ancient poems-第7章
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g nourishment。
Many diseases doth that sin attend； But what is worst of all； the fatal end： Let not the pleasures of a quaffing bowl Destroy and stupify thy active soul。
Perhaps the jovial drunkard over night； May seem to reap the pleasures of delight； While for his wine he doth in plenty call； But oh！ the sting of conscience； after all；
Is like a gnawing worm upon the mind。 Then if you would the peace of conscience find； A sober conversation learn with speed； For that's the sweetest life that man can lead。
Be careful that thou art not drawn away； By foolishness； to break the Sabbath…day； Be constant at the pious house of prayer； That thou mayst learn the christian duties there。
For tell me； wherefore should we carp and care For what we eat and drink； and what we wear； And the meanwhile our fainting souls exclude From that refreshing sweet celestial food？
Yet so it is； we； by experience； find Many young wanton gallants seldom mind The church of God； but scornfully deride That sacred word by which they must be tried。
A tavern； or an alehouse； they adore； And will not come within the church before They're brought to lodge under a silent tomb； And then who knows how dismal is their doom！
Though for awhile； perhaps； they flourish here； And seem to scorn the very thoughts of fear； Yet when they're summoned to resign their breath； They can't outbrave the bitter stroke of death！
Consider this； young gallants； whilst you may； Swift…winged time and tide for none will stay； And therefore let it be your christian care； To serve the Lord； and for your death prepare。
There is another crying sin likewise： Behold young gallants cast their wanton eyes On painted harlots； which they often meet At every creek and corner of the street；
By whom they are like dismal captives led To their destruction； grace and fear is fled； Till at the length they find themselves betrayed； And for that sin most sad examples made。
Then； then； perhaps； in bitter tears they'll cry； With wringing hands； against their company； Which did betray them to that dismal state！ Consider this before it is too late。
Likewise； sons and daughters； far and near； Honour your loving friends； and parents dear； Let not your disobedience grieve them so； Nor cause their aged eyes with tears to flow。
What a heart…breaking sorrow it must be； To dear indulgent parents； when they see Their stubborn children wilfully run on Against the wholesome laws of God and man！
Oh！ let these things a deep impression make Upon your hearts； with speed your sins forsake； For； true it is； the Lord will never bless Those children that do wilfully transgress。
Now； to conclude； both young and old I pray； Reform your sinful lives this very day； That God in mercy may his love extend； And bring the nation's troubles to an end。
Poem： SMOKING SPIRITUALIZED。
＇THE following old poem was long ascribed； on apparently sufficient grounds； to the Rev。 Ralph Erskine； or； as he designated himself； 'Ralph Erskine； V。D。M。' The peasantry throughout the north of England always call it 'Erskine's song；' and not only is his name given as the author in numerous chap…books； but in his own volume of GOSPEL SONNETS； from an early copy of which our version is transcribed。 The discovery however； by Mr。 Collier； of the First Part in a MS。 temp。 Jac。 I。； with the initials G。 W。 affixed to it； has disposed of Erskine's claim to the honour of the entire authorship。 G。 W。 is supposed to be George Withers； but this is purely conjectural； and it is not at all improbable that G。 W。 really stands for W。 G。； as it was a common practice amongst anonymous writers to reverse their initials。 The history； then； of the poem； seems to be this： that the First Part； as it is now printed； originally constituted the whole production； being complete in itself； that the Second Part was afterwards added by the Rev。 Ralph Erskine； and that both parts came subsequently to be ascribed to him； as his was the only name published in connexion with the song。 The Rev。 Ralph Erskine was born at Monilaws； Northumberland； on the 15th March； 1685。 He was one of the thirty… three children of Ralph Erskine of Shieldfield； a family of repute descended from the ancient house of Marr。 He was educated at the college in Edinburgh； obtained his licence to preach in June； 1709； and was ordained； on an unanimous invitation； over the church at Dunfermline in August； 1711。 He was twice married： in 1714 to Margaret Dewar； daughter of the Laird of Lassodie； by whom he had five sons and five daughters； all of whom died in the prime of life； and in 1732 to Margaret； daughter of Mr。 Simson of Edinburgh； by whom he had four sons； one of whom； with his wife； survived him。 He died in November； 1752。 Erskine was the author of a great number of SERMONS； A PARAPHRASE ON THE CANTICLES； SCRIPTURE SONGS； A TREATISE ON MENTAL IMAGES； and GOSPEL SONNETS。
SMOKING SPIRITUALIZED is； at the present day； a standard publication with modern ballad…printers； but their copies are exceedingly corrupt。 Many versions and paraphrases of the song exist。 Several are referred to in NOTES AND QUERIES； and； amongst them； a broadside of the date of 1670； and another dated 1672 （both printed before Erskine was born）； presenting different readings of the First Part； or original poem。 In both these the burthen； or refrain； differs from that of our copy by the employment of the expression 'DRINK tobacco；' instead of 'SMOKE tobacco。' The former was the ancient term for drawing in the smoke； swallowing it； and emitting it through the nostrils。 A correspondent of NOTES AND QUERIES says； that the natives of India to this day use the phrase 'hooka peue；' to DRINK the hooka。＇
PART I。
THIS Indian weed； now withered quite； Though green at noon； cut down at night； Shows thy decay； All flesh is hay： Thus think； and smoke tobacco。
The pipe so lily…like and weak； Does thus thy mortal state bespeak； Thou art e'en such； … Gone with a touch： Thus think； and smoke tobacco。
And when the smoke ascends on high； Then thou behold'st the vanity Of worldly stuff； Gone with a puff： Thus think； and smoke tobacco。
And when the pipe grows foul within； Think on thy soul defiled with sin； For then the fire It does require： Thus think； and smoke tobacco。
And seest the ashes cast away； Then to thyself thou mayest say； That to the dust Return thou must。 Thus think； and smoke tobacco。
PART II。
Was this small plant for thee cut down？ So was the plant of great renown； Which Mercy sends For nobler ends。 Thus think； and smoke tobacco。
Doth juice medicinal proceed From such a naughty foreign weed？ Then what's the power Of Jesse's flower？ Thus think； and smoke tobacco。
The promise； like the pipe； inlays； And by the mouth of faith conveys； What virtue flows From Sharon's rose。 Thus think； and smoke tobacco。
In vain the unlighted pipe you blow； Your pains in outward means are so； Till heavenly fire Your heart inspire。 Thus think； and smoke tobacco。
The smoke； like burning incense； towers； So should a praying heart of yours； With ardent cries； Surmount the skies。 Thus think； and smoke tobacco。
Poem： THE MASONIC HYMN。
＇THIS is a very ancient production； though given from a modern copy； it has always been popular amongst the poor 'brethren of the mystic tie。' The late Henry O'Brien； A。B。； quotes the seventh verse in his essay ON THE ROUND TOWERS OF IRELAND。 He generally had a common copy of the hymn in his pocket； and on meeting with any of his antiquarian friends who were not Masons； was in the habit of thrusting it into their hands； and telling them that if they understood the mystic allusions it contained； they would be in possession of a key which would unlock the pyramids of Egypt！ The tune to the hymn is peculiar to it； and is of a plaintive and solemn character。＇
COME all you freemasons that dwell around the globe； That wear the badge of innocence； I mean the royal robe； Which Noah he did wear when in the ark he stood； When the world was destroyed by a deluging flood。
Noah he was virtuous in the sight of the Lord； He loved a freemason that kept the secret word； For he built
