PREFACE.* HEN an Author, by appearing in print, requests an audience of the Public, and is upon the point of speaking for himself, whoever prefumes to step before him with a preface, and to fay, "Nay, but hear me firft," fhould have fomething worthy of attention to offer, or he will be justly deemed officious and impertinent. The judicious reader has probably, upon other occafions, been beforehand with me in this reflection: and I am not very willing it should now be applied to me, however I may seem to expose myself to the danger of it. But the thought of having my own name perpetuated in connexion with the name in the title-page is so pleasing and flattering to the feelings of my heart, that I am content to rifk fomething for the gratification. This Preface is not defigned to commend the Poems to which it is prefixed. My teftimony would be infufficient for those who are not qualified to judge properly for themselves, and unnecessary to those who are. Befides, the reasons which render it improper and unfeemly for a man to celebrate his own performances, or thofe of his nearest relatives, will have fome influence in fuppreffing much of what he might otherwise wish to say in favour of a friend, when that friend is indeed an alter idem, and excites almost the same emotions of fenfibility and affection as he feels for himself. It is very probable these Poems may come into the hands of some persons, in whom the fight of the author's name will awaken a recollection of incidents and scenes, which through length of time they had almost forgotten. They will be reminded of one, who was once the companion of their chosen hours, and * Published with the first volume. who set out with them in early life in the paths which lead to literary honours, to influence and affluence, with equal profpects of fuccefs. But he was fuddenly and powerfully withdrawn from thofe pursuits, and he left them without regret; yet not till he had fufficient opportunity of counting the coft, and of knowing the value of what he gave up. If happiness could have been found in claffical attainments, in an elegant tafte, in the exertions of wit, fancy, and genius, and in the esteem and converse of such perfons, as in these refpects were moft congenial with himself, he would have been happy. But he was not. He wondered (as thousands in a similar situation still do) that he should continue diffatisfied, with all the means apparently conducive to fatisfaction within his reach. But in due time the caufe of his disappointment was discovered to him ;-he had lived without God in the world. In a memorable hour the wisdom which is from above vifited his heart. Then he felt himself a wanderer, and then he found a guide. Upon this change of views, a change of plan and conduct followed of courfe. When he faw the bufy and the gay world in its true light, he left it with as little reluctance as a prifoner, when called to liberty, leaves his dungeon. Not that he became a Cynic or an Afcetic a heart filled with love to God will affuredly breathe benevolence to men. But the turn of his temper inclining him to rural life, he indulged it, and the providence of God evidently preparing his way and marking out his retreat, he retired into the country. By these steps, the good hand of God, unknown to me, was providing for me one of the principal bleffings of my life; a friend and a counsellor, in whofe company for almost seven years, though we were seldom feven fucceffive waking hours feparated, I always found new pleasure. A friend who was not only a comfort to myself, but a bleffing to the affectionate poor people among whom I then lived. Some time after inclination had thus removed him from the hurry and bustle of life, he was ftill more fecluded by a long indifpofition, and my pleasure was fucceeded by a proportionable degree of anxiety and concern. But a hope that the God whom he ferved would support him under his affliction, and at length vouchsafe him a happy deliverance, never forfook me. The defirable crifis, I truft, is now nearly approaching. The dawn, the prefage of returning day, is already arrived. He is again enabled. to resume his pen, and some of the first fruits of his recovery are here presented to the public. In his principal fubjects the fame acumen, which diftinguished him in the early period of life, is happily employed in illustrating and enforcing the truths, of which he received fuch deep and unalterable impreffions in his maturer years. His fatire, if it may be called fo, is benevolent, (like the operations of the skilful and humane furgeon, who wounds only to heal) dictated by a juft regard for the honour of God, and indignant grief excited by the profligacy of the age, and a tender compaffion for the fouls of men. His favourite topics are leaft infifted on in the piece entitled Table Talk; which therefore, with fome regard to the prevailing taste, and that those, who are governed by it, may not be difcouraged at the very threshold from proceeding farther, is placed first. In most of the large Poems which follow, his leading design is more explicitly avowed and pursued. He aims to communicate his own perceptions of the truth, beauty, and influence of the religion of the Bible-a religion, which, however difcredited by the misconduct of many, who have not renounced the Chriftian name, proves itself, when rightly underftood, and cordially embraced, to be the grand defideratum, which alone can relieve the mind of a man from painful and unavoidable anxieties, infpire it with ftable peace and folid hope, and furnish thofe motives and profpects which, in the prefent ftate of things, are abfolutely neceffary to produce a conduct worthy of a rational creature, distinguished by a vastness of capacity which no assemblage of earthly good can fatisfy, and by a principle and preintimation of immortality. At a time when hypothefis and conjecture in philosophy are so justly exploded, and little is confidered as deserving the name of knowledge, which will not stand the test of experiment, the very use of the term experimental in religious concernments is by too many unhappily rejected with difguft. But we well know, that they, who affect to despise the inward feelings which religious perfons speak of, and to treat them as enthusiasm and folly, have inward feelings of their own, which, though they would, they cannot suppress. We have been too long in the secret ourselves, to account the proud, the ambitious, or the voluptuous happy. We must lose the remembrance of what we once were before we can believe a man is satisfied with himself, merely be cause he endeavours to appear fo. A smile upon the face is often but a mask worn occafionally and in company, to prevent, if poffible, a suspicion of what at the fame time is paffing in the heart. We know that there are people who feldom smile when they are alone, who therefore are glad to hide themselves in a throng from the violence of their own reflections; and who, while by their looks and their language they wish to perfuade us they are happy, would be glad to change their conditions with a dog. But in defiance of all their efforts, they continue to think, forbode, and tremble. This we know, for it has been our own ftate, and therefore we know how to commiferate it in others. From this ftate the Bible relieved us. When we were led to read it with attention, we found ourselves described-we learnt the causes of our inquietude we were directed to a method of relief—we tried, and we were not disappointed. Deus nobis hæc otia fecit. We are now certain that the Gospel of Chrift is the power of God unto falvation to every one that believeth. It has reconciled us to God, and to ourselves, to our duty, and our fituation. It is the balm and cordial of the prefent life, and a fovereign antidote against the fear of death. Sed hactenus hæc. Some smaller pieces upon less important fubjects close the volume. Not one of them, I believe, was written with a view to publication, but I was unwilling they fhould be omitted. Charles Square, Hoxton, JOHN NEWTON. |