THE SYNAGOGUE;

OR, THE SHADOW OF THE TEMPLE: SACRED POEMS AND PRIVATE EJACULATIONS IN IMITATION OF MR GEORGE HERBERT.

[BY CHRISTOPHER HARVEY, M.A.]

Stultissimum credo ad imitandum non optima quæque proponere.

PLIN. Sec. Lib. i. Ep. 5.

I do esteem 't a folly not the least
To imitate examples not the best.

Or Christopher Harvey or Harvie, the author of the "Synagogue," all that is known is, that he was a clergyman's son in Cheshire, was educated at Brazen-Nose College, and became Vicar of Clifton, Warwickshire. He published the "Synagogue" in 1640, without his name. Walton commended the book, and ascribed it to Harvie. He wrote another book called "Schola Cordis," sometimes ascribed to Quarles. His "Synagogue" has less poetic merit than the "Temple,” but is very pious and instructive.

THE SYNAGOGUE.

SUBTERLIMINARE.

DIC, cujus Templum? Christi. Quis condidit? Ede.
Condidit Herbertus. Dic, quibus auxiliis?
Auxiliis multis: quibus, haud mihi dicere fas est.
Tanta est ex dictis lis oriunda meis.
Gratia, si dicam, dedit omnia; protinus obstat
Ingenium, dicens, cuncta fuisse sua.
Ars negat, et nihil est non nostrum dicit in illo ;
Nec facile est litem composuisse mihi.
Divide: materiam det gratia, materiæque
Ingenium cultus induat, arsque modos.
Non: ne displiceat pariter res omnibus ista,
Nec sortita velint jura vocare sua.
Nempe pari sibi jure petunt, cultusque, modosque,
Materiamque, ars, et gratia, et ingenium.
Ergo, velit si quis dubitantem tollere elenchum,
De Templo Herberti talia dicta dabit.
In Templo Herbertus condendo est gratia totus,
Ars pariter totus, totus et ingenium.

Cedite Romance, Graiiæ quoque cedite Musa;
Unum par cunctis Anglia jactat opus.

A STEPPING-STONE

TO THE THRESHOLD OF MR HERBERT'S " CHURCH-PORCH."

WHAT Church is this?

Master George Herbert.

Christ's Church.

Who assisted it?

Many assisted who I may not say,

So much contention might arise that way.

If I

Who builded it?

say Grace gave all; Wit straight doth thwart, And says, All that is there is mine but Art

Denies, and says, There's nothing there but's mine:
Nor can I easily the right define.

Divide say, Grace the matter gave, and Wit
Did polish it: Art measured, and made fit,
Each several piece, and framed it altogether.
No, by no means: this may not please them neither.
None's well contented with a part alone,

When each doth challenge all to be his own.
The matter, the expressions, and the measures,
Are equally Art's, Wit's, and Grace's treasures.
Then he, that would impartially discuss
This doubtful question, must answer thus:
In building of his Temple, Master Herbert
Is equally all grace, all wit, all art.

Roman and Grecian Muses all give way:
One English Poem darkens all your day.

THE DEDICATION.

LORD, my first fruits should have been sent to thee;
For thou the tree,

That bare them, only lentest unto me.

But while I had the use, the fruit was mine:
Not so divine

As that I dare presume to call it thine.

Before 'twas ripe it fell unto the ground:
And since I found

It bruised in the dirt, nor clean, nor sound.

Some I have pick'd, and wiped, and bring thee now, Lord, thou know'st how :

Gladly I would, but dare not it avow.

Such as it is, 'tis here. Pardon the best,
Accept the rest.

Thy pardon and acceptance maketh blest.

THE CHURCH-YARD.

THOU that intendest to the Church to-day,
Come, take a turn, or two, before thou go'st,
In the Church-yard; the walk is in thy way.
Who takes best heed in going, hasteth most:
But he that unprepared rashly ventures,
Hastens perhaps to seal his death's indentures.

THE CHURCH-STILE.

SEEST thou that stile?

Observe then how it rises,

Step after step, and equally descends :
Such is the way to win Celestial prizes :
Humility the course begins, and ends.

Wouldst thou in grace to high perfections grow?
Shoot thy roots deep, ground thy foundations low.