The life of our blessed Lord & Saviour, Jesus Christ an heroic poem, dedicated to Her Most Sacred Majesty : in ten books / attempted by Samuel Wesley ... ; each book illustrated by necessary notes ... also a prefatory discourse concerning heroic poetry ; with sixty copper plates.

To his Reverend Friend Mr. SAMUEL WESLEY, on his Poem of the Life of CHRIST.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Pindar.

WHilst others write of Criminal Amours, And how they vainly spend their vacant Hours, Your Phansy's more sublime, it soars above The mean Intrigues of their inglorious Love: Wretchedly they debase a noble Art, And only touch the Ears; but you the Heart. You, (with Columbus,) not alone descrie, But conquer (Cortez-like,) new Worlds in Poetry. Sure 'twas the same great Master of the Quire That did direct the Royal Psalmist's Lyre, Who your Seraphick Breast did thus inspire: A God Incarnate is a Theme so Great, It shou'd be manag'd at no vulgar Rate; Nor have you done it. For, in ev'ry Line, We read (at once) the Poet, and Divine: The Muses thus to you the Graces be, And thus Parnassus is Mount-Calvary. You (modestly Ambitious of fair Fame) Take a sure course t' immortalize your Name. For, till this Fabrick of the World shall end, And a devouring Conflagration blend Both Heav'n and Earth together; till we see Time swallow'd up of vast Eternity; Till then, your Verse shall be preserv'd alive, And almost Nature's aged self survive.

Henry Cutts.

Iune 23. 1693.