Poems (Edwards)/Pulpit Eloquence
For works with similar titles, see Pulpit Eloquence.
PULPIT ELOQUENCE.[A memory of the Rev. L******* R*****, of the Virginia Conference.]
Soft as the distant murmur of a rill,
In rich deep music from his glowing lips,
Fell words of burning eloquence. Now low,
Like the faint whisper of a zephyr's breath,
So still, so deep, so holy, that it seemed
Like the sweet echo of an angel's lute
Around us gently stealing. Then again,
His rich full voice came pealing, like the tones
Swept from a thousand harp-strings, bringing thoughts
Of wild unearthly beauty, clothed in words
Of thrilling power. Like gems of light
And precious jewels from the bending skies.
They fell in sparkling showers upon our hearts,
And waked ten thousand glowing visions up
That long had slumbered there.
O! I have thought
That the sacred eloquence which stole
Around us then, re-echoed through the skies,
In all their shining courts and glittering domes,
Until it reached the very throne of God,
And brought from thence a blessing on the flock
Who waited to receive it.
Go on, go on, thou holy man of God!
For thee there is a crown,—a rich reward
Laid up in Heaven. So walk that thou may'st win
Life everlasting in that better land,
Where comes no pain nor parting. Oh! be strong,
Resist the world. Turn,—from its homage turn.
Its honours seek not. To thy God belongs
All might and glory. Be thou stayed on Him,
And when before Him thou art called to hear
The final sentence, mayest thou feel and say,
"I was not vainly gifted."
In rich deep music from his glowing lips,
Fell words of burning eloquence. Now low,
Like the faint whisper of a zephyr's breath,
So still, so deep, so holy, that it seemed
Like the sweet echo of an angel's lute
Around us gently stealing. Then again,
His rich full voice came pealing, like the tones
Swept from a thousand harp-strings, bringing thoughts
Of wild unearthly beauty, clothed in words
Of thrilling power. Like gems of light
And precious jewels from the bending skies.
They fell in sparkling showers upon our hearts,
And waked ten thousand glowing visions up
That long had slumbered there.
O! I have thought
That the sacred eloquence which stole
Around us then, re-echoed through the skies,
In all their shining courts and glittering domes,
Until it reached the very throne of God,
And brought from thence a blessing on the flock
Who waited to receive it.
Go on, go on, thou holy man of God!
For thee there is a crown,—a rich reward
Laid up in Heaven. So walk that thou may'st win
Life everlasting in that better land,
Where comes no pain nor parting. Oh! be strong,
Resist the world. Turn,—from its homage turn.
Its honours seek not. To thy God belongs
All might and glory. Be thou stayed on Him,
And when before Him thou art called to hear
The final sentence, mayest thou feel and say,
"I was not vainly gifted."