Transcribed from the 1853 John Farquhar Shaw edition by DavidPrice, Many thanks to the BritishLibrary for allowing their copy to be consulted for thistranscription.
A FEW LINES
Against opening the CrystalPalace
ON
THE SABBATH DAY.
BY
JOHN ELWIN WRENCH.
LONDON:
JOHN FARQUHAR SHAW, 27, SOUTHAMPTON ROW;
AND 21, PATERNOSTER ROW.
1853.
p. 2London:
Walton andMitchell, Printers, 24, Wardour Street.
p. 3A FEWLINES
AGAINST OPENING THE CRYSTALPALACE
ON THE SABBATH DAY.
I.
Chiming from the old church tow’r
’Tis the Sabbath bell I hear;
Welcome is the sound to me;
Welcome to the Christian’s ear.
II.
Think not lightly of its knell!
Let devotion fill each heart,
Sacred let this day be kept;
For our God ’tis set apart.
p.4III.
Ye who work for daily bread,
Cease from toil with one accord,—
Is one day too much to give,
To the service of the Lord?
IV.
Though a Crystal Palace rears
High o’er Sydenham’s plain her head;
Destin’d, may we hope at least,
Blessings o’er our land to shed.
V.
Echo’d though thy wealth shall be,
Monument of England’s fame!
Shining forth in all thy pride,
Worthy of a Paxton’s name.
p. 5VI.
Yet Oh! never deem this spot,
Fitting place for Sabbath rest:
Can a sinner seek his God,
’Midst rev’lry and idle jest?
VII.
Is it there, the weary soul,
Rack’d with care and aching woes,
Can with penitence to God,
Ask for mercy and repose?
VIII.
Is it there, the sinless child,
On the Sabbath eve should stray;—
Can it there, untainted still
Bend its tiny knee to pray?
p. 6IX.
Oh! ’tis there, its glowing cheek
Will, amidst the worldling’s din,
Receive, unconscious tho’ it be,
The first stain of mortal sin.
X.
But forbid it, Christian men:
Shun, oh! shun the fatal snare;
Shall the Sabbath-breaker’s cry,
Lead you from the House of Pray’r?
XI.
We are told by Holy Writ,
Not to desecrate this day:
Da