"Take HIM ye wretched for your only good; / Take HIM ye starving souls to be your food."
— Wheatley, Phillis (c.1753-1784)
Place of Publication
Boston
Publisher
Sold by Ezekiel Russell and John Boyles
Date
1770
Metaphor
"Take HIM ye wretched for your only good; / Take HIM ye starving souls to be your food."
Metaphor in Context
When his AMERICANS were burden'd sore,
When streets were crimson'd with their guiltless gore!
Unrival'd friendship in his breast now strove:
The fruit thereof was charity and love.
Towards America – couldst thou do more
Than leave thy native home, the British shore,
To cross the great Atlantic's wat'ry road,
To see America's distress'd abode?
Thy prayers, great Saint, and thy incessant cries,
Have pierc'd the bosom of thy native skies!
Thou moon hast seen, and ye bright stars of light
Have witness been of his requests by night!
He pray'd that grace in every heart might dwell:
He long'd to see America excell;
He charg'd its youth to let the grace divine
Arise, and in their future actions shine;
He offer'd THAT he did himself receive,
A greater gift not GOD himself can give:
He urg'd the need of HIM to every one;
It was no less than GOD's co-equal SON!
Take HIM ye wretched for your only good;
Take HIM ye starving souls to be your food.
Ye thirsty, come to his life giving stream:
Ye Preachers, take him for your joyful theme:
Take HIM, "my dear AMERICANS," he said,
Be your complaints in his kind bosom laid:
Take HIM ye Africans, he longs for you;
Impartial SAVIOUR, is his title due;
If you will chuse to walk in grace's road,
You shall be sons, and kings, and priests to GOD.
(ll. 16-44)
When streets were crimson'd with their guiltless gore!
Unrival'd friendship in his breast now strove:
The fruit thereof was charity and love.
Towards America – couldst thou do more
Than leave thy native home, the British shore,
To cross the great Atlantic's wat'ry road,
To see America's distress'd abode?
Thy prayers, great Saint, and thy incessant cries,
Have pierc'd the bosom of thy native skies!
Thou moon hast seen, and ye bright stars of light
Have witness been of his requests by night!
He pray'd that grace in every heart might dwell:
He long'd to see America excell;
He charg'd its youth to let the grace divine
Arise, and in their future actions shine;
He offer'd THAT he did himself receive,
A greater gift not GOD himself can give:
He urg'd the need of HIM to every one;
It was no less than GOD's co-equal SON!
Take HIM ye wretched for your only good;
Take HIM ye starving souls to be your food.
Ye thirsty, come to his life giving stream:
Ye Preachers, take him for your joyful theme:
Take HIM, "my dear AMERICANS," he said,
Be your complaints in his kind bosom laid:
Take HIM ye Africans, he longs for you;
Impartial SAVIOUR, is his title due;
If you will chuse to walk in grace's road,
You shall be sons, and kings, and priests to GOD.
(ll. 16-44)
Categories
Provenance
Reading
Citation
At least 4 entries in ESTC (1770, 1771).
An Elegiac Poem, on the Death of That Celebrated Divine, and Eminent Servant of Jesus Christ, the Late Reverend, and Pious George Whitefield [...] By Phillis, a Servant Girl of 17 Years of Age, Belonging to Mr. J. Wheatley, of Boston. (Boston: Sold by Ezekiel Russell, in Queen-Street, and John Boyles, in Marlboro’-Street, 1770). <Link to ESTC>
Reading ed. Vincent Carretta, Unchained Voices (Lexington: University of Kentucky, 2004).
An Elegiac Poem, on the Death of That Celebrated Divine, and Eminent Servant of Jesus Christ, the Late Reverend, and Pious George Whitefield [...] By Phillis, a Servant Girl of 17 Years of Age, Belonging to Mr. J. Wheatley, of Boston. (Boston: Sold by Ezekiel Russell, in Queen-Street, and John Boyles, in Marlboro’-Street, 1770). <Link to ESTC>
Reading ed. Vincent Carretta, Unchained Voices (Lexington: University of Kentucky, 2004).
Date of Entry
02/09/2011
