6:3, i.e. into a profession of faith in Christ, as taught by -bishop Pearce. That he had himself all authority was first asserted by -Christ; then he enjoined baptism under a profession of belief in the -three great points of his teaching,――as to the one God of Israel,――as -to himself, God's Son from heaven,――and as to the Spirit, which "God -gave to him without measure,"――giving it also to his disciples,――making -him indeed the great teacher and Savior of the world. He finally -commanded his apostles, not only thus to baptize, but also to teach -all nations to observe whatever he had enjoined. A passage of similar -import is at the close of II Corinth., where Paul wishes his brethren -may experience the grace of Christ, and the love of God, and might -have a common participation of the holy spirit, of the miraculous and -sanctifying divine power. - -It is worthy of remark, that while Paul begins each of his Epistles, -written to brethren of very different nations on the earth, with -asserting, that his authority as an apostle was derived from God and -from his Son, or with wishing his brethren grace, mercy and peace from -God the Father, and from his Son, by whom he created, and governs, and -will judge the world; yet he never in this manner connects "the holy -spirit" with the name of God and of his Son our Lord Jesus Christ: no -prayer is thus addressed to a holy spirit or to the holy spirit, or -Holy Ghost, although we find the translation "the Holy Ghost," nearly -100 times. This is called a gift of God, and God is prayed to for it; -and it is declared, that God anointed Jesus with the holy spirit, that -is, with the wonderful powers expressed by the phrase. A multitude -of passages speak of the Spirit as a divine power and a divine gift: -the following are some of the expressions used――"the Spirit of your -Father;"――"the Spirit of God;"――"God hath sent forth the Spirit of his -Son into your hearts;"――"how much more shall your heavenly Father give -the Holy Spirit to them that ask him;"――"he shall give you another -Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;"――"renewing of the Holy -Ghost (or of a holy spirit or the divine power) which he shed on us -abundantly;"――"how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost -and with power;"――"upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending -and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy -Ghost: John 1:33." Therefore one plain meaning of the holy spirit is -a miraculous and wonderful power, communicated by God from heaven -to Jesus Christ when he appeared on the earth in the form of a man, -designating him to be the promised Messiah. - - -Concerning the Holy Spirit the creed of the ancient Council of Nice, -A. D. 325, says nothing except "we believe in the Holy Spirit." Of -Christ it declares, that he was "the Son of God, the only begotten -of the Father, God of God,――begotten, not made, &c." Soon after that -council a learned father, _Eunomius_, who was made bishop of Cyzicum -A. D. 360, advanced the doctrine, that after God had created his Son -before the universe was formed, giving him divine dignity and creative -power, he next created the Holy Spirit, the first and greatest of all -spirits, by his own power indeed but by the immediate agency also -of his Son, giving him power to sanctify and teach. Afterwards he -created all things in heaven and earth. More modern creeds, which adopt -much the same faith with Eunomius, use the word "proceed" instead of -"create," as the New England Confession of Faith of 1680, which says, -"the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son." But -Milton, in his learned Treatise on the Christian doctrine, has shewn -that "proceedeth" in John 15:26, relates to the mission,――the sending -from God to the earth, not to the nature, of the Spirit: yet his own -faith was, that "the Holy Spirit, inasmuch as he is a minister of God, -and therefore a creature, was created or produced of the substance of -God, not by a natural necessity, but by the free will of the agent, -probably before the foundations of the world were laid, but later than -the Son, and far inferior to him." Dr. Samuel Clarke of England has -taught the same doctrine.――But the reader is requested to form his -opinion on the chief subject of this note, not from any human creed or -learned man's teaching, but from his own study of the Bible with his -own endowment of reason. The practical application of the doctrine of -the Holy Spirit has claims to our earnest attention. - -In the judgment of Dr. Cotton Mather it is through the Spirit of God, -that Christians find such affections as the following working in their -minds:――a flaming love towards God and men; a lively faith in God and -in the Savior, the Mediator; a longing desire and hope of spiritual -blessings; a mighty hatred of sin; a bitter sorrow for sin and its -miseries; a noble courage; a total despair of help in creatures; a fear -of the judgments of wickedness; a triumphant joy in God and in his -Christ; a rapturous admiration of the Maker and Ruler of the world and -of his glories. "All true piety," he says, "is begun by the enkindling -of these affections in the soul:" and the Spirit, enkindling them, -should be sought from God in the constancy of prayer. - - -_Sonnet 68._ The monument to the pilgrim forefathers, whose corner -was laid Aug. 2d, is designed to consist of a pedestal 80 feet high, -supporting a colossal female figure of Faith; her feet rest on Plymouth -rock, her left hand is to hold an open Bible, and her right points to -heaven. On the pedestal are to be Morality, Education, Law, and Liberty. - - -_Sonnet 72._ Since this sonnet has passed through the press, I have -been glad to read a description of Donati's comet and to see a -telescopic view of it in the Family Christian Almanac for 1860. The -comet is named after Donati, the discoverer, who first saw it at -Florence, June 2, 1858. It was seen several months in great splendor -in our country until about Oct. 20th, when it disappeared. When first -observed, it was 200 millions of miles distant from the sun. Its curved -train extended 60 degrees or 51 millions of miles. When nearest the -earth it was 52 millions of miles distant, moving at the rate of 123 -thousand miles an hour. Its greatest distance from the sun is supposed -to be 143 thousand millions of miles; and astronomers have calculated -its period of revolution at nearly 2,000 years, so that its last -previous visit to the earth was before the Christian era. Yet from the -extreme point of its journey to the nearest fixed star who can measure -the distance? Who will not say, "Great and marvellous are thy works, -Lord God Almighty?" - -It is worthy of remark, that in respect to the inhabitants of the -various worlds, with which our skies are filled, the revealed word -of God, communicated to man upon the earth, gives us no information. -If beyond a doubt the sun, the moon, the stars, and the comets are -inhabited by intelligent beings; yet of what rank and in what condition -we know nothing. But as we are taught, that there is a world of "fire," -prepared "for the devil and his angels," it may be that comets are the -destined abodes of the wicked and lost. - - -_Sonnet 73._ It is a false and pernicious charity, of which some men -boast, that for no crime would they touch the life of man. But God is -smiting every day the life of guilty man by a thousand diseases; and -in his revealed word he has commanded, that the murderer shall be put -to death in the administration of public law. In this way not only the -divine justice but the divine wisdom is manifested by this protecting -shield of terror spread over man's life. - - -_Sonnet 77._ The name of John Hooper will ever be held in the -highest honor in England. Born in 1495, and educated at Oxford, he -was appointed bishop of Gloucester; but was a martyr to the truth -under the popish reign of queen Mary in 1555 at the age of 60. With -most wonderful fortitude he endured the flames at the stake for -three-quarters of an hour. - - -_Sonnet 78._ To an old man the recollection of a youthful brother -preacher in the far-back period of fifty or more years, who still -preaches the gospel, is replete with interest. It is attended with the -memory of men, who at that period were the fathers in the ministry,――as -Rogers, Livingston, Mason, and Miller of New York; Dwight of New Haven; -and S. Spring, Morse, Eckley, and Griffin of Massachusetts. - - -_Sonnet 80._ The leading truth of the gospel, dear to my heart since I -first began to preach it 56 years ago, is that Jesus Christ was the Son -of God, by whom God made the worlds, and who came down from heaven and -in human flesh was himself the sufferer on the cross for the sins of -men. I use language as men of reason should use it. I dare not, on the -peril of my soul, explain it away by saying, that the Son of God from -heaven united himself to another spirit or intelligent being, which -latter spirit or mind bore the suffering, ascribed to the Son from -heaven. That Christ had two spirits is the teaching of human theory but -not of divine scripture. - -Every man is conscious, that he is one,――one existence, one intelligent -being, one human being, or an intellect or mind now dwelling in a human -body; and he acknowledges every other man to be a similar being. He -also regards every angel, that comes to his knowledge by revelation, -as one being. God, the Creator of the universe, we view necessarily as -one being. The idea of a duplicate intellectual being is beyond our -thought; it is inconceivable, an absurdity, a contradiction. Jesus -Christ then was either man or the one Son of God in the form of a man. - -That there is "one God and one Mediator between God and men, the man -Christ Jesus" is Paul's teaching. The reason of calling Christ _man_ -is, that "God sent his son in the _likeness_ of sinful flesh," Rom. -8:3. The Son's intelligent spirit was enough to be the tenant of one -human body without a co-tenancy with a human spirit, and enough to -suffer for the sins of the world. - -When Paul speaks of Christ as being once "in the form of God," he did -not mean, that he was God himself, in whose form or likeness he was, -Phil. 2:6. Then in the next verses, by his being "in the form of a -servant," "in the likeness of men," "in fashion as a man," he could not -mean, that Christ was a real, perfect man. But did he first live in -heaven, and thence come to the earth to tabernacle in human flesh and -to offer himself as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of the race of -men? - -In the first chapter of John's gospel we are taught, that Christ or the -Son of God, called the Word, existed in the beginning with God and that -all things were made by him. At the very commencement of all created -existences in the universe, he existed with God, and by him all created -things in the universe were created. Here then was a high and glorious -dignity in heaven, the Son of God, before he dwelt in human flesh. - -In the third chapter of John we read, that Christ said to -Nicodemus,――"If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not; -how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man -hath ascended up to heaven, but he, that came down from heaven, even -the Son of Man, which is in heaven." The express contrast of the -words――"ascended up to heaven, came down from heaven," seems to fix -the meaning beyond any possible doubt.――In the 6th chapter of John -Christ said, as we read, "I came down from heaven, not to do mine -own will, but the will of him, that sent me."――"Moses gave you not -that bread from heaven, but my Father giveth you the true bread from -heaven. For the bread of God is he, which cometh from heaven, and -giveth life unto the world." When the Jews murmured at his discourse, -because he said, "I am the bread, which came down from heaven," Jesus -repeated his plain teaching――"I am the living bread, which came down -from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: -and the bread, that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for -the life of the world." That is, he who came down from God in heaven -would give his flesh, his human body to the agonies of crucifixion for -the salvation of men. Many of his disciples said, "this is an hard -saying: who can hear it?" What was the reply of Christ? It was this: -"does this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of Man ascend -up where he was before?" In the 16th chapter of John we read Christ's -words――"The Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and -have believed, that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father -and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the -Father." Here again the contrast of expressions shows the meaning of -the phrase, "I am come into the world." I will adduce only one other -passage:――In Ephesians 4th we read――"Now that he ascended, what is it -but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?" -"He that descended is the same also, that ascended up far above all -heavens, that he might fill all things." I think it thus most clearly -and amply established in scripture, that the Lamb of God came down to -the earth from the presence of God and laying aside his high dignity -dwelt in a human body, as a man dwells in a body, and died in agony on -the cross. There may be various high inquiries, which may here spring -up. But surely no theory can be true, which contradicts and overthrows -the divine teaching. No scheme of theology can be true, which denies, -that he, who came down from heaven, could die and did die as a lamb of -sacrifice to God for the sins of the world,――for this is a denial of -the great doctrine of the atonement, and thus withers up all the hopes -of sinful men. Who can prove, that God could not have a Son derived -from Him before time began, by whom he created the universe, and who in -his most amazing love to us abased himself to man's condition and died -in our stead on this little globe of his own creation? If we find in -the Bible any plain, intelligible teaching of God, will it do to set -up our reason against the teaching of Him, who is infinite reason and -infinite wisdom? - -If any truth is plain in the Bible, is it not that Jesus Christ, the -Son of God, in human flesh or in fashion as a man by his sufferings -on the cross _made_ atonement for the sins of the world? Paul says, -Rom. 5:11;――"We joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we -have received the atonement; and that God hath translated us into the -kingdom of his dear Son, in whom we have redemption through his blood, -even the forgiveness of sins: who is the image of the invisible God:" -Coloss. 1:13.――Peter says, that his brethren were "redeemed with the -precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without -spot." Other expressions are these, Christ "after he had offered one -sacrifice for sins forever, [that is, for perpetuity,] sat down on -the right hand of God:" Heb. 10:12, "Whom God hath set forth to be a -propitiation through faith in his blood:" Rom. 3:25, "Unto him, that -loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood:" Rev. 1:5.――That -the Son of God, who came down from heaven, was himself a sufferer and -sacrifice on the cross for our sins is every where taught in scripture. -Without believing this how can we regard Christ as a Redeemer and -Savior? - - -_Sonnet 81._ In order that revealed truths may beam upon the mind -of man and produce their proper effect it is necessary, that God's -revelation be understood and not misapprehended. If two men attach a -different and contradictory meaning to the same passage of scripture, -one of them is in error and fault; and if the error relates to the -character of God and to some very important doctrine, it may be -perilous. - -For instance, two of our theologians have taught a contradictory -doctrine, drawn as they thought from scripture, as follows; Jonathan -Edwards maintained, that sin was "not the fruit of any positive agency -or influence of the Most High;"――"it would be a reproach and blasphemy -to suppose God to be the author of sin" in the sense of the agent, -actor, or doer of a wicked thing. But Dr. Emmons maintained, that God -"produced all the free, voluntary, moral exercises" of man; that God -"creates evil when and where the good of the universe requires;" that -"Satan placed certain motives before man's mind, which by a certain -divine energy took hold of his heart and led him into sin." This -teaching seems blasphemous, and contradictory to all notions of free, -voluntary agency, as well as to the tenor of scripture. He relies for -scripture proof on Exodus 4:21, where God says in respect to Pharaoh, -"I will harden his heart." But this, rightly understood, is only a -prediction of a certain event, that Pharaoh would harden his own heart -as it is declared he did in ch. 9:34. So in respect to other quoted -passages, it might be shown, that they were misunderstood and perverted -from their proper meaning. We all know by common sense, by reason, and -conscience, that we are free agents; therefore justly accountable to a -holy, sin-hating God. But if God made, created, produced all our wicked -volitions and acts; how can we regard him as just in punishing us for -the very acts, which he produced? And what can such passages as James -1:13, mean, "God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any -man?" - - -_Sonnet 82._ The following seem to be clear and prominent points of -instruction in the divine Word. - -1. There is ONE GOD, eternal, infinite, all-wise, perfect in goodness, -the creator of the universe. Hence all the gods and idols of the -heathen are vanity and a lie.――"There is one God the Father of all, who -is above all, and through all, and in you all." Ephes. 2:5.――"The Lord -our God is one Lord."――"God is one."――"One God and one Mediator." Mark -12:29. Galatians 3:20. I Tim. 2:5. Thus throughout the whole scripture -the unity of God is asserted or implied. The name of God occurs 500 -or 600 times in the Bible. "God is one;" one conscious, intelligent -being and voluntary agent. No man in the exercise of his reason has any -doubts as to his own oneness, or as to the oneness of any brother man -or of any angel, of whom he may think or speak. If I am conscious, that -I am a single intellectual being, and necessarily regard every other -man as such; then it cannot enter my thoughts, that the one God is a -compound being. - -2. God has a SON in heaven, by whom he made the worlds, and whom he -sent from heaven to earth, to tabernacle for a while in human flesh, -voluntarily abased in his powers to the condition of a man, to be a -Mediator and Savior. In John, chapter 1, Jesus Christ is called "the -Son of God," "the only-begotten of the Father," "the Lamb of God," who -was "in the beginning with God," and "by whom all things were made." - -3. That the Son of God is a being distinct from God is most obvious -from the whole New Testament. In Phil. I, Paul prays for grace and -peace "from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ." He adds, "I -thank my God upon every remembrance of you." So throughout his epistle -God and Jesus Christ are most plainly distinct beings. He says, that -Christ condescended to come in fashion "as a man," on which account God -highly exalted him: here are two beings: and Christ will be extolled -at last to "the glory of God the Father."――He "worshipped God in the -spirit and rejoiced in Christ Jesus."――Here are again two beings. Near -the close of the epistle he says――"my God shall supply all your need -according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." How strange to Paul -must have been the doctrine, that Christ was one of several beings -making up one God? - -But the same distinction is clearly and fully set forth by Paul in -all his other epistles as well as in that to the Philippians. He -begins most of them with a prayer like that in the epistle to the -Romans,――"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord -Jesus Christ." Then he "thanks God through Jesus Christ for them all;" -the God, whom he serves "in the gospel of his Son." Read also,――"the -righteousness of God by faith of Jesus Christ;"――"we have peace with -God through our Lord Jesus Christ;"――"we were reconciled to God by the -death of his Son;"――"the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus -Christ our Lord;"――nothing can "separate us from the love of God which -is in Christ Jesus our Lord;"――Paul prays, that his brethren may -"glorify God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ;"――and after more -of similar language he ends this epistle,――"To God only wise be glory -through Jesus Christ forever. Amen." - -If it be asked, in what sense is Christ God's "_Son_, whom he hath -appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds?" I -answer, the word doubtless means, that he was derived from God, that -he sprung from God, that he received his being from God before the -creation of the universe. He is called God's "first-begotten" and -"only-begotten." It is unnecessary and may be useless for us to enter -into any inquiries and discussions concerning hypostasis, person, -nature, being, essence, substance, and other logical and metaphysical -terms employed by theologians, which do not afford a particle of light; -but we must believe, that Christ was derived from God and possesses -the very attributes and endured the sufferings, ascribed to him in -the scriptures. If we ascribe to him a nature not ascribed to him in -the Bible, one incapable of suffering, and then deny the sufferings, -which are ascribed to him; what do we but contradict the word of God -and reject the doctrine of the Atonement by the sufferings of Christ, -which is the foundation of the sinner's hope? If a learned doctor -should assert, that if Christ was the agent of God in the creation of -the universe, and is his agent in its government, then he could not be -derived from God; the learned man puts forth only the words of folly. -As derived from God, why might not the Son be as much superior to the -highest angel, as man is superior in knowledge and powers to the beetle -under our foot? Why could he not derive from God and exercise under God -the powers of creation? - -"He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every -creature; for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and -that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or -dominions, or principalities or powers: all things were created by him -and for him:"――"it pleased the father, that in him should all fullness -dwell." Col. 1:15, 16. So in Heb. 1:3, Christ is called "the express -image of God's person;" where the Greek word, translated person, means -nature, essence, or being, and the assertion is, that Christ is "a -clear and strong image of the essence or nature of the divine majesty." -It may be, that for this reason the title of god is given to him; and -with very obvious propriety may we ascribe to him divinity or call him -a divine being, without contending for the impossibility that he is -the very being, whose image he is, or that his own is the very nature, -person, hypostasis, or substance, of which he stands the express -character. - -According to our English Bible the Son of God under the name of the -Word seems to be called God by the apostle John, ch. 1, v. 1. But it -was not the purpose of John to represent the Word as the infinite, -supreme, almighty God. ORIGEN, who wrote in Greek, in the third -century, and understood the language better than any modern critic, -says, that John's assertion is that, "the _logos_, or word, was _a -god_," using the word god in its inferior, well-known sense, as is -proved by his omission of the article. If he had inserted the article, -he would have said, that "the logos was _the_ God, the supreme God, -Jehovah." The plain teaching is, there is one God. With him was the -_logos_ in the beginning, an exalted, glorious being; a second, -inferior God; a being derived from God; and in this sense a divine -being.――Besides Origen, Philo and several other fathers of the three -first centuries speak of John's omission of the article here as a proof -that by the word god he did not mean the Supreme God. Consider also, -that if the logos existed "_with_ God," then he was not the very God, -with whom he existed.――On the other hand, it is a matter of no weight -that when the supreme God is meant, yet the article is often omitted; -for it is an established principle that it may be omitted when the -name of God is sufficiently definite without it. In John 1:6,――"a man -sent from God:" here is an omission of it as unnecessary. So v. 12, -13, 18. Origen again says,――"Angels are called gods because they are -divine; but we are not commanded to worship them in the place of God, -and hence they are not really gods." He says, the article is withheld, -when what is called god is a being different "from the self-existent -God, having a communicated divinity, being a divine person." Such also -was the opinion of Clemens Alexandrinus and Eusebius; and they were -men more competent to decide a matter concerning the construction of -the Greek language than any modern critic.――In several of the first -centuries it was the judgment of such Fathers as Justin, Athenagoras, -Tatian, Theophilus, Clemens, Origen, &c., that the word god as applied -to Christ denoted a celestial nature, superior to all creatures, but -inferior to the Supreme God. But the authority of Christ himself -is more decisive,――"My Father is greater than I:" and the whole of -scripture shows, that the one perfect God and his Son are two distinct -intelligent Beings. As the word in Greek, Acts 28:6, has no article -our translators have very properly said "a god." If any one will -look at 2 Thess. 2:4, he will see, that the word God occurs four -times and undistinguished in the English Testament, but in the Greek -the word for God appears once――"in the temple of God"――_with_ the -article, showing that the true Supreme God is meant,――and three times -_without_ the article, showing, that the word is used in an inferior -sense, that a false god was intended. Dr. Macknight's translation is -as follows,――"above every one, who is called _a god_ or an object of -worship. So that he, in the temple of GOD, as _a god_ sitteth, openly -shewing himself, that he is _a god_." It is thus, that the Word in John -1st is called a god, and not God the Supreme, the Almighty Jehovah. - -When _Tatian_, about A. D. 165 speaks of "a god, who was born in the -form of man" and of "the suffering God," he certainly did not mean, -that Christ was the Supreme God, incapable of suffering. It was the -doctrine of Apollinaris, two hundred years later, that Christ assumed -a human body with a sentient soul like that of the inferior animals, -but not assuming an intelligent or rational human spirit. He could -see no reason why Christ should have two intelligent natures and two -free wills. In his judgment the Son of God, who came down from heaven, -was the only rational tenant of his human body, and the only rational -sufferer on the cross, making a real atonement for sin. For scriptural -proof he rested on John 1:14, "the Word was made flesh." His doctrine -was doubtless this,――that the Son of God in his high spiritual nature, -in which he came down from heaven in order to suffer, was the real -sufferer on the cross: not that he was God incapable of suffering, and -incapable of making any atonement. - -On the distinction between Almighty God and his Son, derived from -him before the creation, the Creed of the Church of England is very -explicit:――"I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven -and earth, and of all things visible and invisible: and in one Lord -Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father -before all worlds, &c."――"Who for us men and for our salvation came -down from heaven, &c." - -The doctrine of the New England Synod at Boston in 1680 was the same: -"The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is -eternally begotten of the Father." If many of our American theologians -at the present day reject the doctrine of the derivation of the Son -from God, they are not responsible to the Synod's Confession or Creed, -but certainly they are to holy Scripture and to Reason. - - -_Sonnet 84._ In a sonnet Milton speaks of the popish massacre in -Piedmont: - - "Their moans - The vales redoubled to the hills, and they - To Heav'n. Their martyr'd blood and ashes sow - O'er all th' Italian fields, where still doth sway - The triple tyrant; that from these may grow - A hundred fold, who having learned the way - Early may fly the Babylonian woe." - - -_Sonnet 86._ Occom was a distinguished Indian preacher, the first who -visited England. Born at Mohegan near Norwich, Conn., he was educated 4 -years in Wheelock's Indian School at Lebanon, and was himself a school -teacher of the Montauk Indians 10 or 12 years. In 1759, at the age -of 36, he was ordained by a presbytery. He preached in Great Britain -in 1766, 1767, and 1768, between 300 and 400 sermons, employed by -Mr. Wheelock. For the remaining 24 years of his life he continued to -preach; and he died at New Stockbridge, near Utica, in July 1792, aged -69. The author has prepared for the press a Memoir of Occom, drawn from -the papers of Dr. Wheelock which are in his hands and from Occom's own -manuscript journals. - - -_Sonnet 93._ As an old medal had on it for a device a bullock -standing between a plough and an altar, with the inscription, _Ready -for Either_, the device was thought very appropriate to express the -disposition of the true Christian missionary, ready for toil and ready -also to be a sacrifice, if called to die in his master's service, "not -holding his life dear unto himself." - - -_Sonnet 96._ Sickness prevented me from visiting my nephew and meeting -with his guests on an interesting occasion. The old house, the home -of my childhood and my dwelling for seven years of my ministry,――the -house built by my father, the first minister of Pittsfield, in the -wilderness,――was superseded by an elegant mansion, built by his -grandson bearing his own name, Thomas Allen. The event was commemorated -by a select and happy company of aged men. - - -_Sonnet 98._ I first visited Niagara Falls 56 years ago. Having just -been licensed by the ministers of Berkshire county to preach the -gospel, I mounted my horse in Aug. 1804 and rode out more than 400 -miles through the western wilderness of New York as far as Lake Erie -and Niagara river, preaching in various places to little assemblies -in log cabins. Buffalo, now a great city, was then a village of 19 -houses. Three miles below there was the ferry at Black Rock; and -there I saw the famous Indian chief, Red Jacket, attending his little -grand-daughter as from a rock she threw her hook into the great stream. -Thence I rode down on the Canada side 15 miles to the wondrous Falls. - -Besides the lesson of solemn warning and terror another of a character -acceptable and gladdening was offered to my thoughts, as I stood on the -river's bank at the Falls; for I beheld a rainbow of a full semi-circle -or more, the ends almost under my feet, stretching over the awful -chasm, deepest in color low down at each extremity, where the turmoil -of mist was the thickest. This lesson I here put in rhyme, and with it, -in accordance with the sentiment of the hundredth sonnet which a few -days ago passed through the press, I now close this little book. - -If the reader will consider, that my threatening illness has now had -a continuance of many months and that to-day closes seventy-six years -of my life, he will find reason to conclude, that my thoughts here -expressed, although in verse, are utterances in the sincerity of faith -and the honesty of truth: and so I bid him farewell, wishing him "a -happy New Year" and a blessed Eternity! - -Jan. 1, 1860. - - -NEW YEAR'S DAY, 1860. - - I praise thee, God of love! for this Day's light, - Which leads the train of days in this new year,―― - For months not seeming destin'd to me here, - But ah instead thereof a darksome night - In the low grave, of all earth's joys the blight.―― - I live! And in my thoughts old scenes appear. - The mighty Falls, where gazing I stood near - In happy youth, rise up in splendor bright, - When, as I gaz'd, there met my wond'ring eye - Amid the wat'ry strife the beauteous Bow, - As if brought down from its high place, the sky, - And planted deep in the thick mist below;―― - God's bow of promise to the earth beneath,―― - Symbol of Peace 'mid Sin and War and Death! - - - * * * * * - - -TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES - -Punctuation has been standardized. - -Some alternate spellings have been retained. - -This book contained an errata page at the end. The errata have been -applied to the e-text by the transcriber without further note. - -p. 24: "Aud" changed to "And" (And with the holy who in glory shine!) - -p. 71: Missing word inserted: "an" (Remaining more than an hour) - -p. 94: "shewing" changed to "showing" (showing that the true Supreme -God is meant) - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's A Book of Christian Sonnets, by William Allen - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A BOOK OF CHRISTIAN SONNETS *** - -***** This file should be named 53816-0.txt or 53816-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/3/8/1/53816/ - -Produced by Richard Hulse, Daniel Lowe and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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