A Winding Rill of Thought in Relation to Nature, Providence and Grace

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1870 Excerpt: ...those transcendent themes Inform'd by Truth's enlight'ning beams, And realized in prayer. In the mere outward form and rite The heart is barren, cold; But through internal warmth and light Christians communion hold; And all their faculties employ To reach the source of purest joy Attain'd in fervent prayer. The Christian Poet is not bound Only to please the ear; The lyre must give " a certain sound," Ah, shall he yield to fear? He still must keep the "narrow way," If men his mission will gainsay His refuge is in prayer. Our Christian Poet has disclosed How much he valued Prayer; That like a child he had reposed Upon a Father's care: The soul's full need he could define, For in his heart Truth drew the line 'Tween hollow words and prayer. RESPONSE To James Montgomery's verses on the Dainy, Linked with Emma Tatham. "Flower of the field!" identified Thou art with one passed to the skies; In Emma wherefore should I hide, "The Daisy never dies." Before the queenly, fragrant rose, And all the flowers she deem'd so fair, This image for herself she chose--And she was mirror'd there. For her 'twas natural to select This flower of mountain, moor, and lea, With open face and stem erect, Full of simplicity. Or to companions of her youth, Haply, her artless, simple way, Her love of Nature and of Truth The Daisy might portray. Her genius from above was horn, Was for a brief career designed; She lisp'd in numbers with the dawn Of her precocious mind. When in the cultur'd garden bower, Her muse with tend'rest care was rear'd, This fair and unobtrusive flower In spring-tide bloom appear'd. When crush'd beneath a withering blight Heaven e'er was in her eye and heart; The Daisy opening to the light, Was still her counterpart. Among &quo...