Browse Sermon Illustrations
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Saul
Thou whose spell can raise the dead, Bid the Prophet's form appear. "Samuel, raise thy buried head! King, behold the phantom Seer!" Earth yawned; he stood the centre of a cloud: Li
My Boy Hobbie O
New Song to the tune of "_Whare hae ye been a' day, My boy Tammy O.! Courting o' a young thing Just come frae her Mammie O._" HOW came you in Hob's pound to cool, My boy Hob
My Boy Hobby O
Why were you put in Lob's pond, My boy, HOBBY O? (_bis_) For telling folks to pull the House By the ears into the Lobby O! Who are your grand Reformers now, My boy, HOBBY O? (_bis_) There's me
Another Simple Ballat
MRS. WILMOT sate scribbling a play, Mr. Sotheby sate sweating behind her; But what are all these to the Lay Of Gally i.o. the Grinder? Gally i.o. i.o., etc. I bought me some books tother da
Sonnet 36: Let me confess that we two must be twain
Let me confess that we two must be twain, Although our undivided loves are one: So shall those blots that do with me remain, Without thy help, by me be borne alone. In our two loves there is but one r
Badger
When midnight comes a host of dogs and men Go out and track the badger to his den, And put a sack within the hole, and lie Till the old grunting badger passes bye. He comes and hears--they let the str
Stanzas for Music
I speak not, I trace not, I breathe not thy name, There is grief in the sound, there is guilt in the fame: But the tear which now burns on my cheek may impart The deep thoughts that dwell in that sile
Sonnet 50: How heavy do I journey on the way
How heavy do I journey on the way, When what I seek, my weary travel's end, Doth teach that ease and that repose to say, 'Thus far the miles are measured from thy friend!' The beast that bears me, tir
To Lord Thurlow
"_I lay my branch of laurel down_." "_THOU_ lay thy branch of _laurel_ down!" Why, what thou'st stole is not enow; And, were it lawfully thine own, Does Rogers want it most, or thou? Keep to
Sonnet 33: Full many a glorious morning have I seen
Full many a glorious morning have I seen Flatter the mountain tops with sovereign eye, Kissing with golden face the meadows green, Gilding pale streams with heavenly alchemy; Anon permit the basest cl
Sonnet 42: That thou hast her it is not all my grief
That thou hast her it is not all my grief, And yet it may be said I loved her dearly; That she hath thee is of my wailing chief, A loss in love that touches me more nearly. Loving offenders thus I wil
The Revenge of Rain-in-the-Face
In that desolate land and lone, Where the Big Horn and Yellowstone Roar down their mountain path, By their fires the Sioux Chiefs Muttered their woes and griefs And the menace of their wrath. "Reveng
To Belshazzar
Belshazzar! from the banquet turn, Nor in thy sensual fulness fall; Behold! while yet before thee burn The graven words, the glowing wall, Many a despot men miscall Crowned and anointed from on
Sonnet 23: As an unperfect actor on the stage
As an unperfect actor on the stage, Who with his fear is put beside his part, Or some fierce thing replete with too much rage, Whose strength's abundance weakens his own heart; So I, for fear of trust
To a Beautiful Quaker
Sweet girl! though only once we met, That meeting I shall ne'er forget; And though we ne'er may meet again, Remembrance will thy form retain; I would not say, "I love," but still, My senses struggle w
When I Roved a Young Highlander
When I rov'd a young Highlander o'er the dark heath, And climb'd thy steep summit, oh Morven of snow! To gaze on the torrent that thunder'd beneath, Or the mist of the tempest that gather'd below;
Lachin Y Gair
Away, ye gay landscapes, ye gardens of roses! In you let the minions of luxury rove: Restore me the rocks, where the snow-flake reposes, Though still they are sacred to freedom and love: Yet, Caledoni
To---
Oh! well I know your subtle Sex, Frail daughters of the wanton Eve,-- While jealous pangs our Souls perplex, No passion prompts you to relieve. From Love, or Pity ne'er you fall, By _you_, no mutua
I cried at Pity -- not at Pain --
I cried at Pity -- not at Pain -- I heard a Woman say "Poor Child" -- and something in her voice Convicted me -- of me -- So long I fainted, to myself It seemed the common way, And Health, and Laught
Sonnet 87: Farewell! thou art too dear for my possessing
Farewell! thou art too dear for my possessing, And like enough thou know'st thy estimate, The charter of thy worth gives thee releasing; My bonds in thee are all determinate. For how do I hold thee bu
Sonnet 16: But wherefore do not you a mightier way
But wherefore do not you a mightier way Make war upon this bloody tyrant, Time? And fortify your self in your decay With means more blessed than my barren rhyme? Now stand you on the top of happy hour
To Caroline
You say you love, and yet your eye No symptom of that love conveys, You say you love, yet know not why, Your cheek no sign of love betrays. Ah! did that breast with ardour glow, With me alone it
To Emma
Since now the hour is come at last, When you must quit your anxious lover; Since now, our dream of bliss is past, One pang, my girl, and all is over. Alas! that pang will be severe, Which bids
Sonnet 32 - The first time that the sun rose on thine oath
The first time that the sun rose on thine oath To love me, I looked forward to the moon To slacken all those bonds which seemed too soon And quickly tied to make a lasting troth. Quick-loving hearts,