The history of the church, in verse : composed for the use of Bible-classes, schools, and families, in the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States

Front matter

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Introduction

The youth of either sex, whose ardent mind Its care on education would bestow, Must in the page of History seek to find The course of all things in our world below :

The rise of powerful nations, — how they sprung From small beginnings to their destined height ; The poets who their dawning glory sung ; Their forms of government, and deeds of might ;

Their systems of philosophy ; their arts ; Their men of learning, and their men of skill ; Their sages, warriors, kings, who played their

parts With lofty aim and energetic will.

4 IXTR OB UCTION.

But, in this History, certain topics claim Especial interest. All the nations known Cherished some form in which religious flame, With more or less of active influence, shone.

The demon-gods adored on Grecian plains, Embalmed so well in Homer's magic lay, Still live in history, though their idol fanes Have, for so many ages, passed away.

The same false deities appear again When ancient Rome's proud annals we review ; And classic learning would be sought in vain, Unless this knowledge be accepted too.

And shall the scholars of our Christian land, In which the only true religion reigns, Neglect to take its history in their hand, Though that alone their future hope sustains?

Is it not shameful that those heathen lays Should in the memory of youth be stored, While Christian history attracts no praise, — The false well studied, and the true ignored ?

Yet have I seen full many a learned man, Whose pagan knowledge all superior shone, Quite ignorant of the course the Gospel ran ; Nor did he blush his ignorance to own.

INTRODUCTION. 5

"With humble hope some little aid to bring

To remedy this evil of our time,

I give my reader here a novel thing, —

A History of the Church, composed in rhyme.

The form, I trust, its use will recommend, Although it wears an unaccustomed dress : The verse some small attractiveness may lend, And help the memory better to impress.

To high poetic power I lay no claim, Nor would my subject favor its display: To write a useful book was all my aim ; How far successful, 'tis not mine to say.

But I can promise that the leading facts, From the beginning, shall with truth appear, In just accordance with the words and acts Of Him whose worship claims our love and fear,

The great Redeemer : Whose celestial might Restrains the nations by its strong control ; Whose doctrine leads us to the realm of lio'ht, And gives true glory to the faithful soul.

His Church is heaven's own kingdom upon earth ; No subject with its history can compare : With the first man it had its gracious birth, And the last man -must find his safety there!

b INTRODUCTION.

The world's proud enrpires all shall fade away ; The Church alone from ruin is secure ! The world's best treasures in the grave decay ; The Church shall to eternity endure !

Then let the Church's history have its place — An honored place — with every thinking man, That so his mind may better learn to trace The wondrous mercy of Redemption's plan.

'Tis true, my simple verse may often seem Too weak its noble subject to sustain ; But, to do justice to so high a theme, An angel's talents might aspire in vain.

I ask indulgence for an old man's zeal, Whose life is hastening to the closing hour, Claiming no merit, though his heart may feel The wish to do the little in his power.

That little at the Saviour's feet I lay ; And may His grace the humble gift approve, When He shall come, at the appointed day, To rule His Church in heavenly light and love !

HISTORY OF THE CHURCH,

Canto I

You know, dear Reader, that the Word, Revealed by our Almighty Lord In Holy Scripture, gives us all That we can truly knowledge call Of things removed from mortal sight or sense To go beyond it is a vain pretence.

In the beginning there, it shows How all by God's commandment rose : The fruitful plain, the mountains high, The sun and moon, the starry sky, The seas, the rivers, every plant and tree, Birds, beasts, and fish, were formed by His decree.

PARADISE.

Five days were thus in wonders passed;

Then came the greatest and the last : •

For God created Adam's frame

Out of the dust; the purer flame Of soul was breathed into the human shrine, And formed an image of the Power divine !

The seventh day was a solemn rest : Creation's work was done and blessed. But soon a want was well supplied, And Eve was formed from Adam's side ; For God designed it to be clearly shown, That 'twas not good for man to be alone.

And now, to prove the happy pair, The Lord prepared a garden fair, Where trees of fruit delicious grew, And odorous flowers of brightest hue ; But in the midst another tree was placed, Which His command forbade them both to taste.

This tree of knowledge, good and ill,

If eaten with rebellious will,

Should bring upon their broken faith

The awful penalty of death ! Thus God forewarned them of the fatal spell ; And, for a while, they kept his law full well.

THE TEMPTATION*

7.

But it appears that, ere the birth Of all those wonders upon earth, Some of the angels sinned in heaven, And from their place of light were driven

Down to the hell of chaos dark and drear;

To devils changed, by envy, hate, and fear.

8 - Their chief and leader bore the name Of Satan : he to Eden came, And in the serpent's form assailed The faith of Eve, who then prevailed

On Adam, till, alas ! the fatal tree

Was plucked by both, in spite of God's decree !

O 'twas a dreadful sin to prove Ungrateful to His marvellous love Who had created them, and given A paradise to be their heaven ; Where all around was beauty, peace and joy, Without one care to trouble or annoy !

A dreadful sin, to take the word

Of Satan, and despise the Lord !

Against His precept to rebel,

And trust the treacherous prince of hell ! With God's almighty arm to dare the strife, And thus defy the Power that gave them life !

10 THE FALL.

11.

The awful sentence came with all Its sad infliction on the fall : The youthful world was stained by sin, And Death should thence his work begin !

Expelled from Eden, Adam now must toil ;

While thorns and thistles should deform the soil.

ISText on the Tempter came the word Of condemnation from the Lord : The serpent's movement, base and low, Should force him on his breast to go ;

And Eve's great Son should bruise his head, yet feel

The enmity of Satan in His heel.

Before the close of that sad day, The guilty pair were driven away From Eden's bowqrs ; but, ere they went, The Lord, with gracious, kind intent, The fig-leaves took, with which they hid their

shame, And gave them coats of skins to clothe their frame.

This was the time, as 'tis maintained, When sacrifices were ordained. The lambs from which the skins were ta'en, By God's command, were duly slain ;

THE PROMISED SEED. 11

And Adam learned, in that, to see the sign Of Christ's great Sacrifice by law divine.

Here we behold the faith begun.

The woman's Seed, the promised Son,

Was the Redeemer : dimly known,

But in due season to be shown, The world's sole Hope and Refuge given to prove, In all the saving mercy of His love !

"With this the Church begins her strife ;

For faith in Christ is still her life.

Adam, before he sinned, could plead

That justice answered all his need ; But now on mercy only he could call To raise him from the terrors of the fall !

CANTO n.

1. - "

Expelled from paradise, the toil Of man commenced upon the soil : No more the tree of life he knew ; No luscious fruits around him grew ; But the wild grain in fair abundance stood, And that was gathered for his daily food.

12 SACRIFICE.