登陆注册
14324100000009

第9章

'Tis much to be lamented, for I fear The same they learn from what they daily hear;Be careful then, and don't instruct them so, For fear you prove their dismal overthrow.

Both young and old, that dreadful sin forbear;The tongue of man was never made to swear, But to adore and praise the blessed name, By whom alone our dear salvation came.

Pride is another reigning sin likewise;

Let us behold in what a strange disguise Young damsels do appear, both rich and poor;The like was ne'er in any age before.

What artificial ornaments they wear, Black patches, paint, and locks of powdered hair;Likewise in lofty hoops they are arrayed, As if they would correct what God had made.

Yet let 'em know, for all those youthful charms, They must lie down in death's cold frozen arms!

Oh think on this, and raise your thoughts above The sin of pride, which you so dearly love.

Likewise, the wilful sinners that transgress The righteous laws of God by drunkenness, They do abuse the creatures which were sent Purely for man's refreshing nourishment.

Many diseases doth that sin attend, But what is worst of all, the fatal end:

Let not the pleasures of a quaffing bowl Destroy and stupify thy active soul.

Perhaps the jovial drunkard over night, May seem to reap the pleasures of delight, While for his wine he doth in plenty call;But oh! the sting of conscience, after all, Is like a gnawing worm upon the mind.

Then if you would the peace of conscience find, A sober conversation learn with speed, For that's the sweetest life that man can lead.

Be careful that thou art not drawn away, By foolishness, to break the Sabbath-day;Be constant at the pious house of prayer, That thou mayst learn the christian duties there.

For tell me, wherefore should we carp and care For what we eat and drink, and what we wear;And the meanwhile our fainting souls exclude From that refreshing sweet celestial food?

Yet so it is, we, by experience, find Many young wanton gallants seldom mind The church of God, but scornfully deride That sacred word by which they must be tried.

A tavern, or an alehouse, they adore, And will not come within the church before They're brought to lodge under a silent tomb, And then who knows how dismal is their doom!

Though for awhile, perhaps, they flourish here, And seem to scorn the very thoughts of fear, Yet when they're summoned to resign their breath, They can't outbrave the bitter stroke of death!

Consider this, young gallants, whilst you may, Swift-winged time and tide for none will stay;And therefore let it be your christian care, To serve the Lord, and for your death prepare.

There is another crying sin likewise:

Behold young gallants cast their wanton eyes On painted harlots, which they often meet At every creek and corner of the street, By whom they are like dismal captives led To their destruction; grace and fear is fled, Till at the length they find themselves betrayed, And for that sin most sad examples made.

Then, then, perhaps, in bitter tears they'll cry, With wringing hands, against their company, Which did betray them to that dismal state!

Consider this before it is too late.

Likewise, sons and daughters, far and near, Honour your loving friends, and parents dear;Let not your disobedience grieve them so, Nor cause their aged eyes with tears to flow.

What a heart-breaking sorrow it must be, To dear indulgent parents, when they see Their stubborn children wilfully run on Against the wholesome laws of God and man!

Oh! let these things a deep impression make Upon your hearts, with speed your sins forsake;For, true it is, the Lord will never bless Those children that do wilfully transgress.

Now, to conclude, both young and old I pray, Reform your sinful lives this very day, That God in mercy may his love extend, And bring the nation's troubles to an end.

Poem: SMOKING SPIRITUALIZED.

[THE following old poem was long ascribed, on apparently sufficient grounds, to the Rev. Ralph Erskine, or, as he designated himself, 'Ralph Erskine, V.D.M.' The peasantry throughout the north of England always call it 'Erskine's song,' and not only is his name given as the author in numerous chap-books, but in his own volume of GOSPEL SONNETS, from an early copy of which our version is transcribed. The discovery however, by Mr. Collier, of the First Part in a MS. temp. Jac. I., with the initials G. W. affixed to it, has disposed of Erskine's claim to the honour of the entire authorship. G. W. is supposed to be George Withers; but this is purely conjectural; and it is not at all improbable that G. W.

really stands for W. G., as it was a common practice amongst anonymous writers to reverse their initials. The history, then, of the poem, seems to be this: that the First Part, as it is now printed, originally constituted the whole production, being complete in itself; that the Second Part was afterwards added by the Rev. Ralph Erskine; and that both parts came subsequently to be ascribed to him, as his was the only name published in connexion with the song. The Rev. Ralph Erskine was born at Monilaws, Northumberland, on the 15th March, 1685. He was one of the thirty-three children of Ralph Erskine of Shieldfield, a family of repute descended from the ancient house of Marr. He was educated at the college in Edinburgh, obtained his licence to preach in June, 1709, and was ordained, on an unanimous invitation, over the church at Dunfermline in August, 1711. He was twice married: in 1714 to Margaret Dewar, daughter of the Laird of Lassodie, by whom he had five sons and five daughters, all of whom died in the prime of life; and in 1732 to Margaret, daughter of Mr. Simson of Edinburgh, by whom he had four sons, one of whom, with his wife, survived him.

He died in November, 1752. Erskine was the author of a great number of SERMONS; A PARAPHRASE ON THE CANTICLES; SCRIPTURE SONGS;A TREATISE ON MENTAL IMAGES; and GOSPEL SONNETS.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 柔情如刀

    柔情如刀

    大城市中,某姐妹俩和兄弟俩的爱情故事。
  • 帝皇传

    帝皇传

    【郑重求点击,求推荐,求收藏!!!】(异世大陆成长型玄幻巨作)凌亚大陆风云起,谈之色变帝皇生。穆族的废柴,自生来便拥有一魔臂,影响他的修为,但是没有人知道这关于千年前的大战!一个海蓝镯,内蕴奇妙神剑,实力强悍的中年人又来自何方?一次又一次涉险,一次又一次脱胎换骨······灵药丛生之地有他的身影,险恶之地亦有他的身影。出入于鬼神莫测之地,游遍天下之禁区!转神通,开天眼,圣法一出,何人能挡?最终是成为一代实力绝伦,开天亦可,裂地亦行的帝皇,还是一捧无人知晓,永坠黄泉的尘土?一切的一切,尽在乾坤茶道处女作《帝皇传》【再次郑重求点击,求推荐,求收藏!!!】
  • 经历过这些,你才算长大

    经历过这些,你才算长大

    人生无处不失败,许多人将失败视为噩梦,因此而裹足不前、原地踏步,而总有些智者且败且战,在失利中总结经验,从而将自己的人生提到了成功的新高度。克里的成功告诉我们:面对失败时的态度十分重要,你如果想要成功,就一定要成为一个敢于挑战失败的智者。
  • 二次元倾世游

    二次元倾世游

    一个超无聊的世界,一个超无聊的选拔,一个超无聊的系统,一个超无聊的综漫,一个超无聊的升级
  • 心眼心计心机全集

    心眼心计心机全集

    现在这个社会竞争激烈、人际关系复杂,这就要求我们要有一些心眼、心计和心机来自保。本书用精彩的案例和经典的理论相结合的方式,向读者展现了一些为人处世的道理。本书语言简洁、道理精深,相信此书能够带给您生活的灵感。
  • 王俊凯之游戏罢了

    王俊凯之游戏罢了

    也许许沐不是特别好的女孩但是他愿意为王俊凯付出,也许只是这份执念才让许沐遇到了王俊凯,借他人之身,完自我心愿。只是这一味地付出终究是要有代价。双结局。(小说请勿带上真人。)
  • 女配修仙:炮灰当自强

    女配修仙:炮灰当自强

    作为男主修仙文中的大炮灰,江蓠用自己的死把男主逼上了叛出门派,四处建功立业开后宫的王霸之路,同时也让正道第一宗门的门主走上了追杀天命男主,化身超级大反派的鬼畜作死之路。做炮灰做到这份上,堪称生得壮烈,死得更壮烈了。穿越过来的某女表示,为了修真世界和平和稳定,她要努力活下去,努力不炮灰!可是,撞上门来的冷面宗主是怎么回事?你是黑化大反派,我是天命大炮灰,这就是传说中的作死成双,天生一对?【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 诱妻入局:偏执总裁宠上瘾

    诱妻入局:偏执总裁宠上瘾

    你有没有试过从陌生的酒店醒过来,发现和别人一夜情?结婚第五年,婚姻失利的她被迫坐上相亲宴。平生第一次,她在陌生男人面前醉酒。可他们不过是聊了十分钟,又哪里来的情。但是等等,他不是和她相亲的那位先生?那个男人长了一张倾城的脸,让她不得不怀疑他就是传说中的男公关。他是游走女人间的温柔情人,她是被丈夫抛弃的失婚弃妇,她注定不该爱上他,可偏偏动心动念。千帆过尽,当现实摆在面前,她才得知他的真实身份。尉氏家族的大少,容氏家族的公子,一家电信局,两家炼油厂,四家半导体……他名字源于这两大家族的姓氏——尉容!其实爱一个人不可怕,怕的是那个人从来都不曾真正靠近过。后来林蔓生才知道,原来他不是不爱,只是不爱你。
  • 中将大人的复仇妻

    中将大人的复仇妻

    苏韵伈被自己的同父异母的妹妹苏韵汐和自己的男友赵奇然出卖,出了车祸。再醒来时,发现自己重生了,身体还是自己的,便想着报仇,在这途中巧遇中将宫徵羽,他们的相遇能够擦除怎样的火花呢?
  • 哥哥爱上的女孩

    哥哥爱上的女孩

    90后女孩白玫梅,美丽漂亮,人见人爱。因为父母在二十多年丢失了儿子,所以生下她之后可谓是拴在裤腰带上都怕丢,所以她连上大学的机会都被剥夺了。然而长大的玫梅却很向往外面的世界,终于在中学同学韩冰的怂恿下离家出走来到了南方,并与爱慕以久的父母朋友的儿子林业相爱。然而生活并非简单,一个人的出现却改变了他们的命运。林业失踪,之后又突然出现,但却坚决与她分手。玫梅在绝望中接受了狂热追求的她,并与她有几分相像的邰氏集团惟一继承人——邰逊哲。玫梅曾怀疑过他是不是自己失散的哥哥,并要他和自己做了DNA。但结果是她失望。然而韩冰却把她当成是自己的情敌,因为她爱上了阳光帅气的逊哲,更爱上了他惟一继承人的身份。