To Lavinia

Hark how the sacred thunder rends the skies! Repent and be baptiz'd, Christ's herald cries! Repent and be baptiz'd, consenting heav'n replies!

And can LAVINIA unaffected hear The awful message echoing in her ear? Will my LAVINIA unconverted prove, Rebel to God, and faithless unto love? Say—shall a parent's absolute command The mighty voice of God himself withstand? Shall heavenly calls to earthly ties give place, And filial fondness frustrate christian grace? Shall human wit Omniscience engage? Shall Barclay endless war with Jesus wage? Must each Apostle wave his claim to merit, That Fox may shine first Martyr of the Spirit? Must common sense be banish'd from the soul, E'er gospel salve can make the sinner whole? Must each adept in Calvery's great school Be not in meekness, but in fact a fool? Must Paul at Corinth be a babler too? And Peter when a Baptist, be a Jew? Must Philip's process be superfluous thought, Because he wash'd the Eunuch he had taught? Must fed'ral rights be metaphor'd away, And actual homage constru'd, disobey? Such jugling art may change each part of speech, Make water spirit, and baptize to teach, But if such jargon Jesus represents, The light alone indeed is lent to saints; Then in the letter double death we find, And Christ in figure only sav'd Mankind.