"These are Possessions-unbelieving Wits "Impute them all to Nature: 'They 're her Fits, "Caus'd by commotions in the Nerves and Brains ;'"Vain Talk! but they'll be fitted for their pains. "These are in part the Ills the Foe has wrought, "And these the Churchman thinks not worth his thought; "They bid the Troubled try for peace and rest, "Compose their Minds, and be no more distress'd; "As well might they command the passive Shore "To keep secure, and be o'erflow'd no more; "To the wrong subject is their skill applied,"To act like Workmen, they should stem the Tide. "These are the Church-Physicians; they are paid "With noble fees for their advice and aid; "Yet know they not the inward pulse to feel, "To ease the anguish, or the wound to heal. "With the sick Sinner, thus their work begins, "Do you repent you of your former Sins ? "Will you amend if you revive and live? "And, pardon seeking, will you pardon give? "Have you belief in what your Lord has done, "And are you thankful?-all is well, my son.' "A way far different ours-we thus surprise "A Soul with questions, and demand replies: "How dropp'd you first,' I ask, the legal Yokė? "What the first word the living Witness spoke? "Perceiv'd you Thunders roar and Lightnings shine, "And Tempests gathering ere the Birth divine? "Did Fire, and Storm, and Earthquake all appear "Before that still small voice, What dost thou here? "Hast thou by day and night, and soon and late, "Waited and watch'd before Admission-Gate; "And so a Pilgrim and a Soldier pass'd "To Sion's Hill through battle and through blast? "Then in thy way didst thou thy Foe attack, "And mad'st thou proud Apollyon turn his back? "Heart-searching things are these, and shake the Mind, "Yea, like the rustling of a mighty Wind. "Thus would I ask :-- Nay, let me question now, "How sink my Sayings in your Bosoms? how? "Feel you a quickening? drops the subject deep? "Stupid and stony, no! you're all asleep; "Listless and lazy, waiting for a close, "As if at Church-Do I allow repose? "Am I a Legal Minister? do I "With Form or Rubrick, Rule or Rite comply? "Then whence this quiet, tell me, I beseech? "One might believe you heard your Rector preach, "Or his assistant Dreamer :-Oh! return, "Ye times of burning, when the Heart would burn; "Now Hearts are Ice, and you, my freezing Fold, "Have Spirits sunk and sad, and Bosoms stony-cold.' "Oh! now again for those prevailing Powers, "Which once began this mighty work of ours; "When the wide field, God's Temple, was the place, "And Birds flew by to catch a breath of Grace; "When 'mid his timid Friends and threat'ning Foes, "Our zealous Chief as Paul at Athens rose: "When with infernal spite and knotty clubs "The Ill-One arm'd his Scoundrels and his Scrubs; "And there were flying all around the spot "Brands at the Preacher, but they touch'd him not; "Stakes brought to smite him, threaten'd in his cause, "And Tongues, attun'd to curses, roar'd applause; "Louder and louder grew his awful tones, “Sobbing and sighs were heard, and rueful groans ; "Soft Women fainted, prouder Man express'd "Wonder and woe, and Butchers smote the breast; "Eyes wept, Ears tingled; stiff'ning on each Head, "The Hair drew back, and Satan howl'd and fled. "In that soft Season when the gentle Breeze "Rises all round, and swells by slow degrees; "Till Tempests gather, when through all the Sky "The Thunders rattle, and the Lightnings fly; "When Rain in torrents Wood and Vale deform, "And all is Horror, Hurricane, and Storm: “ So, when the Preacher in that glorious time, "Than Clouds more melting, more than Storm sublime, "Dropp'd the new Word, there came a charm around; "Tremors and terrors rose upon the sound; "The stubborn Spirits by his force he broke, "As the fork'd Lightning rives the knotted Oak: "Fear, Hope, Dismay, all signs of Shame or Grace, "Chain'd every Foot, or featur'd every Face; "Then took his sacred Trump a louder swell, "And now they groan'd, they sicken'd, and they fell; "Again he sounded, and we heard the cry "Of the Word-wounded, as about to die; "Further and further spread the conquering Word, "As loud he cried- the Battle of the Lord.' "Ev'n those apart who were the Sound denied, "Fell down instinctive, and in Spirit died. "Nor staid he yet-his Eye, his Frown, his Speech, "His very Gesture had a power to teach; "With out-stretch'd Arms, strong Voice and piercing Call, "He won the field, and made the Dagons fall; "And thus in triumph took his glorious way, "Through scenes of horror, terror, and dismay." LETTER V. ELECTIONS. Say then which class to greater folly stoop, Be brave, for your Leader is brave, and vows Reformation; there shall be in England seven halfpenny loaves sold for a penny; and the three-hooped pot shall have ten hoops. I will make it felony to drink small-beer: all shall eat and drink on my score, and I will apparel them all in one livery, that they may agree like brothers; and they shall all worship me as their Lord, Shakspeare's Henry Vl. LETTER V. THE ELECTION. The Evils of the Contest, and how in part to be avoided. -The Miseries endured by a Friend of the Candidate. -The various Liberties taken with him, who has no personal Interest in the Success.-The unreasonable Expectations of Voters.-The Censures of the opposing Party-The Vices as well as Follies shown in such time of Contest.-Plans and Cunning of Electors.— Evils which remain after the Decision, opposed in vain by the Efforts of the Friendly: and of the Successful; among whom is the Mayor.-Story of his Advancement till he was raised to the Government of the Borough.— These Evils not to be placed in balance with the Liberty of the People, but are yet Subjects of just Complaint. YES, our Election's past, and we've been free, True! you might then your Party's Sign produce, And so escape with only half th' abuse; With half the danger as you walk'd along With rage and threat'ning but from half the throng: |