FAMILIAR EPISTLES ON A SERMON, 'OFFICE & OPERATIONS OF HOLY SPIRIT': 5 by JOHN BYROM

WHEN christians first receiv'd the joyful news—
@3Messiah come@1—unmix'd with worldly views;
When the whole church with heavenly grace was bless'd,
And, from the Spirit Comforter, possess'd
One heart, one mind, one view to common good;
Then was the real gospel understood.

Then was the time—to cite what you will find
The preacher noting—"when the world combin'd
"Its pow'rs against it, but could @3not@1 destroy;
"When holy martyrs, with enraptur'd joy,
"Encounter'd death; enabled to sustain
"Its utmost terror, and its utmost pain:
"At such a juncture, heav'n's uncommon aid
"Shone forth, to help humanity display'd.

"But now"—his reason for abated grace,
Diff'rence of primitive and present case—
"Now—ease, and honour" (mind the maxim, friend;)
"On the profession of the faith attend:
"At @3first@1 establish'd by diviner means,
"On human testimony @3now@1 it leans:
"Supports itself, as other facts must do,
"That rest on human testimony too;
"Sufficient strength is the conviction there,
"To make the present christian persevere."

Here lies the secret—that may soon unfold
Why modern christians fall so short of old;
Why they appear to have such diff'rent looks,—
The men of @3spirit@1, and the men of @3books:@1
When racks and gibbets, torment and distress
Attended them who ventur'd to confess,
They had, indeed, a fix'd and firm belief,
To die for one who suffer'd like a thief;
Stretch'd on the wheel, or burning in the flame,
To preach a crucified Redeemer's name;
Courage, like this, compendious proof supplied
Of heav'n's true kingdom, into which they died:
Thus was the wisdom of the world struck dumb,
And all the pow'rs of darkness overcome;
Gospel prevail'd, by its internal light,
And gave the subject for the pen to write.

But when the world, with a more fatal plan,
To flatter, what it could not force, began;
When @3ease and honour@1, as the preacher saith,
Attended the profession of the faith;
Then wrought its mischief, in the too secure,
The secret poison, slower but more sure:
Commodious maxims then began to spread,
And set up learning in the Spirit's stead:
The life diminish'd as the books increas'd,
Till men found out that miracles were ceas'd;
That, with respect to succours more sublime,
The gospel promise was but for a time;
That inspiration, amongst men of sense,
Was all a mere fanatical pretence:
And divers like discoveries, that grant
To @3ease@1 and @3honour@1 just what faith they want—

Faith to profess that wondrous things of old
Did really happen, as the books have told;
But with a caution, never to allow
The possibility of happ'ning @3now:@1
For, as the world went on, it might affect
An honourable ease, in some respect,
To own celestial comfort still inspir'd,
And suff'ring courage, as at first requir'd;
Quite proper then; but equally unfit,
When once the sacred canon had been writ:
For upon that (is gravely here averr'd)
Part of the @3Spirit's@1 office was transferr'd;
Books once compos'd, th' illuminating part
He ceas'd Himself; and left to human art
To find, within his @3scriptural@1 abode,
Th' enlight'ning grace that presence once bestow'd.

These suppositions if a man suppose,
You see th' immediate consequence that flows;
That men and churches afterwards attack'd,
Are pre-demolish'd, by asserted fact;
Which, once advanc'd, may, with the greatest ease,
Condemn whatever christians he shall please:
Owing to his forbearance, in some shape,
If aught th' extensive havoc shall escape.

With such a fund of learning, and a skill
To make it serve what argument he will;
With choice of words, for any chosen theme,
With an alertness rulingly supreme;
What, sir, can single persons or a sect,
When he is pleas'd to preach at 'em, expect?

Just what they meet with, in the present case—
All the dogmatic censure and disgrace
That a commanding genius can exert,
When it becomes religiously alert;
With narrow proofs, and consequences wide,
Sets all opponents of its rote aside;
The PAPISTS first, and then th' inferior fry,
FANATICS, vanquish'd with a—"Who but I?"
These are the modish epithets that strike
At true religion and at false alike;
Of these reproaches infidels are full;
Their use in others verging down to dull:
How one, who is no infidel, applies
The hackney'd terms—may next salute your eyes.

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