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Following up on a recent tribute to John Flavel’s influence upon American Presbyterians, today we highlight John Holmes Bocock’s poem The Old Non-Conformists. It is a reminder of how the 17th century Puritan divines of England left their mark on 19th century American Presbyterians.
Busy from house to house, with constant toil,
Those reverend shepherds of our mother isle
Are feeding hungry souls with bread of life,
And speaking words of peace in days of strife.In England’s ancient ministers they are preaching
The gospel pure as pearly dew from heaven;
The law of love to men of hatred teaching,
Whose perfect pattern by the Lord was given.Young [Joseph] ALLEINE, with his Master’s spirit warm,
In Taunton sounds his earnest, king “Alarm:”
St. Dunstan hears the silver-tongued “[William] BATES,”
While the great “Harmony” of heaven he states.Bold [Richard] BAXTER lifts his voice in Cromwell’s host;
To men of England, although now distrest
By din of war, in civil tempest toss’d,
He shows in heaven an “Everlasting Rest.”Lo! where, in Bedford jail, in lofty dream,
Genius on [John] BUNYAN pours her brightest beam;
And learned [Stephen] CHARNOCK, with a sage’s ken,
The “Attributes” of God displays to men.Good [John] FLAVEL, with a spirit rich in “grace,”
Stands by the “fountain” of man’s “life” eterne;
While [John] HOWE, with thoughts magnificent, does trace
Splendors that in the “Living Temple” burn.
