"Song to David"

(Excerpt Stanzas 30 to 38)

The following religious poem has a strong Masonic influence.  Nine stanzas have been extracted from the entire 87 stanzas.  In these nine stanzas, Smart shows that the pillars of knowledge are the monuments of God's works in the first week (the creation of the world).  Masonic symbols and tools are used to depict this creation.

XXX
The pillars of the Lord are sev'n.
Which stand from earth to topmost heav'n;
His wisdom drew the plan;
His WORD accomplish'd the design,
From brightest gem to deepest mine,
From CHRIST enthron'd to man.

 

XXXI
Alpha, the cause of causes, first
In station, fountain, whence the burst
Of light, and blaze of day;
Whence bold attempt, and brave advance,
Have thence the painted folds, that lift
The crimson veil, are wav'd.

 

XXXIII
Eta with living sculpture breathes,
With verdant carvings, flow'ry wreathes
Of never-wasting bloom;
In strong relief his goodly base
All instruments of labour grace,
The trowel, spade, and loom.

 

XXXIV
Next Theta stands to the Supreme--
Who form'd, in number, sign, and scheme,
Th' illustrious lights that are;
And one address'd his saffron robe,
And one, clad in a silver globe,
Held rule with ev'ry star.

 

XXXV
Iota's tun'd to choral hymns
Of those that fly, while he that swims
In thankful safety lurks;
And foot, and chapitre, and niche,
The various histories enrich
Of God's recorded works.

 

XXXVI
Sigma presents the social droves,
With him that solitary roves,
And man of all the chief;
Fair on whose face, and stately frame,
Did God impress his hallow'd name,
For ocular belief.

 

XXXVII
OMEGA! GREATEST and the BEST,
Stands sacred to the day of rest,
For gratitude and thought;
Which bless'd the world upon his pole,
And gave the universe his goal,
And clos'd th' infernal draught.

 

XXXVIII
O DAVID, scholar of the Lord!
Such is thy science, whence reward
And infinite degree;
O strength, O sweetness, lasting ripe!
God's harp thy symbol, and thy type
The lion and the bee!

 

 - - -   Christopher Smart

Walsh, M. The Poetical Works of Christopher Smart: Religious Poetry 1763-1771, Volume II. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1983. pp.135-136.