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A POEM Occasioned by the spreading in this Province the Result of a Consociation in a Neighbour Government; being a private Christian's Dissent from, and Testimony against, that unscriptural and dangerous Opinion which seems to prevail under the Umbrage of that Result, viz. That the Minister of each Town or Parish has a POWER to license or forbid the preaching of the Gospel by any other than himself in the Parish whereof he is Minister— And this tho' (as the same Result says) he be really an unconverted Man.
BOSTON, Printed and Sold by Rogers and Fowle at the Head of Queen-street near the Town-House 1742.
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A POEM.
ENVY tho' one of the most hateful Evils
And bearing near Resemblance to the Devils,
Must needs confess, unless its deadly Hate
All Sense and Reason doth obliterate,
That Works of Wonder have of late been wrought,
And Multitudes in th' Gospel Net been caught,
Of Ministers and People too much drowsing,
'Till Joggs from Whitefield prov'd a happy rousing.
[II.]
DEad Souls secure and in their Graves of Sin,
Have heard the Gospel and CHRIST's Voice therein;
From Beds of Sloth, from Graves of Unbelief,
By Terrors rous'd, in Christ have found Relief.
And when (with Philip) they have JESUS found
Can't but commend him unto all around:
His lovely Face, when graciously reveal'd▪
Creates a Joy which cannot be conceal'd.
[III.]
WHile doleful Night of Horror passed on
Their sinking Souls, their Hope was almost gone,
And black Despair did well nigh overwhelm,
Till Faith discover'd Jesus at the Helm:
Will any wonder then at strange Expressions
Of Fears and Joys produc'd by deep Impressions
In Matters of eternal Consequence,
Fix'd on the Soul, by th' Spirit's Influence?
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[IV.]ALtho' uncommon, seeming out of Season,
Or for a Time suspending Acts of Reason,
While (with the Jaylor) they a trembling fall
Or to the Ground are stricken down (with Paul)
And when reviv'd, transported with the Rays
Of heavenly Light, their Lips are fill'd with Praise,
And elevated Minds take no Repose
In earthly Objects, that may interpose.
[V.]
RAther than wonder how these Things can be
I wonder at my own Stupidity,
And wish and long such mighty Power to feel
As on my Soul may deep Impressions seal,
And join with such as far as I am able
Who think this Work divine and admirable,
And honour those (altho' Itinerants)
Who have herein been happy Instruments.
[VI.]
DO any say this Work is meer Delusion,
And all such Preaching tends to breed Confusion,
And (without Leave) a manifest Disorder
For one to preach within another's Border?
When this is prov'd from Scripture I will mind it,
But at the present know not where to find it;
And rather think if any find such Clause,
It must be 'mongst some Antichristian Laws.
VII.
GReat William finding such a penal Act
As did Imprisonments and Fines exact
For such like Crimes; the Edict did revoke
And freed his Subjects from that Iron Yoke:
And his Successors on the British Throne
That persecuting Act do still disown:
Christ's preached Truth the Subjects now receive
Without depending on the Bishop's Leave.
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[VIII.]ORder and Peace, by GOD himself ordain'd,
Ought in the Scripture Sense to be maintain'd;
Their sovereign Author never did design
Them Instruments his Truth to undermine,
Or that one Truth should 'gainst another dash,
Or Peace and Order with the Gospel clash;
Yet persecuting Spirits make their Claims
From Age to Age, under those lovely Names.
[IX.]
DId Christ or his Apostles ever teach
That Men commission'd in his Name to preach,
Must of their Fellow Mortals Leave obtain,
Else (to avoid Disorder) must refrain?
Or where have they restrictive Bounds assign'd
Of Time or Place to preach or hear his Mind?
Or can it grieve an holy faithful Pastor
If other Workmen drive his Nails yet faster.
[X.]
DID Paul rejoice when Christ was preach'd by those
Who envy'd him: and vainly did suppose
Their doing so, would rather make him sad
And to his Bonds a sore Affliction add.
And did our Saviour Christ himself express
Dislike that his Disciples should suppress
The casting out of Devils in his Name
Tho' they pretend Disorder in the same.
[XI.]
AND shall not all true Christians who inherit
A Part and Portion in the self same Spirit
Rejoice to see Christ's Name exalted high
Tho' in the Dust their own may seem to lie.
Accept their Labours very thankfully
(Tho' Strangers) preaching Christ incessantly,
Whose Love to Christ and Souls inspires with Zeal
To wound poor Sinners, and their Wounds to heal.
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[XII.]REligion drown'd in dull Formality,
And Gospel Grace in Sensuality,
Lately reviv'd, deserves our chiefest Cares,
For still we walk, 'midst dangerous Pits and Snares,
'Twill be our Safety closely to adhere
To th' holy Scriptures, and rejoice with Fear:
Satan no doubt will all his Force imploy,
With utmost Craft and Assiduity.
[XIII.]
DEceitful Heart, misguided Zeal will join,
And numerous Clans of hurtful Lusts combine
This Work (if possible) to nullify,
Or cover with some dark Obscurity;
Or bloody Persecution may ensue
To try the Faith of such whose Faith is true:
Or (worse than so) GOD's SPIRIT may surcease
And Things be hid, which most concern our Peace.
[I.]
MEN need not fear, to preach or hear
The [...]th: none may prohibit,
GOD and the King, allow the Thing
Tho' Classes should forbid it.
[II.]
Elders and Scribes, or Heads of Tribes
Go out of their Commissions,
As I suppose, when they impose
Their Orders or Traditions.
[III.]
Yet Churches ought, with prudent Thought
To keep a watchfull Eye,
That none debase Doctrines of Grace
Or faithful Ministry.
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[IV.]They're right to judge, whoever grudge
Tho' an Association
Of spirit'al Food, what to their Good
Or Hurt, doth bear Relation.
[V.]
If Errors Way, lead them astray
Their Judgments to resign
To tow'ring Men, it may be then
As in the Days of Constantine;
[VI.]
When Prelacy, was mounted high
And loaded with Promotion,
Which (as some say) did soon betray
The Truth to blind Devotion.
N. B.
'Tis Lordly Power, not a due Respect
To th' Ministerial Function I reject.
May 14th 1742.
FINIS.