Dickens 
 A posthumous poem of the late Thomas Dickens
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 FREDERIC THOMAS BLANCHARD 
 ENDOWMENT FUND
 
 POSTHUMOUS POEM 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 Late THOMAS DICKENS, Efq; 
 
 LIEUT. COLONEL IN THE FIRST REGIMENT OF FOOT GUARDS, 
 
 DEDICATED, BY PERMISSION, 
 
 TO HIS Ru inu nIGHNESS THE 
 
 DUKE OF GLOUCESTER; 
 
 TO WHICH IS ADDED 
 
 THE GENEALOGY OF THE AUTHOR FROM K. EDWARD III. 
 
 ALSO 
 
 A FEW GRATEFUL STANZAS TO THE DEITY, 
 THREE MONTHS PREVIOUS TO HIS DEATH, SEPT. 21, 1789* 
 
 CAMBRIDGE, 
 
 Printed by J. ARCHDEACON Printer to the UNIVERSITY^ 
 
 And may be had of the Editor C. DICKENS, LL.D. near Huntingdon, 
 
 and of T. PAYNE & Son, Bookfellers* London. 
 
 MDCQXC.
 
 
 A complete Lift of the Names of the Subfcribers, propofed to 
 have been printed with the following little Poem, (written in 1781,) 
 is by particular Defire for the prefent poftponed. 
 
 C.D. Editor.
 
 TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS 
 
 of fcsviJ x.n 
 
 THE 
 
 DUKE OF GLOUCESTER. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 HAVING obtained Permifliom to dedi- 
 cate to your Royal Highnefs, this Poft- 
 humous Poem of a Brother, who had formerly 
 the Honour of being a Lieutenant Colonel in 
 the Firft Regiment of Foot Guards, 
 
 I moft freely own, the Defign of making it 
 public, (however honoured with your Name,) 
 is too apparent to be diflembled, and almoft too 
 affecting to be mentioned without fome Feeling, 
 and real Concern. 
 
 Would 
 858556
 
 DEDICATION. 
 
 Would to God, the Author had lived to 
 have made his own moft grateful Acknowledge- 
 ment, which in fo imperfe& a Manner is offered 
 and attempted, 
 
 By, Sir, 
 
 Your Royal Highnefs's moft obliged, 
 moft obedient, 
 
 and moft humble Servant, 
 
 HEMINGFORD, 
 near Huntingdon. 
 
 CHARLES DICKENS.
 
 CONTEMPLATIO MATUTINA. 
 
 TH E pious -works* of Home's infpired pen, 
 In dubious Verfe, untun'd with jingling Rhime, 
 
 Too feeble to afcend th' Aonian Mount f, 
 
 Trembling 
 
 * , Paraphrafe and Commentary on the PfaUer or Pfalms of David, 
 
 2 Vols. 4*0. 
 
 ,. Sermons preached before the Univerfity of Oxford, Vols. 8 
 Occafional Sermons- fingle. 
 
 Oxford, and firft Lord of the Treafury. 
 
 t The Aonian Mountains were the haunt of the Mufes, according to 
 
 Virgil, Georg. iii. n. 
 
 Aonio rediens deducam vertice Mufas. 
 A
 
 Trembling I fing 
 
 impell'd by Zeal fincere, 
 
 To chant the Di&ates of a grateful Heart, 
 Though born a ftranger to the Mufes' haunt. 
 
 Nor thou, dread Prefident, difdain t* accept 
 The humble Tribute of a ruftic Bard 
 That foars adventurous, to record thy praife 
 On pinions, unadorn'd with brilliant plumes. 
 
 No wings of golden gleam, like Maids Sons*, 
 With plum'd Talaria pendent to his feet, 
 Bright as a -Comet in th' ethereal fpace, 
 Suftain his flight t' invoke the Mufes' aid, 
 In the pure Atmofphere of Phocianfpring\ 
 
 Delight- 
 
 * Mercury's winged Shoes or Sandals, called Malaria, and extend to the 
 Ancles. 
 
 at primum Talaria nectit 
 
 Aurea Virg. ^n. iv.
 
 ( 3 ) 
 
 Delightful fountain * of the tuneful Nine. 
 Bold to affed a theme, that claims a Lyre 
 Tun'd by the ableft of the Mufes throng; 
 But Gratitude infpires the arduous tajk, 
 And fond conceit infinuates applaufe 
 That furthers, and fupports th' ideal plan. 
 
 May gen'rous Candour patronize the deed, 
 That glows with warmth tho' void of f acred Fire ! 
 Cenfure awards its chaftizements in vain^ 
 When Zeal and Gratitude inflame the Pen, 
 
 Let 
 
 * Delightful fountain, near Panafiian Mount, facred to Phoebus, and 
 the tuneful Nine. 
 
 Note, the Mufes are reprefented by the ancient Poets, to have their chief 
 Residence and Temples, on the Aonian Hills, in Bceotia; the air being much 
 purer than in the Valleys: and the Caftalian fpring at the foot of mount Par- 
 naflus, in the fmall country of Phocis in Greece, is peculiarly facred to the 
 Mufes. Whence they are called Caftalides. Virg. /En. vi. 
 
 Aortas in mantes ut duxerit una fororum. 
 A 2
 
 Let Unitarians, Pyrrhonifts, and Jews, 
 With all the diverfe fpawn of Scoffers loud, 
 (Freed from the Yoke of prejudice and fcorn) 
 With ferious Mind and honeft Heart, perufe 
 The faving Truths of Home s enlighten d page \ 
 They'll thankfully confefs the mighty God, 
 At Eethfhem born (the Saviour of Mankind!} 
 
 Hufh then, foul Prejudice, thou barren trunk 
 Of ignorance, avaunt! nor longer hold, 
 Darkling and void, the reas'ning pow'rs of Man 
 From the fweet intercourfe of facred Truth, 
 The fource of Light, and fandtifying Grace 
 That purifies the mind, from groffer fenfe 
 To contemplate above this terrene Globe, 
 On obje&s immaterial, pure, divine, 
 To recognize by Faith, th' incarnate Son, 
 
 Coeval
 
 ( 5 ) 
 
 Coeval with the Father God of God! 
 
 Born in the world a Prophet, Prieft, and King. 
 
 j/t}!nfn If B f'O 
 
 Myfterious truth ! above the utmoft range 
 Of Man's ideal pow'rs * above the fphere 
 Of Angels, to unfold and what alone, 
 Omnipotence could form, Omn ifcience fcan f. 
 
 Faith then fupplies what Reafon can't attain 
 By its own light, and warms the confcious Heart 
 To homage, and adore the triune God y 
 Incomprehenfible to finite Minds. 
 
 Rever'd the Man! whofe learned Works difplay, 
 In the chafte language of a pious heart, 
 
 The 
 
 * See Letters on the Mind, and the Soul's perceptive Faculties, by the 
 Rev. Mr. Petvin. 
 
 f The reftrictive Adverb (only) muft be underftood as an Adjunct to 
 ifriencey fully to exprefs the fame.
 
 ( 6 ) 
 
 The Wifdom, Pow'r, and boundlefs Love of God, 
 Redeeming Man from Death's eternal doom 
 That fatal fentence pafs'd, on all mankind! 
 By the vicarious death of Chrift, his Son 
 The righteous branch of Jefle's wither'd ftem, 
 By hypoftatic Union, God and Man. 
 
 Stupendous act of Grace! exalting Man 
 To heav'nly Manfions of Angelic Blifs; 
 The empyrean, where th' Almighty King 
 Reigns inacceffible in radiant beams 
 Of Majefty, and Glory f elf -fupr erne \ 
 All-bounteous meed to Sinners! freely giv'n 
 In virtue of their Faith, in God the Son 
 Not fuch a fteril Faith, as idly floats 
 On the bare furface of the worldly mind, 
 And yields a cold aflent to Truths reveal'd ; 
 But fuch a vital principle of Soul, 
 
 As
 
 ( 7 ) 
 
 As warms and actuates the inward Man 
 To praclife Works of Piety and Love *. 
 A fruitlefs principle foon fades away, 
 Doom'd like the barren Fig-tree to a Curfe, 
 Ignobly droops, and withers in difgrace. 
 
 Ye hallow'd walls of Wainfleefs t ftately Dome; 
 To Wolfeys% next in grandeur, next in fame: 
 Sacred to learning, and religion's lore! 
 Where erft the gentle Bickerjlaf^ imbib'd 
 The pond'rous Mafs of philofophic Wealth 
 
 More 
 \.^O Ho !V> ,!>-flor!r^ a " 
 
 * Gal. v. 6. Faith working by Love in a large fenfe, comprehending 
 both Tables; as St. Paul expreffes in another place Love is the fulfilling 
 of the Law. Rom. xiii. 10. 
 
 . 
 
 -f- He was Founder of Magdalen College, and Bilhop of Winchefter. 
 
 J Wolfey was Prime Minifter to Henry VIII. and Founder of Chrift 
 Church, Oxford. 
 
 Mr. Addifon was a Member of Magdalen College, after having received 
 a fund of Claflical Learning under the excellent Dr. Walker, at the Char- 
 terhoule.
 
 ( 8 ) 
 
 More durable than Gold, or precious Stones; 
 
 (How would he glory now, to tune his lyre 
 
 To unifons with Home's prophetic tongue? 
 
 Whence vibrate Wifdom's word, and Truths profound, 
 
 Precious as Jafper- ftone *, as Cryftal clear, 
 
 In diction bland, to edify Mankind:} 
 
 Hail, venerable Manfion, hail, rejoice! 
 Religion's Advocate, thy fcepter fways, 
 And with paternal Love regards thy Sons, 
 Gently to lead them with a Shepherd's care 
 In Wifdom's facred path, to Truths fub lime , 
 Of fragrance pure, ambrofial, full of Grace, 
 Bright as the fpangled Dew that gleams on top 
 Of Hermon f> doping down on Sion's lap, 
 
 And 
 
 * Rev. xxi. 1 1. Her light was like unto a ftone moft precious, even like 
 a jafper ftone, clear as cryftal. 
 
 f See Pfalm cxxxiii.
 
 ( 9 ) 
 
 And mantling o'er her flcirts in pearly drops, 
 Defcends to fertilize the Meads below; 
 Or precious ointment pour'd on Aaron's head, 
 That fmoothly glides adown his furrow'd cheeks 
 To confecrate his beard, and coftly Veft. 
 
 Happy Society ! where Learning reigns, 
 Obfequious to Religion's mild behefts; 
 A faithful handmaid to fagacious Minds, 
 In tracing Nature through the various forms 
 Of vifible Creation ; and exploring 
 That Myftery of Love, reveal'd to Man, 
 In the unerring word of Grace, and Truth. 
 
 Hail, Alma Mater!* Learning's ancient Seat; 
 Where pure Religion's native luftre fliines 
 Triumphant o'er the pageantry of Rome; 
 
 Grac'd 
 
 Oxford Univerfity. 
 
 B
 
 Grac'd by th' aufpicious patronage of Home! * 
 Where Wifdom's Seers, fage Advocates of Truth, 
 Immur'd in Lit'rature, and calm repofe, 
 Unveil her my flic, and prophetic Charms 
 Jlluftrate, and explain the doubtful Text 
 And propagate the Faith, from pole to pole. 
 
 Thefe able Champions, firm as Baftions ftand, 
 Proud Bulwarks of the Church; aflail'd in vain, 
 By all the artful batteries of Schifm y 
 Arrang'd in every hoftile form of War; 
 And ftrengthen'd by th' auxiliary pow'rs 
 Of Diffipation, in its full career; 
 While Vice, infidious Vice, undaunted reigns^ 
 And captives to her Lure, the treach'rous Heart, 
 Prone to beguile that rectitude of Will, 
 That forms and conftitutes the moral Man ; 
 
 Extin- 
 * Dr. Home was Vicechancellor feveral years.
 
 Extinguifliing all principles of Grace> 
 That polifli and adorn, the human mind. 
 
 See recreant Sons, though in her Bofom train'd, 
 Defert the Church, and violate her Rights, 
 Renounce her Doctrines, and abjure her Creeds 
 Thofe abftract Records of her holy Faith y 
 Eftablifh'd and maintain'd in Seas of Blood. 
 Sad prelude of licentious Anarchy ! 
 When bafe Apoftates impioufly prophane 
 The facred inftitutions of the Church ; 
 Defpife her Ordinances, and aflume 
 A pow'r (accordant only to the State) 
 To inftitute new modes of facrifice, 
 Subverfive of found principles of Faith, 
 And difientaneous to the public Code, 
 That dictates Uniformity of Pray'r, 
 
 E 2 With
 
 ( 12 ) 
 
 With correfpondent fentiments of Heart, 
 In union with Affiance^ Peace> and Love. 
 
 Such latitudinarian Schemes beguile 
 Unftable minds, and generate Debates, 
 Difcordant to Religion's peaceful Mien, 
 And ms\\2,z foul Di-vifions : May they meet 
 An early Blaft, and wither in the Budl 
 May unity of Faith matur'd by Grace, 
 Diffufively abound in focial Love! 
 Still preffing tow'rd the mark of th' heav'nly prize* 
 And terminate in boundlefs Charity! 
 
 Hail, peaceful Seat of philofophic Minds, 
 Contemplating Creation's vaft Expanfe, 
 
 In 
 
 * Philip, iii. 14. I pre fs toward the mark, for the prize of the high call- 
 ing of God in Chrift Jefus.
 
 ( '3 ) 
 
 In fweet Security from worldly Cares ! 
 
 Where Science fpreads her banners of Renown, 
 
 To lure the Studious to her clofe Embrace, 
 
 Culling the choiceft of her bofom Stores, 
 
 As Bees are wont to fip the fweeteft Flowers ; 
 
 So Miners delv'd the Lydian fands for Gold, 
 
 Where erft Padolus * rolFd its amber flreams, 
 
 And fertiliz'd the banks with golden Ore; 
 
 The rich Demefne of Croefus t, fam'd for Wealth. 
 
 Ah, peaceful Seat ! howchang'd from thofe dread Times ! 
 When Tyranny ufurp'd the Britifli Throne, 
 And papal Zeal the regal Scepter fway'd; 
 That doleful Epoch! when a bigot Queen 
 
 Breath'd 
 
 * Pa&olus, a river of Lydia in lefier Afia, famous for its golden fands 
 firft difcovered by Midas, King of Phrygia of whom we have a very hu- 
 morous Fable in Ovid Met. ix. 5. 
 
 f Croefus was the laft King of Lydia, and drew great Riches from that 
 golden River.
 
 ( '4 ) 
 
 Breath'd her Anathemas on martyr d Saint s\ 
 
 When lo, thy Temples groan' d in fcenes of Blood, 
 
 To flake the Vengeance of a Woman s Zeal> 
 
 Scarce known to Females fympathetic Breads, 
 
 That glow with Feelings nat'rally benign. 
 
 'Twere Charity to caft Oblivion's Veil, 
 
 O'er this foul period of the regal Line; 
 
 Difgraceful Record of intol'rant Zeal ! 
 
 Here Names, that grace the World's hiftoric Page 
 
 Great Cranmer, Latimer *, and Ridley bled ; 
 
 Illuftrious Vi&ims of the Papal Scourge! 
 
 And in the Embers of a flaming Pile, 
 
 (The dread Maufoleum of thefe holy Men ) 
 
 Laid a Foundation for that glorious Work 
 
 Of Reformation^ from the Romijh Church. 
 
 * Bithop Latimer, when tied to the Stake, exclaimed aloud we fhall this 
 Day, I truft in God, light fuch a Torch in England, as fhall never be ex- 
 tinguifhed! Hift. of England,
 
 ( '5 ) 
 
 A work eftfoons attain'd when the clear Dawn 
 Of Gofpel Truth, array 'd in Light divine, 
 Beam'd on Eliza's Heart, and blefs'd the Land; 
 And fhone with brighter Luftre on her Brow, 
 Than all the fparkling jewels of her Crown; 
 Yea, twin'd more wreaths of laurel to her Fame, 
 Than all the vanquifh'd Armaments of Spain, 
 Freighted* with golden Ingots from Peru. 
 
 Here, let me interweave a plaintive Sigh 
 And penfive drop a fympathetic Tear, 
 For thefe Peruvian Souls f in bondage dire, 
 Or yelling hideoufly in burning Pyres, 
 
 Or 
 
 * When the Spanifh Armada was destroyed in the Englifh Channel, two 
 large Galleons, freighted with Chefts of Gold, were taken by Sir Francis 
 Drake. Hift. of England. 
 
 f The inhuman Cruelties of the Spanifh Invaders, and afterwards of the 
 Jefuits, are too barbarous to be mentioned! It was a common thing to kill 
 an Indian, without the leaft offence given, to feed their Dogs; and to lend a 
 brother Spaniard a quarter of the Carcafe, to be repaid when he killed a flave. 
 Monfters indeed!
 
 Or torn by Blood-Hounds train'd up to the Chafe 
 Of Men like Beafts, what indignation rends 
 The gen'rous Breaft when well-attefted Fads, 
 More horrible than Thefe, recur to mind ! 
 
 The Mufe revolts, when courted to rehear fe 
 Hifpania's MafTacres infouthern Clime-, 
 Well might thefe Pagans with indignant fcorn, 
 Abjure the Creed fuch Monfters propagate, 
 More favage far than They though guis'd like Men 
 In form by Nature, vileft Beajls of Prey. 
 Heav'n grant no Miffions ftigmatiz'd like Thefe, 
 No fimilar Mifdeeds may (lain the Page 
 Of Britifh Annals^ in the wejiern World! * 
 
 '.' ,. jgjy Glad 
 
 * 'Tis much to be feared however, that our Brethren, or fome of them of 
 the weftern Continent, treat their Negro Slaves more like Beafts of burthen, 
 than human Creatures. 
 
 See the Bifhop of Chefter's Sermon before the Corporation for propagat- 
 ing the Gofpel, 1783.
 
 ( '7 ) 
 
 Glad to recal th' Idea firft in Mind, 
 
 And pay juft Tribute to thofe Jhining Lights^ 
 
 That fludy to adorn the Church reform d> 
 
 In Gofpel purity, and bond of Peace ; 
 
 I once more wander to the Mufe's Seat, 
 
 The fair Oxonia! dignified by Fame, 
 
 The grand Emporium of the lib'ral Arts ; 
 
 Where kind Apollo deals his choiceft Gifts, 
 
 And the gay Mufes hold their midnight Wakes, 
 
 To confecrate, with heliconian Dew, 
 
 The votive Bards, attendant at their Shrine, 
 
 On bended knee, (pale Cynthia glimmering round,) 
 
 To fupplicate, and catch poetic Fire^ 
 
 To warm their Breads in Fida $* Jlrains to fing, 
 
 Or tune their Harps to Sion's plaintive Songs. 
 
 See 
 
 * The pious and elegant Vida, is not enough known toEnglifh Readers 5 
 but a late Tranflation of his Poem, (called the Chrifliad^] by the Rev, 
 and Learned Mr. Cranwell, formerly of St. John's, and Tutor of Sidney Col- 
 lege, Cambridge ; and, however more deferving, only now Rector ofRip- 
 
 C ton
 
 See crowds of Sojourners * from diftant Climes> 
 Reform'd from Error, and from Vice reclaim'd, 
 Pilgrims, and Palmers eager to embrace, 
 That purity of Dodrine, taught by Horne^ 
 Faithful Expofitor of Holy Writ! 
 
 Bleft halcyon Days of Unity and Peace! 
 When reverend Sages mutu'lly adhere 
 To modes of Worfhip, uniform and pure; 
 And faithful to their Charge, maintain good Works -(, 
 
 And 
 
 ton Abbot, in Huntingdonmire, will be a means of putting it (as it ought 
 to be) into the hands of every ferious Englim Reader of Chriftianity. One 
 of our own Poets faith of Vida's poetical Talents, that 
 
 With fweeteft Notes each rifing Temple rung:. 
 
 A Raphael painted, and a Vida fung: 
 
 Immortal Vida ! on whofe honour'd Brow, 
 
 The Poet's bays, and Critic's Ivy grow: 
 
 Cremona now (hall ever boaft thy Name, 
 
 As next in place to Mantua, next in Fame. POPE. 
 
 * Foreigners at Oxford, are called Sojourners, and wear an appropriate 
 Habit, and rank above Commoners. 
 
 J- Titus iii. 8. Careful to maintain good Works.
 
 ( '9 ) 
 
 And harmonize their Minds in Grace and 
 
 While Home* and Bagot zealous Champions ftand 
 
 For Faith as once deliver'd to the Saints^. 
 
 Let Bell no more his Demonftration boaft, 
 Perplexing tender Minds with novel Modes, 
 That gender Seeds of Herefy and Strife \ 
 (The baneful fcource of Infidelity!) 
 But once admonijhed%, prudently fupprefs 
 His miffive Darts, that gall tK eftabliJKd Church, 
 And undermine her Polity and Laws. 
 
 Mean- 
 
 * While Home and Bagot. See Dr. Bagot's Letter (late Bifhop of 
 Norwich, now of St. Afaph) to Dr. Bell, formerly of Magdalen, in Cam- 
 bridge, late Chaplain to the Princefs Amelia, and now a prebendary of 
 Weftminfter, on his particular Enquiry into the Nature and Defign of the 
 Lord's Supper. 
 
 f- Jude, ver. 3. Contend for the Faith, which was once delivered unto the 
 Saints. 
 
 J Unnatural as it may feem, the Church's pretended Friends, who feed 
 largely on her Revenues, are often the forwarded to lift up their Heels 
 againft Her. Dr. Home, on Pfalm xli. 9. 
 
 C 2
 
 ( 20 ) 
 
 Meanwhile, let Pray'rs, as incenfe pure, afcend, 
 With fantfity of Heart, to Sion's King! 
 (Who breaks the Bow, and knaps the Spear in twain) 
 From the pure Empyrean, where He fits, 
 High thron'd above all height, Omnipotent! 
 To view with faving health, this Foe-girt Ifte, 
 And change her bloody Garments, into Robes 
 Of placid white fweet drapery of Love! 
 Then Righteoufnefs and Peace, fliall wipe away 
 All tears of Sorrow, fave for Sins alone \ 
 And quell the rage of defolating War, 
 That gorges fea and land, with human Blood. 
 Dreadful portent of Heaven's uplifted Arm! 
 To hurl Deftrudion on a guilty Realm, 
 Immers'd in Senfuality and Lu/l*. 
 
 But 
 
 * The late attempt of an heretical Divine of public notoriety, to autho- 
 rife Polygamy, upon fcripture principles, and fome other profligate Publi- 
 tions of the like evil tendency, feem to juftify this Idea.
 
 But lo, the fatal Sentence yet may hang, 
 In tremulous fufpence, for George s fake; 
 The virtuous branch of royal Alfred's line, 
 Sure guardian and Defender of the Faith, 
 That Grace may ftill abound and Piety, 
 With manly Zeal, invigorate the Land\ 
 Firm bulwarks of Defence, and found of Yore, 
 A ftronger Phalanx than th'embattl'd Hoft; 
 When David flew the mighty Philiftine, 
 Yclefid of Gathy and terrible in Arms. 
 
 Thus, clad in panoply of lively Faith, 
 Our gallant Henry won the doubtful Field, 
 At Agincourt, and flew the numrous Foe. 
 Thus, in ftrong proof of Virtue, Wallias Pride, 
 The youthful Edward brav'd ihegal/ic Hoft, 
 Of threefold force, and urg'd th' unequal Fight', 
 Fame's Records mark the memorable Day, 
 
 That
 
 ( 22 ) 
 
 That delug'd Crefly's fields with royal Bloody 
 And gain'd to Wallia's Prince th' armorial Creft 
 Of OJlrich Plumes, won from the valiant John, 
 Bohemia's king, and grand Ally of France^ 
 Ich dien*) (I ferve) the Motto to denote, 
 And fymbolize, a royal Volunteer. 
 
 'Twere endlefs to recite th' exploits of Men 
 Array 'd in Righteoufnefs ; the puiflant Acts 
 Of Jofhua, and the Maccabees fuffice. 
 
 Be thine the Charge, in thefe degenerate days, 
 Thou righteous Man! (for none but righteous Men, 
 
 Can 
 
 * Has device young Edward afiumed to himfelf in memory of that glorious 
 Day, and has been adopted by all the fucceeding Princes of Wales: in this 
 Battle (which was fought Aug. 26, 1346) John, King of Bohemia, James, 
 King of Majorca, Ralph, Duke of Lorrain, and the flower of the French 
 Noblefle, were (lain upon the field of Battle, with more than 30,000 Men at 
 Arms, (vid. Hift. of England) alfo Joihua Barnes's Hift. of the Black Prince. 
 This Joihua lies buried in the Chancel at H. A. Huntingdonfhire.
 
 ( 23 ) 
 
 Can audience claim) to deprecate the wrath, 
 Of Heav'n's indignant Arm, by fervent Pray'r; 
 Firm as a ftately Cedar fpreading wide, 
 On Lebanon's proud top, exert thy ftrength, 
 Thou Man of God! in finful Man's behoof; 
 Lift up thy voice to Heav'n's all-gracious Lord, 
 T' avert th' impending Storm, furcharg'd with Woe I 
 And fave a Realm emaciate, and forlorn, 
 Diftending ev'ry nerve, and vital Cord, 
 To feed the cravings of infatiate War ; 
 Like the voracious Bird *, as Poets feign, 
 Devouring her own entrails; paffing ftrangef 
 
 Be thine the further tafk, (arduous I ween,) 
 To preach Repentance to a thoughtlefs Race, 
 And work Converfion, in their Jtony Hearts, 
 
 Who 
 
 * The bag or pouch, which grows under the throat of the Pelican, and 
 wherein fhe lodges her food, may pofiibly be the ground of this extraordi- 
 nary Fiction.
 
 ( 24 ) 
 
 Who wear from Childhood, the Redeemer's Crofs, 
 A fign imprefs'd of covenanted Grace ! 
 And own perhaps, (when pale-ey'd ficknefs warps 
 This crazy Frame) thofe pledges of his Love, 
 When dying, to redeem their fouls from Death, 
 Such primmer Rudiments, they'll all profefs, 
 The gay, the vicious, and ambitious Slave; 
 But by example more than precepts drawn, 
 In life, and manners, idolize the World : 
 Though bound by folemn Compact to renounce, 
 Its pomps, and vanities, and finful Lufts: 
 Such the prevailing features of the Times ! * 
 When vicious Habits blaft the tender Shoots 
 Of Grace, and Virtue in their infant Bloom ; 
 And Luxury, and Luft's impetuous Flood, 
 Incontinently rolls, and drowns the World in Sin. 
 
 THE 
 
 * Refte apud Nos locum tenet Error, ubi publicus faftus. SENECA.
 
 GENEALOGY of the late THOMAS DICKENS, ESQ. 
 
 King EDWARD III. 
 LIONEL Duke of Clarence his Son. 
 
 PHILIPPA married to EDMUND MORTIMER j Daugnter 
 Earl of March i 
 
 ROGER Earl of March - - her Son. 
 
 ANN who married RICHARD Duke of York and 7 .. . 
 Earl of Cambridge 
 
 RICHARD Duke of York - - her Son. 
 GEORGE Duke of Clarence Brother to EDWARD IV. his Son. 
 
 Countefs of SALISBURY - - his Daughter. 
 
 Vifcount MONTAGUE - - her Son. 
 
 Lady BARRINGTON - - his Daughter. 
 
 Sir FRANCIS BARRINGTON - ~ her Son. 
 
 Lady MASHAM - T ? - :: .^j- his Daughter. 
 
 WILLIAM MASHAM, Efq 5 - - her Son. 
 
 Sir FRANCIS MASHAM - her Son. 
 
 JOHANNA MASHAM, who married CounfellorT . 
 HILDESLEY - ^^ - I ft 
 
 JOHN HILDESLEY, Efq; i" - her Son. 
 
 MARY HILDESLEY who married the Reverend 7 
 SAMUEL DICKENS 3 h 
 
 THOMAS DICKENS, Efq; the Author, her Son. 
 
 D THE
 
 ( 26 ) 
 
 THE Editor of the foregoing Pofthumous Poem, by way of 
 Appendix^ ventures to tell the generous, and friendly Subfcribers, 
 that the following Sunday Morning's Miditation, or Hymn of 
 Thank/giving for Relief of Sorrows of the Week paft, was written 
 June 21, 1789, by his Brother, Thomas Dickens, who departed this 
 Life, Sept. 21, 1789. 
 
 Heavinefs may endure for a Night, but Joy cometh in the Morning! 
 (Pfal. xxx. 5.) 
 
 T TAIL, Orient Morn! the Welkin's light, 
 
 Difpels the gloomy Shades of Night. 
 From balmy Slumbers rais'd, I fpy, 
 The brilliant Ruler of the Sky ; 
 Stay, cheering Sun, O ftay thy Lamp, 
 As erft Thou did'ft in Jofliua's Camp; 
 But ceafe and firft, all Rever'nce pay 
 To Him, who rules the Orb of Day! 
 
 I. 
 
 Once more, the face of joy I wear; 
 
 For thou, O Lord, haft heard my Pray'r: 
 This humble Tribute, Lord, receive; 
 
 'Tis all my finful Soul can give. 
 
 II. My
 
 II. 
 
 My lateft Breath in grateful Verfe, 
 
 Thy recent Mercies (hall rehearfe ; 
 
 To Thee, with chearful Voice, I'll raife 
 
 The fong of Gratitude and Praife; 
 
 Whilft Thou, my God, doft Sanction give, 
 
 This mould'ring Frame on Earth to live! 
 
 III. 
 
 Oh may it only live, I pray, 
 To fee how long it went aftray ! 
 To fee what Goodnefs Thou haft (hewn, 
 In giving Time, it's Faults to own, 
 While thy Correction ever kind, 
 My Thoughts from Earth to Heav'n, inclin'd. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Lord, make me underftand thy Law; 
 And from thy Precepts, Wifdom draw! 
 Such heav'nly Wifdom, that may fave 
 My Soul, from Death's eternal Grave. 
 
 V. Such
 
 ( 28 ) 
 
 V. 
 
 Such Faith, and Works of Piety, 
 That may with Reafon join'd, rely 
 On Chrift's moft pow'rful Energy, 
 To diffipate all Fears to die. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Such Hope, (bleft fruit of Heav'nly Love,) 
 As wafts the Soul to Realms above, 
 And leads th' expiring Sinner's moans, 
 To Faith in his Redeemer's groans; 
 No longer mov'd by worldly Leav'n, 
 When on the wing from Earth, to Heav'n.
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
 Los Angeles 
 This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. 
 
 Form L9-50m-7,'54 (5990)444