EXTRACT FROM THE DIVINE, A POEM IN SIX BOOKS by ROYALL TYLER

PRIDE of his flock, and pride of all the good,
See BUCKMINISTER, in early youth, adorn
The sacred desk. And while an idiot lure
Tempts many a young associate to avoid
The sainted path of wisdom, and to seek
A worthless good in Pleasure's syren wilds,
Or with base ardour toil for worldly gain,
Or climb the cragy cliffs of earthly power;
Be his the higher aim to nobly shine
The young Josias of a christian age;
And, by a bright example, hasten on
The promised era and the glorious reign
Of him, who has ordain'd from infant lips
Of babes and sucklings his perfected praise.
With polish'd periods, grac'd with all the aid
Of ancient lore and chastest modern style;
And, what's more priz'd, with apt quotation grac'd,
From the rich pages of the inspired pen,
Which mock all human rhetorick to scorn,
The classick christian breathes the chaste discourse;
With temperate zeal the wandering sinner warns;
Sustains the pious with the promise'd grace;
Confirms the doubting; awakens the secure;
With mild counseling voice the wretched cheers;
And, with the purest elegance of speech,
Gives new attraction to the gospel truth.

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