text,updated_at,metaphor,created_at,context,theme,reviewed_on,dictionary,comments,provenance,id,work_id
"""These"" said the Muse, ""are subjects for thy song!
""Let themes like these thy manly strain prolong.
--""Does pining Merit in Oppression live?
""Give that protection which the Muse can give.
--""Does Patriot Virtue strive, but strive in vain,
""Its Country's dear-bought Freedom to maintain?
""Dare to support that long-deserted cause,
""And give, tho' Crowns oppose thee, give applause!
--""Is there a Man, who, from his earliest youth,
""Ne'er felt a sense of Honour or of Truth;
""Whose heart ne'er struggled with a wish for Fame,
""Whose cheek ne'er bore the blush of honest Shame;
""Vice his sole good, Himself his only end,
""The lurking Foe, the hypocritic Friend?
""If such an one there be, his bosom bare,--
""Show his black heart, and guide the Vultures there.
--""Should the vile Priest, for Lucre's filthy gain,
""Give up his Flock to join the courtly Train;
""Should he forsake the path his Saviour trod,
""And proudly turn his Back upon his God;
""Tho' Mitres crown him, break his golden Rest,
""And 'wake a troubled Conscience in his breast.
--""Does Beauty, swerving from its Maker's plan
""To be the Solace and the Joy of Man,
""Spurning at Fame and Honour's mild decree,
""Drink, with delight, the dregs of Infamy?
--""Does Man, so made to cherish, first betray,
""Then leave the Victim to the World a Prey?
""Let not thy Verse its angry scourge forbear,
""Nor veil the shameless Wanton's last despair.
--""Should frolic Youth, by mast'ring Passions led,
""In Folly's fair but treach'rous mazes tread,
""With cunning skill, and well-imagin'd care,
""Full in his view expose the lurking snare;
""And strive, by just degrees and friendly art,
""To 'wake the Virtue slumb'ring in his Heart.
--""Is there a Man, who, wealthy to no end,
""Ne'er knew the common wish to be a Friend,
""Whose callous Heart's to all Compassion steel'd?--
""Scourge him!--nor fear the wit of Chesterfield.
--""Do hireling Statesmen, in Corruption bold,
""Sell their poor Country as themselves are sold?
""With noble courage let thy Patriot Song
""Inflame a Nation to revenge its wrong.
--""Is there a Monarch, by mad Folly led,
""And under something worse than Folly bred;--
""Who would his People's sacred Rights betray,
""And longs to rule them with tyrannic Sway?--
""Exalt thy Strain, nor be the silly Thing
""That fears to speak of Justice to a King;--
""Deep in his Bosom plant the conscious Groan,--
""Nor spare a Vice,--tho' seated on a Throne.""--",2009-09-14 19:43:08 UTC,"""'Is there a Man, who, wealthy to no end, / 'Ne'er knew the common wish to be a Friend, / 'Whose callous Heart's to all Compassion steel'd?""",2005-06-09 00:00:00 UTC,"","",,Metal,•I've included twive: Callous and Steel,"Searching ""heart"" and ""steel"" in HDIS (Poetry)",15246,5717
"[...] Remember that the Divine Agency is promised, ""to take away the heart of stone, and give a heart of flesh,"" of which it is the natural property to be tender and susceptible. Pray then earnestly and perseveringly, that the blessed aid of Divine Grace may operate effectually on your behalf. Beware of acquiescing in the evil tempers which have been condemned, under the idea that they are the ordinary imperfections of the best of men; that they shew themselves only in little instances; that they are only occasional, hasty, and transient effusions, when you are taken off your guard; the passing shade of your mind, and not the settled colour. Beware of excusing or allowing them in yourself, under the notion of warm zeal for the cause of Religion and virtue, which you perhaps own is now and then apt to carry you into somewhat over-great severity of judgement, or sharpness in reproof. Listen not to these, or any other such flattering excuses, which your own heart will be but too ready to suggest to you. Scrutinize yourself rather with rigorous strictness; and where there is so much room for self-deceit, call in the aid of some faithful friend, and unbosoming yourself to him without concealment, ask his impartial and unreserved opinion of your behaviour and condition. Our unwillingness to do this, often betrays to others, (not seldom it first discovers to ourselves) that we entertain a secret distrust of our own character and conduct. Instead also of extenuating to yourself the criminality of the vicious tempers under consideration, strive to impress your mind deeply with a sense of it. For this end, often consider seriously,that these rough and churlish tempers are a direct contrast to the ""meekness and gentleness of Christ;"" and that Christians are strongly and repeatedly enjoined to copy after their great Model in these particulars, and to be themselves patterns of ""mercy and kindness, and humbleness of ""mind, and meekness, and long suffering."" [...]
(pp. 278-9)",2011-08-30 20:03:41 UTC,"""Remember that the Divine Agency is promised, 'to take away the heart of stone, and give a heart of flesh,' of which it is the natural property to be tender and susceptible.""",2011-08-30 20:03:41 UTC,Chapter IV,"",,"","","Searching ""mind"" in Google Books",19109,7075