Poem, written by Levi Frisbie, in praise of Wheelock and the Grand Design, 1768 May 15

Author Frisbie, Levi

Date15 May, 1768

Call Number768315.1

abstractLong verse in couplets praises Wheelock and his plan to christianize the Indians.

handwritingHandwriting is small and slanting, yet largely clear and legible.

paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages is in good condition, with light-to-moderate staining, creasing and wear.

inkBlack ink varies in intensity. There are some random ink dots and splatters.

noteworthyOn two recto, Frisbie quotes the Alexander Pope poem "Messiah." On two verso, an editor, possibly 19th-century, has added the (erroneous) note: "Probably David Macclure who graduated in 1769." This poem was enclosed with a brief letter of the same date (manuscript 768315.2), which is not included in the Occom Circle.

signatureThe document is unsigned.

Persistent Identifier
To the Revd Docr Wheelock
Most worthy Sir, with modesty & fear,
I crave the honour of your listening Ear,
To my weak Muſe who in her humble Ryme,
Attempts a Subject lofty and sublime:
Pardon the raſhneſs of my youthful Lays,
Whilst I would try to celebrate the praiſe,
Of your grand Scheme your great and noble Plan,
Well worthy of the moſt illustrious Man — . —
Sure bounteous Heaven inspird your pious Mind,
With fervent Love and pity to Mankind,
With generous Concern inflamd your Soul,
And movd your heart with Sorrow to condole,
The dismal Lot of thouſands of Mankind
Who under Satans Tyranny confind,
Bow to his Sceptre tremble at his nod,
Proſtrate and before him confeſs him God.
Thus Adams tawny Sons you saw [illegible]inslavd
You longd and wiſh'd and pray'd they might be sav'd
From hells black Tyrant and their piteous Caſe,
And made the subjects of triumphant Grace.
The Devil you beheld with stern Command,
Controul the Natives of this fertile Land;
That roaring Monster hideous feirce and fell,
Led Millions of theſe Ignorant Souls to Hell,
But God propitious movd you to contrive,
A glorious Scheme whereby he might deprive,
Satan of all his vaſsals and throw down
His hellish Kingdom and infernal Crown.
The Plan first laid was small in infant state
The means were slender tho' the End was great,
But the great God beholding from the Skies
Smild on th' attempt and bid it grow and riſe,
Or'e ruld it by his gracious Providence
His mighty Power becomes its strong Defence.
By Day he guards it and by night protects,
Bleſses its Intreſts its concerns directs:
It flouriſhes and blooms beneath his hands.
Its fame illustrious sounds to foreign Lands.
The Good, and wiſe adore its guardian Lord
And, Gold and Silver to its help afford,
Their pious hearts unite and all combine,
To for ward and up hold the grand Deſign.
As when the Aunt tuggs at his ponderous Load
and strives to bear it thro the narrow Road,
The neighbouring Train view from their humble Dome,
Run to his help and bring the Burden home.
So here your Friends with pleaſure, & surprize
behold your great and glorious Enterprize
Inflamd with Zeal for such a heavenly plan
with Joy afford it all the[illegible] help they can

And pleaſd behold the Seminary riſe
Bleſs'd by the almighty Father of the Skies,
Old Satan saw and was with motive fill,d
The serpent hiſs'd and the great Dragon yell,d
Fearing his Pow'r and kindgom would be loſt,
He marshals all his black infernal Hoſt
His Servants all with execrable Lies
Reproach the Author and his Enterprize
Mocking revile him with malicious Taunts,
"Ay, Gold he covets Money's all he wants,
"Cloak'd under this pretext, he craves an alms,
"He is a Priest, they all have itching Palms,
"Their greateſt care is how they may grow rich,
"So, blindly lead the blind into the Ditch.
"What will he christianize this savage Brood?
"He'd sooner much make Devils Saints of God,
"What give him Money? I'll not give a groat,
"I'd rather give him Powder Guns and Shott
"I'd rather ravage all their B barbarous plains,
"And cut their throats, and daſh out all their Brains.
But God beholds old Satan and his Tools,
Laughs at their Rage, their Envy ridicules:
[illegible]Brings down their Pride their Malice he ristrains
And binds the Devil in his iron Chains
Satan is baff[illegible]led & his hoſts give way
The glorious Plan is wafted or'e the Sea
Its fame reſounds in Britains Proſperous Iſe
Her Sons rejoice and and all her Daughters smile
Her nobleſt Heros deign to patronize
The heavenly Scheme the glorious Enterprize
Great George who rules his Realm with mild command
Freely contributes with a liberal hand
Nor thinks it far beneath his Dignity
To look upon it with propitious Eye
While Peers and Peaſants immitate their Lord
Orphans, & Widows each their Mites afford.
All but the Devil and his Imps combine
To proſecute the great, and good Design
They bleſs the Lord with moſt exalted Lays
The noble Founder shares the second praiſe
And now great Sir review the small foundation,
Which firſt you laid; to what exalted Station,
Your School has roſe by the Almighty Smils.
And by your Labours, & unwearyd Toils.
NNo doubt your Soul rejoices in the Lord
And calmly reſts upon his glorious word
That he'll one day fullfull your great Deſire
Affect the End to which you moſt aſpire.
The great Jehovah,s been your constant Guide
Remov,d your fears, and all your wants supply.d
In spite of hell, and all infernal Arms,
your Institution stands amidst the Storms

of Envy Malice Rage and Enmity.
As ponderous Rocks amidst the foaming sea
Break the Loud Billows when the Ocean raves,
And Scorns the Vengence of the Thret'ning waves.
Now pleas.d behold what bliſsfull Proſpects riſe
Gladden our hearts and bleſs our longing Eyes,
The Glorious Sun of righteouſneſs deſplays.
His genial Infl'ence his life-giving Rays
Begins t'illumine the benighted Part
of savage Lands, and bow their Stubborn hearts
To the Mieſiſiahs [illegible]mild, and gentle Sway;
Scatters the Gloom, and chaſes clouds away.
Shall not the gracious promiſe be fullfilld?
And the Immanuals Glory be reveald,
When Chriſt adorn'd with Light, and Righteouſneſs
Shall the moſt distant barberous Lands poſseſs,
Rule o're the Nations with auſpicious Power
Exalt his Saints his Foes in wrath devour.
Hail happy Day by antient Bards foretold
When heathen Nations shall with Joy behold
Freſh Roſes bloom, and sudden verdure riſe
Where the tall groves stand towering to the Skies
When barren Deſarts overgrown with wood,
Afford a peaceful Manſion for our God.
When Rocks shall triumph and the Mountains sing
The Flood rejoice and vales with Muſick ring.
As sang illuſtreous Pope of deathleſs fame
who tund his Anthem to Meſsiahs Name.
"When Lambs with wolves shall graze the verdant Mead
"And Boys on flowry Banks the Tygers lead
"The Steer, and Lyon at one Crib shall meet,
"And harmleſs Serpents lick the Pilgrims feet
In lofty Forreſts, Haunts of savage Beaſts,
Where Birds of prey build, up their artful Ne[illegible]ſts
Lilies shall spring; freſh verdure green appear,
And plenteous harveſts crown the smiling year.
Tall Ranks of Corn shall meet our wondering Eyes,
and fill our Joyful hearts with new suprize,
Magnific Temples Sacred to our God
adorn the Place where smoaky huts [illegible] late stood.
Soon may the Lord to this [illegible] glad Day give birth
and joy and gladneſs fill the extended Earth
May Grace and Glory spread from shore to shore
and savage barbarous yells be heard no more
ye tawny Mortals leve your wild reſorts
Your dismal Powwows and your cruel Sports.
For bear to range the woods in queſt of Prey
your Arrows break, your weapons caſt away
Meſsiah woos you with his boundleſs Love,
yield to his Sceptre, and his Laws approve,
Give over all your necromantic Schemes
Delucive Viſions and fantaſtic Dreams,
Forbear to worſhip the black hoſts of Hell
Fell Rage, and Malice from your Minds expell
In stead of bloody songs, your voices raiſe
In heavenly Anthems & Meſsiahs Praiſe

Thus the old Serpents Plots you shall confound
His tottering throne shall tumble to the Ground
His ruined Kingdom with Destruction fill'd
Shall force him with disgrace to quit the Feild.
Darkneſs and Clouds shall all be chaſ'd away
Gods glorious Truth and Grace their Light deſ[illegible][guess: pl]ay,
and fill your Souls with bright reſplendous Rays
And tune your Heart to sing eternal praiſe.
Such heart reviving Times such bliſsful years
Great Sir, will recompence your heavieſt Cares.
Now may that God who rules unnumber'd Spheres
Attend propitious to your ardent praysers
Grant you the fervent wiſhes of your Soul
Extend his Truth divine from Pole to pole.
And when Cold Death shall cloſe your [illegible][guess: swim]ing Eyes
And your bleſs.d Soul triumphant mount the Skies,
May Heaven receive you with this Salutation,
Come favourite Soul poſseſs thy great Salvation.
With never ceaſing Songs come join our hoſt
And praiſe the Father, Son, & holy Ghoſt.
There may you see throned in eternal Light,
Each soul that by your Means hath shun.d the Spite
of Satan and his black infernal Race,
And gaind the Realms of everlaſting Bliſs.
[illegible]May every Savage you to Chriſt have won
Sparkle like Stars in your eternal Crown.
[illegible]Finis


[right]A. Poem presented in a Letter
from Philo-muſaYale College
May 15.th 1768


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