The hope of Fame may in his heart have place, That might his Learning and himself display; But see! the Man himself; and sure I trace "Yes," he replied, "I'm happy, I confess, "To aid the letter'd Poor, and soothe such ills as mine: "We who more keenly feel the World's contempt, "Yes, I am taught that Men who think, who feel, "Unite the Pains of thoughtful Men to heal; "Not with disdainful Pride, whose bounties make "The Needy curse the Benefits they take; "Not with the idle Vanity that knows "Only a selfish joy when it bestows; "Not with o'erbearing Wealth, that, in disdain, "Hurls the superfluous bliss at groaning Pain; But these are Men who yield such blest relief, "That with the grievance they destroy the grief; "Their timely aid the needy Sufferers find, "Their generous manner soothes the suffering Mind; "Theirs is a gracious bounty, form'd to raise "Him whom it aids; their Charity is praise; "A common bounty may relieve distress, "But whom the Vulgar succour, they oppress; "This though a favour, is an honour too, "Though Mercy's duty, yet 'tis Merit's due; "When our relief from such resources rise, "All painful sense of obligation dies; "And grateful feelings in the bosom wake, "For 'tis their Offerings, not their Alms we take. 66 Long may these founts of Charity remain, "And never shrink, but to be fill'd again; "True! to the Author they are now confin'd, "To him who gave the Treasure of his Mind, "His Time, his Health, and thankless found Mankind : "But there is hope that from these founts may flow "A side-way stream, and equal good bestow; "Good that may reach us, whom the day's distress "Keeps from the fame and perils of the Press; "Whom Study beckons from the Ills of Life, "And they from Study; melancholy strife! "Who then can say, but Bounty now so free, "And so diffus'd, may find its way to me? "Yes! I may see my decent Table yet "Cheer'd with the Meal that adds not to my Debt; "May talk of those to whom so much we owe, "And guess their names whom yet we may not know ; "Blest we shall say are those who thus can give, "And next who thus upon the bounty live; "Then shall I close with thanks my humble Meal, "And feel so well-Oh! God! how I shall feel!" LETTER IV. SECTS AND PROFESSIONS IN RELIGION. But cast your eyes again, And view those errors which new Sects maintain, When they began and who begat the crime; Dryden. Hind and Panther, Part II. Oh! said the Hind, how many sons have you LETTER IV. SECTS and PROFESSIONS in RELIGION Are numerous and successive.-General Effect of false Zeal.-Deists.-Fanatical Idea of Church Reformers. -The Church of Rome.-Baptists.--Swedenborgians. -Universalists.-Jews. Methodists of two kinds; Calvinistic and Arminian. The Preaching of a Calvinistic Enthusiast.-His Contempt of Learning.—Dislike to sound Morality: Why. -His Idea of Conversion.-His Success and Pretensions to Humility. The Arminian Teacher of the older Flock.-Their Notions of the Operations and Power of Satan.-Description of his Devices.-Their Opinion of regular Ministers.-Comparison of these with the Preacher himself.-A Rebuke to his Hearers; introduces a Description of the powerful Effects of the Word in the early and awakening Days of Methodism. "SECTS in Religion?"—Yes, of every race And with much art exhibit and persuade. Minds are for Sects of various kinds decreed, As diff'rent Soils are form'd for diff'rent Seed; Some when converted sigh in sore amaze, Are quick and stagnant; have their calms and storms; Oppos'd to these we have a prouder kind, Friends of our Faith we have, whom Doubts like these, And keen Remarks, and bold Objections please; They grant such Doubts have weaker Minds opprest, Till sound Conviction gave the Troubled rest. "But still," they cry, "let none their censures spare, 66 They but confirm the glorious hopes we share; |