Classic Poem

Of humble birth, but of more humble mind,
By learning much, by virtue more refin'd,
A fair and equal friend to all mankind:
Parties and sects, by fierce divisions torn,
Forget their hatred, and consent to mourn;
Their hearts unite in undissembled woe,
And in one common stream their sorrows flow.
Each part in life with equal grace he bore,
Obliging to the rich, a father to the poor.
From sinful riots silently he fled,
But came unbidden to the sick man's bed.
Manners and men he knew, and when to press
The poor man's cause, and plead it with success.
No penal laws he stretch'd, but won by love
His hearers' hearts, unwilling to reprove;
When sour rebukes, and harsher language fail,
Could with a lucky jest or merry tale
O'er stubborn souls in Virtue's cause prevail.
Whene'er he preach'd, the throng attentive stood,
Feasted with manna and celestial food:
He taught them how to live and how to die;
Nor did his actions give his words the lie.
Go, happy soul! sublimely take thy flight
Through fields of ether, in long tracts of light,
The guest of angels; range from place to place,
And view thy great Redeemer face tOface.
Just God! eternal Source of pow'r and love!
Whom we lament on earth give us above;
Oh! grant us our companion and our friend,
In bliss without alloy, and without end!