[Christian Poetry] Gospel sonnets, or, Spiritual songs by Ralph Erskine

Suggest and discuss books to read (all languages welcome!)
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InTheDesert
Posts: 7363
Joined: August 20th, 2019, 8:25 pm

Post by InTheDesert »

It hath been now a long and just complaint, that poesy which is
of a divine original, should have been so much debased to the worst of
purposes, in decorating vice and profaneness ; and that men endowed
with such a happy talent, should so much employ it, in furnishing out
theatrical entertainments, or upon ludicrous and profane trifles. How
happy would it have been for the world, what an ornament to Christianity,
and advantage to the church, and how honouring to themselves
as well as beneficial to the interests of religion,
had they employed it on evangelical and divine subjects, in pointing out the beauties of creation,
the bounties of providence, the depths of redeeming love and grace,
and the excellency and sweetness of true religion and practical godliness!

The Rev. Mr. Erskine, author of the following poems, was happy
in employing his poetical talent to the best of purposes : the subjects
he made choice of to handle, were of the utmost importance for mankind to know ; his manner of treating them truly evangelical ; and
the spirit that breathes through them heavenly and divine ; tending to
warm the heart, excite to genuine devotion, and to inspire the mind
with just and proper sentiments of God and true religion.
The sentiments of Dr. Bradbury, relative to our author's poetical
talent, is very just. " Mr. Erskine's poems," says he, "are greatly
to be esteemed, for the sweetness of the verse, the disposition of the
subjects, the elegancy of the composition, and above all, for that which
animates the whole, the savour of divine and experimental knowledge.''
Chap. I. Sec. I.

The Fall of Adam.

A general account of Man's fall in Adam, and the remedy provided in Christ; and a particular account of Man's being naturally wedded to the law, as a covenant of works.

Old Adam once a heav'n of pleasure found,
While he with perfect innocence was crown'd;
His wing'd affections to his God could move
In raptures of desire, and strains of love.
Man standing spotless, pure, and innocent,
Could well the law of works with works content;
Though then (nor since) it could demand no less
Than personal and perfect righteousness:
These unto sinless man were easy terms,
Though now beyond the reach of wither'd arms.
The legal cov'nant then upon the field,
Perfection sought, man could perfection yield:
Rich had he, and his progeny remain'd,
Had he primeval innocence maintain'd:
His life had been a rest without annoy,
A scene of bliss, a paradise of joy.
But subtil satan in the serpent hid,
Proposing fair the fruit that God forbid,
Man, soon seduc'd by hell's alluring art,
Did, disobedient, from the rule depart,
Devour'd the bait, and by his bold offence
Fell from his blissful state of innocence.
Prostrate, he lost his God, his life, his crown,
From all his glory tumbled headlong down;
Plung'd in a deep abyss of sin and woe,
Where, void of heart to will, or hand to do,
For's own relief he can't command a thought,
The total sum of what he can is naught.
He's able only now t'increase his thrall;
He can destroy himself, and this is all.
But can the hellish brat Heav'n's law fulfil,
Whose precepts high surmount his strength and skill?
Can filthy dross produce a golden beam?
Or poison'd springs a salutif'rous stream;
Can carnal minds, fierce enmity's wide maw,
Be duly subject to the divine law?
Nay, now its direful threat'nings must take place
On all the disobedient human race,
Who do by guilt Omnipotence provoke,
Obnoxious stand to his uplifted stroke.
They must ingulf themselves in endless woes,
Who to the living God are deadly foes;
Who natively his holy will gainsay,
Must to his awful justice fall a prey.
In vain do mankind now expect, in vain
By legal deeds immortal life to gain:
Nay, death is threaten'd, threats must have their due,
Or souls that sin must die, as God is true.
https://archive.org/details/sermonsotherpr07ersk/page/59/mode/1up
BeccaVO
Posts: 10
Joined: November 23rd, 2022, 2:38 am

Post by BeccaVO »

I would like to do Chapter I Section I The fall of Adam. I recorded it today and did a rough edit. I need to play around with the final sound (my mic is a little tinny sounding and I am very new to audacity) Is there a book officer for this one, or anyone interested? Like I mentioned, I am super new to all of this and would love any feedback and direction as to next steps.
InTheDesert
Posts: 7363
Joined: August 20th, 2019, 8:25 pm

Post by InTheDesert »

BeccaVO wrote: December 10th, 2022, 6:04 pm I would like to do Chapter I Section I The fall of Adam. I recorded it today and did a rough edit. I need to play around with the final sound (my mic is a little tinny sounding and I am very new to audacity) Is there a book officer for this one, or anyone interested? Like I mentioned, I am super new to all of this and would love any feedback and direction as to next steps.
Welcome to Librivox. The first step would be your 1 minute test recording here.

This is just a suggested book, not a project yet. The short poetry collection would accept a single section though!
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