William Cowper

Would I describe a preacher,
. . . .
I would express him simple, grave, sincere;
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Would I describe a preacher,
. . . .
I would express him simple, grave, sincere;
In doctrine uncorrupt; in language plain,
And plain in manner; decent, solemn, chaste,
And natural in gesture; much impress'd
Himself, as conscious of his awful charge,
And anxious mainly that the flock he feeds
May feel it too; affectionate in look,
And tender in address, as well becomes
A messenger of grace to guilty men.

Thus happiness depends, as Nature shows,
Less on exterior things than most suppose.

Thus happiness depends, as Nature shows,
Less on exterior things than most suppose.

Thus neither the praise nor the blame is our own.

Thus neither the praise nor the blame is our own.

Oh, my friend, it's not what they take away from you that counts.
It's what you do with what read more

Oh, my friend, it's not what they take away from you that counts.
It's what you do with what you have left.

On the summit see,
The seals of office glitter in his eyes;
He climbs, he pants, he read more

On the summit see,
The seals of office glitter in his eyes;
He climbs, he pants, he grasps them! At his heels,
Close at his heels, a demagogue ascends,
And with a dexterous jerk soon twists him down,
And wins them, but to lose them in his turn.