TO A FRIEND OF THE AUTHOR, A PERSON OF HONOUR, WHO LATELY WRIT A RELIGIOUS BOOK, ENTITLED, 'HISTORICAL APPLICATIONS, AND OCCASIONAL MEDITATIONS, UPON SEVERAL SUBJECTS.'[1]
Reading edition
TO A FRIEND OF THE AUTHOR, A PERSON OF HONOUR, WHO LATELY WRIT A RELIGIOUS BOOK, ENTITLED, 'HISTORICAL APPLICATIONS, AND OCCASIONAL MEDITATIONS, UPON SEVERAL SUBJECTS.'[1]
Bold is the man that dares engage For piety in such an age! Who can presume to find a guard From scorn, when Heaven's so little spared? Divines are pardon'd; they defend Altars on which their lives depend; But the profane impatient are, When nobler pens make this their care; For why should these let in a beam Of divine light to trouble them, 10 And call in doubt their pleasing thought, That none believes what we are taught? High birth and fortune warrant give That such men write what they believe; And, feeling first what they indite, New credit give to ancient light. Amongst these few, our author brings His well-known pedigree from kings.[2] This book, the image of his mind, Will make his name not hard to find; 20 I wish the throng of great and good Made it less eas'ly understood!
[1] 'Several subjects': supposed to be Lord Berkeley. It contained testimonies of celebrated men to the value of religion. [2] 'Pedigree from kings': the Earl of Berkeley was descended from the royal house of Denmark.