An Address to Miss Phillis Wheatly [sic],
Ethiopian Poetess, in Boston, who came from
Africa at eight years of age, and soon became
acquainted with the gospel of Jesus Christ."
Miss Wheatly; pray give leave to express as follows:
1
O, come you pious youth:
adore Eccles. xil. 1.
The wisdom of thy God.
In bringing thee from distant shore,
To learn His holy word.
2
5 Thou mightst been left behind, Psal.
cxxxvi. 1,2,3.
Amidst a dark abode;
God's tender Mercy still combin'd,
Thou hast the holy word.
3
Fair wisdom's ways are paths
of peace, Psal. i 1,2,3.
10 And they that walk therein, Prov.
iii. 7.
Shall reap the joys that never cease,
And Christ shall be their king.
4
God's tender mercy brought
thee here, Psal. ciii. 1,2,3,4.
tost o'er the raging main;
15 In Christian faith thou hast a share,
Worth all the gold of Spain.
5
While thousands tossed by the
sea, Death.
And others settled down,
God's tender mercy set thee free,
20 From dangers still unknown.
6
That thou a pattern still
might be, 2 Cor. v. 10.
To youth of Boston town,
The blessed Jesus thee free,
From every sinful wound.
7
25 The blessed Jesus, who came
down, Rom. v. 21.
Unveil'd his sacred face,
To cleanse the soul of every wound,
And give repenting grace.
8
That we poor sinners may
obtain Psal. xxxiv.
6,7,8.
30 The pardon of our sin;
Dear blessed Jesus now constrain,
And bring us flocking in.
9
Come you, Phillis, now
aspire, Mat. vii.
7,8.
And seek the living God,
35 So step by step thou mayst go higher,
Till perfect in the word.
10
While thousands mov'd to
distant shore, Psal. lxxxiv. 1.
And others left behind,
The blessed Jesus still adore,
40 Implant this in thy mind.
11
Thou hast left the heathen
shore; Psal. lxxxiv.
1,2,3.
Thro' mercy of the Lord,
Among the heathen live no more,
Come magnify thy God.
12
45 I pray the living God may be, Psal.
lxxx. 1,2,3.
The sheperd of thy soul;
His tender mercies still are free,
His mysteries to unfold.
13
Thou, Phillis, when thou
hunger hast, Psal. xlii. 1,2,3.
50 Or pantest for thy God;
Jesus Christ is thy relief,
Thou hast the holy word.
14
The bounteous mercies of the
Lord, Psal. xvi. 10,11.
Are hid beyond the sky,
55 And holy souls that love His word,
Shall taste them when they die.
15
These bounteous mercies are
from God, Psal. xxxiv. 15.
The merits of his Son;
The humble soul that loves his word,
60 He chooses for his own.
16
Come, dear Phillis, be advisíd, John
iv. 13,14.
To drink Samaria's flood;
There nothing is that shall suffice,
But Christ's redeeming blood.
17
65 While thousands muse with
earthly toys, Matth. vi. 33.
And range about the street,
Dear Phillis, seek for heaven's joys,
Where we do hope to meet.
18
When God shall send His
summons down, Psal. cxvi. 15.
70 And number saints together.
Blest angels chant, (triumphant sound)
Come live with me forever.
19
The humble soul shall fly to
God, Mat. v. 3,8.
And leave the things of time,
75 Start forth as 'twere at the first word,
To taste things more divine.
20
Behold! the soul shall waft
away, Cor. xv. 51,52,53.
Whene'er we come to die,
And leave this cottage made of clay,
80 In twinkling of an eye.
21
Now glory be to the Most
High, Psal. cl. 6.
United praises given,
By all on earth, incessantly,
And all the host of heavín.
Composed by JUPITER HAMMON, a
Negro Man belonging to Mr. Joseph
Lloyd of Queen's Village, / on Long
Island, now in Hartford.
*** The above lines are published by the Author, and a number of his friends, who
desire to join with him in their best / regards to Miss Wheatly.
Hartford, August 4, 1778