SKETCH OF THE AUTHOR S LIFE. 



xiii 



naked deformity of his person from the penetrating eye of his Maker. One 

 such covering there is, and but one, and blessed is he who is permitted 

 to lay hold of it, and to put it on — it is the robe of the Redeemer's 

 righteousness." 



For the same purpose, we here insert a specimen of his devotional 

 poetry ; not so much for its poetic merit, as for the distinct and decided 

 expression of sentiment it contains. 



IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD ; AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, 

 AND THE WORD WAS GOD. 



O WORD ! O WISDOM ! heaven's high theme ! 



Where must the theme begin ? — 

 Maker and Sufferer ! — Lord Supreme ! 

 Yet sacrifice for sin ! 



Now, Reason ! trim thy brightest lamp, 



Thy boldest powers excite ; 

 Muster thy doubts, a copious camp — 



And arm thee for the fight. 



View nature through — and, from the round 



Of things to sense reveal'd. 

 Contend 't is thine alike to sound 



Th' abyss of things concealed. 



Hold, and affirm that God must heed 



The sinner's contrite sighs, 

 Though never victim were to bleed, 



Or frankincense to rise. 



Prove by the plummet, rule, and line, 



By logic's nicest plan, 

 That Man could ne'er be half divine 



Nor aught divine be man : 



That he vi^ho holds the worlds in awe. 



Whose fiat formed the sky. 

 Could ne'er be subjugate to law. 



Nor breathe, and groan, and die. 



This prove till all the learn'd submit : 



Here learning I despise, 

 Or only own what Holy Writ 



To heavenly minds supplies. 



O Word ! O Wisdom ! — boundless theme 



Of rapture and of grief : — 

 Lord, I believe the truth supreme, 



O, help my unbelief. * 



This devotional effusion furnishes us a satisfactory and conclusive demon- 

 stration of the entire revolution which his sentiments had undergone; and the 

 emotions of his heart seemed very frequently to prompt his muse, for a 

 great number of poetical pieces were found among his private papers. 



" For the last seven or eight years of his hfe. Dr. Good, persuaded of 

 the incalculable benefits, of the highest order, likely to accrue from Bible 

 and Missionary Societies, gave to them his most cordial support ; on many 

 occasions advocating their cause at public meetings, and on others employ- 



