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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


ON A SERMON PREACH'ED ON ... 'YOU HAVE SOLD YOUR SELVES FOR NAUGHT' by SARAH FYGE EGERTON

Poem Explanation

First Line: WITH GROTIUS ON NEW-TESTAMENT YO'VE DONE
Last Line: WE SCARCELY KNOW YOUR PULPIT FROM THE BENCH.
Subject(s): CHURCHES; DEVIL; SERMONS; CATHEDRALS; SATAN; MEPHISTOPHELES; LUCIFER; BEELZEBUB;

With @3Grotius@1 on @3New-Testament@1 yo've done,
And chose Authentick @3Coke@1 and @3Littleton@1;
The latters Tenures did inspire your Brain,
To vent your self in legislative Strain:
Where you each nice Distinction did pursue,
The Bargain, Sale, and the @3habendum@1 too.
It was not done by Lease or Mortgage then,
To be redeem'd as you told how and when;
By Deed of Feoffment we had passed away,
For nothing too our Tenement of Clay;
And that the Devil who the Purchase bought,
He nothing gave nor nothing had he got.
On this you Cant (awhile) at last recal,
@3Cum Pertinentiis@1, he had gotten all;
When of the Gospel you make Law take Place,
Statues may well get upper-hand of Grace:
Sure you the Primitive design have mist,
@3Joshua@1 must yield to an Evangelist.
But @3Littleton@1 in you has got the start,
Did'st know if thou in church or Temple were't?
Tho' you so Zealously the @3Non-cons@1 hate,
Methinks too like the @3Pro@1 and @3Cons@1 you Prate,
The Sermon is at best but a Debate:
Instead of Proofs you bring us Presidents,
Need more the Judges than the Saints consents.
You Declare, Plead, Join Issue or Demur,
Then sell at last with (@3come ceo Sur@1;)
Fatal Defeazance, for if you Preach so,
Your Hearers may remain in @3Statu quo@1:
So far you on the legal rights intrench,
We scarcely know your Pulpit from the Bench.



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