Classic Poem

Condemn not, rashly, all that looks, like ill,
Lest you are forc'd to drink the cup, you fill .
As you sow judgment, you shall reap it, too;
And, as you measure, God will measure you .
Why, with such nice discernment, dost thou spy,
The growing mote , that clouds thy brother's eye?
Why is such zeal , to cure his blemish , shown,
When beams , instead of motes , have fill'd thy own .
Thou hypocrite! first, thy own blemish cure,
And, then, the needful help, for his , procure?

If, still, more plain instruction you require,
The following form will guide your just desire:
Wisely distinguish , when you mean to teach ,
Nor, vainly, to th' unlist'ning scorner preach.
Permit not dogs , on holy fare, to dine;
Nor, madly bountiful, throw pearls to swine .
Lest they despise the worth , they cannot taste ,
And turn, and tear thee, for thy treasure's waste!

Ask, and the thing thou ask'st, shall granted be;
Search , and the object sought , thou soon shalt see.
Knock , and, in time, thou shalt admission gain,
For none e'er ask'd, or sought, or knock'd, in vain.
What man, among ye, by deceit , misled,
Would give his son a stone , instead of bread?
Or, when an infant does a fish demand,
Would reach some serpent , to his tender hand?
If, therefore, you , by nature , dark, and weak,
Chuse, for your children, the good things they seek ,
Ought you not, far more justly, to expect,
Your heav'nly father will not his neglect?

If, from God's will , you would your practice draw,
This one short maxim sums up all his law:
That very thing , to others , always do ,
Which you, so plac'd, would have them do to you .

Broad is the gate , and wond'rous wide, the way ,
Through which mistaken men, to ruin, stray:
Too many that way chuse, because 'tis fair ,
And the strait path, to shun its Thorns , forbear:
But happy they, who hit the narrow gate,
That leads to life , and enter, tho' 'tis strait .
Beware, lest lying prophets make you sin ,
Who, cloath'd like sheep , are rav'nous wolves , within.
Closely observe 'em, when such men you see,
And, wisely, by the fruit , discern the tree .
Do thorns bear grapes ? or figs , on thistles , grow?
Plants , by their product , best their nature show.

Not ev'ry one, that owns, or spreads, my name ,
Shall, thence, have right , a seat, in heav'n to claim:
But he, who well performs my father's will,
His cup , with blessings , shall my father fill .
Crowds of pretenders, on my judgment-day ,
Swell'd, with the pride of zeal , these words shall say:
L ORD , see thy servants, and thy prophets know,
Who, in thy name, did mighty things, below;
Calling on thee, thy wish'd assistance came,
And D EVILS have fled before us, at thy name.
Them , will I answer thus — vain is your plea ;
Prophets , thro' love of pow'r , not love of me!
I know ye not — and the reward ye gain,
By short-liv'd pride , is everlasting pain .
Hear, with attention , therefore, what I say;
Hear, with attention , and, with judgment , weigh:
He, who now hears me, and observes me well,
Does, on a rock , like the wise builder , dwell:
Tho' rains descend, and rising floods o'erflow,
Tho' raging winds , in hourly tempests , blow;
His house stands firm, secure, and free from shock ,
Safe, in foundation , on its central rock .
But he, who hears , and does not understand ,
Builds, like a fool , upon the failing sand:
To storms, or floods, or rains, his fabrick yields,
And the loud ruin shakes the neighb'ring fields .

Here, the great Jesus stopt: — th' astonish'd crowd,
In humble rev'rence of his doctrine, bow'd;
Confess'd his pow'r , tho' strangers to his law ,
And own'd his godhead , by their inward awe .