Pt3 
 
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 1BE GIFT 
 
 OF 
 TONGUES 
 
 C. JEFKER
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 FREDERIC THOMAS BLANCHARD 
 ENDOWMENT FUND 
 
 
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 \* 
 
 >"
 
 THE 
 
 GIFT of TONGUES: 
 
 POEM. 
 
 B Y 
 CHARLES JENNER, M. A, 
 
 CAMBRIDGE, 
 
 Printed by J. Archdeacon Printer to the University; 
 
 For Thomas & John Merrill, in Cambridge; 
 
 And fold by J. Johnson, in Pater-nofter-Row, J. Dodsley, in Pall Mall, B. White, in Fleetftreetj 
 
 J. Robson, in New-Bond Street, and T. Becket & P. A. D e Hondt s 
 
 in the Strand, London; J. Fletcher, and D. Prince at Oxford; 
 
 G. Knapp at Peterborough ; and J.Jenkinson at Huntingdon. 
 
 M.DCC.LXVII.
 
 A Claufe of Mr. SEATON's Will, 
 
 Dated OSi. 8. 1738. 
 
 T Give my Kijlingbury EJiate to the Vniverfity of Cambridge for everi the Rents 
 •*■ of which Jhall be difpofed of yearly by the Vice-Chancellor for the time being, 
 as he the Vice -Chancellor, the Majler of Clare- Hall, and the Greek ProfeJJor for the 
 time being, or any two of them Jlmll agree. Which three perfons aforefaid foall give 
 cut a Subject, which Subjecl Jl:all for the frjl Tear be one or other of the Perfections 
 or Attributes of the Supreme Being, and fo the fucceeding Years, till the SubjeSl is ex- 
 haufted; and afterwards the SubjeSi Jhall be either Death, Judgment, Heaven, Hell, 
 Purity of Heart, &c. or wha/foever elfe may be judged by the Vice-Chancellor, Majler 
 of Clare-Hall, and Greek Prof for, to be mojl conducive to the Honour of the Supreme 
 Being and Recommendation of Virtue. And they j hall yearly difpofe of the Rent of the 
 above EJiate to that Majler of Arts, whofe Poem on the SubjeSi given Jhall be bejl ap- 
 proved by them. Which Poem 1 ordain to be always in Englifi, and to be printed; the 
 expence of which Jhall be deduSled out of the producl of the EJiate, and the rejidue 
 given as a reward for the Compofer of the Poem, or Ode, or Copy of Verfes. 
 
 WE the underwritten, do aflign Mr. SEATON's Reward to 
 CHARLES JENNER. M.A. for his Poem on The Gift of 
 Uono-ues ; and direct the laid Poem to be printed, according to the 
 tenor of the Will. 
 
 *John Smithy Vice-Chancellor. 
 oaober 28, 1767. P, S. Goddard, Matter of Clare-Hall. 
 
 M. Lort 7 Greek Profeflbr.
 
 THE ?R 
 
 GIFT of TONGUES. 
 
 GOD's wond'rous pow'r, on That great day reveaPd 
 When from on high the Sacred Influence fell 
 Knowledge and light furpaffing human lore 
 DifTufing in it's courfe, vent'rous I fing. 
 O for one tranfient gleam from that pure fount 
 Of light celeftial, whofe all-pow'rful rays 
 Inftant difpell'd the mifts of Ignorance, 
 Inform'd the mind, and urg'd the willing tonorue ! 
 O for one fpark of that tranfcendant Fire, 
 Which ihed it's rapid influence through the Soul, 
 Kindling at once in the aftonifh'd mind 
 The facred flame of heav'n-dire&ed Zeal, 
 In ftrains pour'd forth of Wifdom heaven-taught, 
 Which in conception, to perfection fprang, 
 Mocking the tedious fteps of human Wit! 
 
 a z Too 
 
 895996
 
 4 THE GIFT OF TONGUES: 
 Too vain that wifli. — But thou O Spirit pure 
 Who deign'ft to guide the wayward heart of man, 
 When confcious weaknefs claims thy aid benign, 
 Thou from whofe eyes the palpable obfcure 
 Nought hides, who mark'ft my inmoft Soul, 
 And check'ft with care paternal ev'ry ill, 
 Suggefting kindly pure and holy thoughts, 
 Frame thou my mind ; Difpofe my humble heart 
 To feel thy goodnefs and adore thy might; 
 Grant me, with faith to read thy wond'rous works, 
 To hear with joy, to tell with gratitude; 
 Grant me, at humble diftance, to revere 
 Thofe acl:s of pow'r, I know not how to fcan; 
 Grant me, with fcorn to view the Sceptic's pride 
 Who dares to tread the dark, meand'ring maze, 
 And ftrive with mortal ken, (how fhort! how dim!) 
 To trace the fleps of dread Omnipotence ; 
 Grant me, with humble yet exulting mind, 
 In all thy wond'rous works to mark the end, 
 Nor raftily ftrive to comprehend the means ; 
 To view, with revVent awe, the mighty Caufe, 
 And feel with gratitude the blefs'd Effect; 
 
 Grant
 
 A POEM. 
 Grant me, in this meek, fober frame of mind, 
 To view thy goodnefs, and to ling thy praife; 
 So {hall my lays, though rude, attention claim, 
 Nor ufelefs fink in cold oblivion's wave; 
 Warm from the heart they bear intrinfic worth, 
 And confcience mall bear witnefs to their truth. 
 
 'Twas on that day, that memorable day 
 When erft the Prophet of the favour'd feed 
 From Ifrael fprung, high-honour'd Mofes held 
 With trembling awe, converfe with God himfelf ; 
 'Twas on that day, when round the facred mount 
 The rapid light'nings (hot their livid glance, 
 Flaming a larger and a larger curve, 
 Whilft the dread Thunder, mutt'rine from afar, 
 With fullen murmur deep'ning in it's courfe, 
 Burft rattling all around in difcord wild, 
 When, midft the horror of the awful fcene, 
 The holy Prophet learn'd thofe high behefts 
 By which to lead his facred flock, and mew 
 Types of a purer plan in days to come ; 
 On that fame day, the ftill more facred flock 
 
 Of
 
 6 THE GIFT OF TONGUES: 
 
 Of Chrift, who inly mourn'd his recent lofs, 
 Stol'n from the clamours of the impious croud 
 In thought purfu'd his fteps to Heav'n, and cheer'd 
 Each others griefs with thoughts of blifs to come. 
 
 Not hopelefs did they grieve; for o'er the Soul 
 
 His laft bequeft had fhed a gleam of Joy; 
 
 " A comforter to come " reftrain'd their tears, 
 
 A ftedfaft faith fupprefs'd the rifing figh, 
 
 And expectation rais'd their downcaft Eyes. 
 
 Nor vain their hope ; for now with fudden burft 
 
 A rufhing Noife through all the facred Band 
 
 Silence profound and fix'd attention claim'd, 
 
 A chilling terror crept through ev'ry heart, 
 
 Mute was each tongue, and pale was ev'ry face : 
 
 The rough roar ceas'd; when, borne on fiery wings, 
 
 The dazzlincr Emanation from above 
 
 In briehteft vifion round each facred head 
 
 DifTus'd it's vivid beams; myfterious light! 
 
 That rufhed impetuous through th' awaking mind, 
 
 Whilft new Ideas filid the paffive Soul, 
 
 Faft croudincj in with fweeteft violence. 
 
 Twas
 
 A P O E M. 7 
 
 Twas then amazd they caught the glorious flame, 
 Spontaneous flow'd their all-perfuafive words, 
 Warm from the heart, and to the heart addrefs'd 
 Deep funk their force in ev'ry captiv'd ear. 
 
 O fee the crowd, preffing with eager fteps 
 To catch the flowing periods as they fall • 
 See how, with wond'ring rapture, they devour 
 The pleafing accents of their native tongue ; 
 See how, with eyes uplifted, they advance, 
 With out-ftretch'd hands and fmiles of focial love 
 To greet the part'ners of their native Soil ; 
 O catch the varying tranfports in their looks, 
 In awful wonder fee each paflion loft, 
 When ev'ry Nation urg'd an equal claim. 
 Fond men forbear ; and know, the voice of Truth 
 By weak reftraints of Language unconfin'd 
 Flows, independent, from that radiant fhrine 
 From whence the day-fpring draws her glitt'ring ftore 
 To fhine on all with undiftinguiuYd ray, 
 And fcatter dazzling light on ev'ry clime. 
 
 Immortal
 
 8 THE GIFT OF TONGUES; 
 
 Immortal Truth! by Infpiration taught, 
 Thou fpurn'ft the fervile chains of human art- 
 In native majefty array'd, thou ihed'ft 
 Thy radiant beams through all this vale below ; 
 Thy piercing voice refounds through diftant climes, 
 By all diftinguifh'd, and by all ador'd. 
 Thou fat'ft enthron'd above yon azure vault 
 And mock'dft the tedious toil of human wit, 
 What time at Babel's haplefs tow'r they ftrove 
 To refcue meaning from the load of founds, 
 And give precifion to the voice confus'd, 
 Reftoring Heav'n's moft pleafing gift to Man. 
 
 Thee neither wind nor wave can circumfcribe, 
 Wide o'er where Ocean fpreads his ample bed 
 Thou flieft at large, to vifit evVy fhore, 
 And pour thy facred voice in ev'ry heart 
 In language univerfal. What avail * 
 To thy all-piercing eye, and tongue heav'n-taught 
 The nice diftinclions of the critic art, 
 The foolifh pride of letterd pedantry, 
 Rifing, by flow degrees and labour'd care, 
 
 From
 
 A P O E M. 9 
 
 From the flrft lifp, which on the infant tongue 
 
 Hangs with uncertain cadence, to the height 
 
 Of Learning's uttnoft pow'r? With fcorn thou view'ft 
 
 The erring paths of Science, falfly call'd ; 
 
 Tracing her flow fteps from her Eaftern home 
 
 Whence firft, in clouded majefty, (he beam'd 
 
 A tranfient glance, and tempted the purfuit, 
 
 Thou mark'ft her progrefs from the rapid Nile, 
 
 Where Thebes receiv'd her at her hundred o-ates. 
 
 And feeft her roll her ever-wand'ring way 
 
 To milder climes, when Greece with open arms 
 
 Receiv'd her credulous; Old Orpheus then 
 
 And Linus fung their fabled lays, and fpread 
 
 A lengthen'd train of philofophic lies. 
 
 Mocking thou view'ft the pride of human wit, 
 
 Whilft Athens felf, fair Science' fav'rite feat, 
 
 And Rome Imperial, vers'd in ev'ry lore, 
 
 Succefslefs toil to bring thee forth to view. 
 
 Thou feeft unnumber'd Syftems rife and fall,' 
 
 And ev'ry learned age bring new deceits; 
 
 Whilft tow'ring Pride ft ill lifts her ready hand 
 
 To crulh the fond delufion of the day, 
 
 B And
 
 io THE GIFT OF TONGUES: 
 
 And inftant rear a ftronger in it's place. 
 
 But O! this blindnefs may not ever be, 
 
 And vague Opinion, with ufurping hand, 
 
 Bright Wifdom's fceptre may not ever wield ; 
 
 Thou fpeak'il Immortal Truth! beneath each pole 
 
 The trembling Earth acknowledges thy voice ; 
 
 Pride catches quick the mortifying found, 
 
 Far, far aloof flies ev'ry golden dream 
 
 And all is blindfold Error and diftrefs. 
 
 O! 'twas That potent voice, whofe magic pow'r 
 
 Burft through the organs of the facred Band, 
 
 What time O Salem midft thy hallow'd walls 
 
 The mingled crowd from manv a diftant realm 
 
 In flx'd attention hung upon their words, 
 
 Which, with conviction fraught, flow'd unreftrain'd, 
 
 Though, fkill'd alone in Virtue's facred lore, 
 
 They never had employ'd life's precious hours 
 
 In learning's paths j without proud Science wife. 
 
 By weakeft: minifters th' Almighty thus 
 Makes known his facred will, and (hews his pow'r : 
 By Him infpir'd they fpeak with urgent tongue 
 
 Autho-
 
 A P O E M. ii 
 
 Authoritative, whilft th' illumin'd bread 
 Heaves with unwonted drengthj High as their theme 
 Their great conceptions rife in rapt'rous flow, 
 As quick the ready organs catch the thought, 
 And, in fuch drains as Science could not teach, 
 Bear it, in all it's radiance, to the Heart ; 
 The lid'ning throng there feel it's blefs'd effeft, 
 And deep conviction glows in ev'ry bread. 
 
 See ev'ry crime which dains the human mind 
 At their ftrong bidding take it's rapid flight : 
 Delufion's dreams no more infect the Soul, 
 High-boading Pride, fierce Wrath, impetuous Lud, 
 And Avarice fwelling with hydropic third, 
 Fade, like unwholefome dews before the Sun: 
 They fade to rife no more; for fee a band 
 Of radiant Virtues feize their late abode, 
 And damp the manfion with the feal of Truth. 
 There heav'nly Knowledge fhines in glitt'ring pride 5 
 And Patience fits, with meek fubmiffive fmile 
 Difarming dern Oppreffion; Juftice there 
 Ere£ts her rigid ted of right and wrong 5 
 
 b 2, And
 
 12 THE GIFT OF TONGUES: 
 
 And there, with God's own armour all-begirt, 
 
 Stands Fortitude, erect, in Chriftian ftrength; 
 
 There Temprance ftands, with ever-watchful Eye, 
 
 To curb the Paffions with a fteady rein • 
 
 And Candour there her golden rule difplays 
 
 To acl: by others as thy heart muft wifh 
 
 They, in like circumftance, mould acl: by thee ; 
 
 But chiefly there, in ever-fixed feat, 
 
 Sits heav'n-born Charity; her eagle Eye 
 
 Thrown o'er the wide expanfe of Nature's works, 
 
 Where, nobly fcorning ev'ry meaner tye, 
 
 She deems all human ills her own, and fighs 
 
 If ought of mis'ry dwell beneath the Sun. 
 
 With fuch bright guefts the Chriftian mind is ftor'd 
 
 Pledges of trueft Knowledge, Joy, and Peace : 
 
 Thefe to make known became the facred tafk 
 
 By Heav'n imposed upon the chofen band; 
 
 Thrice happy they to fuch high office call'd 
 
 The bleffed minifters of God's high will ! 
 
 For them the fulnefs of his might is (hewn 
 
 O'crleaping the ftrong bounds of Nature's law; 
 
 Grim Death for them contracts his hafty ftride, 
 
 And
 
 J 3 
 
 A POEM. 
 
 And checks his Dart ev'n in the a£r to flrike; 
 
 His horrid merTeno;ers Difeafe and Pain 
 
 Loofe their remorfelefs grafp unwillingly, 
 
 And leave their prey to eafe and thankfulnefs 5 
 
 For them bright Wifdom opens all her ftores, 
 
 Her golden treafures fpreading to their view, 
 
 Whilft Infpiration's all-enliv'ning light 
 
 Hangs hov'ring o'er their heads in glitt'ring blaze; 
 
 Warm'd by the ray. they pour the facred ftrain 
 
 In Eloquence feraphic ; Truths divine, 
 
 For ever regifterd in Heav'n's high page, 
 
 Flow from their lips, and glow within their breads y, 
 
 Amaz'd they feel the facred extacy, 
 
 With heav'nly rapture, thrill in ev'ry nerve ; 
 
 Whilft in their flowing words, with Wifdom fraught 
 
 Celeflial, mines the heav'nly Spirit pure. 
 
 This is no fancy 'd pow'r, no idle dream, 
 
 No flatt'ring fcheme by heated Fancy form'd, 
 
 The genuine Influence fills each raptur'd Soul, 
 
 And beams in ev ry eye confpicuous. 
 
 Far other flame the vain Enthuiiaft feels 
 
 When,
 
 14 THE GIFT OF TONGUES: 
 
 When, Reafon by delufive Fancy led 
 
 In fad captivity, the Thoughts confus'd 
 
 Rufh on his mind in dark and doubtful fenfe, 
 
 His mind a chaos of blind zeal, that fpurns 
 
 Th' unerring clue which mild Difcretion lends. 
 
 Perchance the claming images ftrike out 
 
 Some languid ray of cafual light; how foon 
 
 The weak and momentary glance is loft 
 
 Beneath a load of wild obfcurity. 
 
 Much does he labour with fome weighty thought, 
 
 Of Faith, of Grace, of Heav'n, perchance of Hell 
 
 But all in vain he draws the thread confus'd 
 
 To tedious length, the end eludes his fearch, 
 
 And leaves him wrapt in wild perplexity 
 
 Recoiling ftill on the fame beaten track. 
 
 Thus wayward Fancy with her vagrant blaze 
 
 Mifleads the eye of Ignorance ; mean while 
 
 In vain the fteady lamp of Reafon burns 
 
 The fure and fober guide to Truth's retreat. 
 
 But ah! confider well ye felf-infpir'd, 
 
 Ere Fancy, drooping on the bed of Death, 
 
 Leaves ye forlorn to feek for Reafon's aid, 
 
 Confider
 
 A P O E M. 15 
 
 Confider well, are thefe the genuine marks 
 
 Of heav'nly Infpiration? Was it thus 
 
 In wild extatic rants and dubious phrafe, 
 
 In doclxines intricate and terms perplex'd 
 
 The fimple meflengers of Jefus fpake? 
 
 O fearch and fee, were not. their doctrines pure, 
 
 And in fuch plain and modeft phrafe exprefs'd 
 
 As bed befits Inftru&ion's wholefome plan ? 
 
 Mighty to fave, they fought no other pow'r, 
 
 No meed, but that which confcious Virtue feels- 
 
 When fhe conducts fome haplefs wand'rer back 
 
 To paths, without her aid, for ever loft. 
 
 If fuch your heav'nly aim, your lives unblam'd 
 
 Will give, like theirs, an earned of your truth , 
 
 If, daily train'd to ev'ry virtuous a£t, 
 
 You tread the fteps the bleffed Jefus trod 
 
 Through the ftreight path, the way of holinefs, 
 
 Then may ye lead your flocks to his abode ; 
 
 But O beware ! think not the heav'nly gueft 
 
 Can fix his refidence with ought impure ; 
 
 Think not the heart which Pride or Int'reft guides 
 
 Can ever be the feat of heav'nly grace 5 
 
 If
 
 i6 THE GIFT OF TONGUES,k. 
 
 If yet the holy Spirit deigns to dwell 
 
 In earthly domes, 'tis not in thofe defiPd 
 
 With Pride, with Fraud, with Rapine, or with Luft j 
 
 Midft the rough foliage of the thorny brake 
 
 The cluftring Grape not blulhes, and the Fig 
 
 Decks not the prick'ly Thiftle's barren ftalk, 
 
 Ev'n thus (hall all be meafur'd by their fruits ; 
 
 So fpake the living Oracle of truth : 
 
 O never, never lofe this facred guide, 
 
 By ev'ry blaft of doctrine borne away, 
 
 But gazing ever on the Gofpel light, 
 
 That endlefs fource of evidence and truth, 
 
 Prove ev'ry doctrine by that golden rule, 
 
 And " try the Spirits if they be of God." 
 
 N I S.
 
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