THE

POETICAL WORKS

OF

CHARLES,

EARL OF CRAWFORD

AND LINDSAY,

VISCOUNT GARNOCK.

Cooke's Edition.

O Thames! in early age, thy banks along,
I wont to sketch my wild and artless song;
Pleas'd my quick labours mutt'ring to rehearse,
Pleas'd with my task, if but that task were verse.
When Eton's learned tutors strove to raise

A future poet by ingenuous praise;
Said, that I then with Ovid was compar'd,
And might be equal to the Mantuan bard,
If long attention in succeeding time
Would duly polish the exalted rhyme.
But, ah! what makes eternally imprest
Their just esteem upon my grateful breast,
They strove with faithful and peculiar art,
The love of piety with verse t' impart;
Said, that a poet millions might reform,
Who aim'd his sacred duty to perform,"

Whose noble mind, with views superior fraught,
Morality and truth correctly taught.

Richmond Hill.

London:

Printed for C. COOKE, 17, Paternoster Row,

by Macdonald and Son, Cloth Fair; and sold

by all the Booksellers in the

United Kingdom.

A DIDACTIC POEM.

IN EIGHT BOOKS.

The Seventh Edition,

Believe, and shew the reason of a man!
Believe, and taste the pleasure of a God!

Young.

THE PREFACE.

I THOUGHT that it might be of service, if I pre⚫ fixed to this Poem a few remarks on some of the proofs of the truth of Christianity. It is required, in an age like this, when the adversaries of the gospel are so vehement in their attacks upon it, that its friends should exert themselves in its defence. It is at such a time inexcusable in those, who know the truth and advantage of it, who have leisure, and understand any of the arguments in its favour, not to support it as far as they are able. Not to defend, is here almost as bad as to dèsert.

And now, before I proceed further, I will assure him who honours me with an attention to these pages, that I mean to treat of the subject in a manner which is totally devoid of all improper heat or bigotry. I am desirous of making a manly and coolappeal to reason. I feel for him who rejects the gospel, as I do for the sick man who spurns the medicine which can relieve him. I would forbear in a dispute with him from every opprobrious term. I cannot conceive it possible, without a man's understanding is perverted, that he should think it agreeable to the gospel, to treat his antagonist in an argument with ill-nature or intemperance. should learn from that gospel, if he is not disposed

He