Washington Related
Original Manuscript Song of Praise Entitled “Washington & Christ” Written by Episcopal Church Elder John Leland
(GEORGE WASHINGTON) A Contemporary Handwritten, 56 Stanza, Spiritual Song or Poem, entitled: “Washington & Christ,” as written by the famous xxx  ` and Baptist Elder John Leland, soon after the defeat of the British at York-town by General George Washington’s Continental Army.
c. October 1781, Revolutionary War Period, Contemporary Handwritten, 56 Stanza, Spiritual Song or Poem, entitled: “Washington & Christ,” noted upon the final page at the poems conclusion as, “written by Elder John Leland (not signed), soon after the defeat of the British at York-town by General Washington.” This original Manuscript Booklet, measuring 6”x 4” having 16 pages, with a contemporary hand-sewn binding, Fine. Some scattered minor spots and wormholes in the back cover, none of which affects the actual written text. Upper right corners folded, being written in rich brown ink on Colonial era fine quality laid period paper.

This poems author, John Leland (May 14, 1754 - January 14, 1841) was a Baptist Minister who played a prominent role in establishing the Episcopal Church in Virginia, and later in Cheshire, Massachusetts. In 1801 he became quite famous and was noted for his traveling to Washington (DC), in order to present Thomas Jefferson with a mammoth “cheese” made by the women of Cheshire, Connecticut. He was an outspoken Abolitionist and an important figure in the struggle for Religious Liberty in the United States

This Poem reads as a wonderful, Patriotic account of the Revolutionary War and Washington’s part in the American victory, all in verse. The major players are named, including General George Washington, George the Third, Cornwallis, Burgoyne, Gates, Howe, Clinton and many others. Midway through the poem, the author, for all his praise and love of George Washington, reminds us that the humble General was a mere mortal. A warning of sorts not to deify Washington. Leland continues this song with a detailed account of the crucifixion of Christ. Present in the text are corrections and improvements to the prose that lead us to believe it could be in the author’s hand. Transcribed as follows, in full:

“Washington & Christ

What Theme shall now inspire my Tongue

What subject move my Quill

What object claims my highest Song

From ever’y Vale and Hill ?

Not Bostons Sons of cruel Fire,

Inspired alone by Pride,

Shall here employ my pleasing lyre,

Or half a Sentence guide.

But Washington that Man of Fame

As truly good as great

In Conquest and in flight the same

Born to redeem the State.

This is the Man that I will sing,

Who ev’ry bosom fills,

His name thro’ ev’ry Vale shall ring,

And echo o’er the Hills.

When Rehoboam (a), George the Third,

Asked council of the Vain;

From scourging whips he soon retir’d,

And used the Scorpion Chain.

(a). 1 Kings - xii-14.

King, Lords and Commons all agreed

That we should wear their yoke,

Glory by God, who has us freed

And all our bondage broke.

The royal edicts pass’d the Seal,

And all join’d Heart and Hand

The Swords, their Chiefs engage to wield

And crush this happy Land.

Then Washington march’d boldly forth,

Inspired by Freedom’s Laws;

He risqu’d his person, Friends and Worth,

and sure there was a Cause.

Gage, Howe and Clinton and Burgoyne,

Cornwallis and Sir Guy,

Had better still remain’d at Home,

For all their Fame must die.

Their names perhaps will still remain

Inroll’d among the Knaves;

Burgoyne among the Indian Train,

Cornwallis with the Slaves.

But Washington that Man of Mind

Has put them all to flight;

Sir Guy along is left behind,

And he depriv’d of might.

Trenton, and Princeton, Monmouth too

Our Heroe’s skill have know,

And Saratoga will avough

Americans are long.

Great General Gates I then did sing

And likely he deserv’d it;

But Campden flight put out his Wing,

And so the Muse must leave it.

Guilford and Campden Eutaw Springs,

And ninety-six have seen,

What glorious actions, mighty Things

Have been perform’d by Green[e].

The Heroe, join’d with Gallic Power,

De Grass and Rachen’s beau;

On York pour’d down a Cannon Shower;

Where Bostons Horne did bow.

Our General’s mandates flew around,

His orders are obey’d.

From North to South he does confound

His Foes with mighty dread.

He scorns the giddy and severe,

The Knavish and Proud;

The poorest honest man comes near,

And loves the industrious croud.

But stop my pen enough is said;

Heroes are mortal men;

They all must be among the dead,

And fall among the slain.

Old Kings and Heroes were but dust

To dust they are return’d.

So Washington must die at last,

And solemnize the Tomb.

Let the old Pagans worship men,

And sain them Dieties;

But we are tought to reverence him

Who reigns above the skies.

No more is Washington my song,

Tho great and good and brave;

Jesus the Lord, inspires my Tongue,

And he the Praise shall have.

When Sin burn’d Satan out of Heaven,

And sunk this World in Woe;

Then Jesus was a Ransom given,

To crush the invading Foe.

The little City, Jesus’s Flock,

By Satan was beguil’d;

But this poor wise man undertook

To manumit the exil’d.

Satan the Lyon, Sin the Bear,

The Lambs of Christ did rend.

But he the Jaws and Paws did tear

The Helpless to befriend.

Satan and Sin, and Death and Hell,

And their infernal Train

Engag’d the dear Immanuel

Upon the bloody Plain.

Just as the hour of war came on,

He march’d a little way,

And chose out Peter, James and John,

And bid them watch and pray.

But Christ with-drew, poor watchless souls

Were o’r come with sleep;

The general his ...... condoles,

And David like did weep.

“Father if tis thy holy will”

He cry’d, “Remove this Cup;

“If not, with wrath the vessel fill

And I will drink it cup.”

Backward and forward thrice he ran,

But no deliverance came;

He under took the work for Man,

And must go thro’ the same.

Great drops of Blood, the warriour sweat

Which strain’d thro ev’ry pore;

The clammey dew his Body wet,

And fell in clotted gore.

O Gathsemane! Garden sat !

Is this thy ... ...?

I would upon thy surface sit,

And catch the heavenly cure.

His Friends forsook him in the Night,

And Judas turn’d a Tory;

Peter dissembled in the Flight

And told an idle story.

Both Church and State beset him round,

Heav’n, Earth and Hell agreed;

No Helper, for him, could be found,

For God had so decreed.

Caiphas Pilate, Scribe and Priest,

The Jews and Romans too,

Were all engag’d against the Blest,

That he to them should bow.

With whips and scourges he was torn,

“Till all his bones appear’d;

The spitting in his Face and Scorn,

His heavenly vissage marr’d.

A Cross of Wood was then prepar’d,

And laid upon his Back,

and he to Calvary repair’d

To die upon the Rack.

At length to Golgatha he came,

Where antient Moloch flood;

Where only Filth and Scul[l]s were seen;

Mortals, behold your God!

There nail’d unto the cursed Tree,

He wept and groan’d and sigh’d.

A thousand Wonders we may see

Before the Saviour dy’d.

His mother at a distance, saw

Her Son, and dropt a Tear

The hard’ned Thrif geban to Thaw

The Deaf began to hear.

“I thirst for Drink, Immanuel cry’d,

“My Tongue is parch’d within;

“I thirst for Souls, thirst for my Bride

“I thirst to live again.

The Suns bright Rays were burn’d to Night

When Christ, for us did fall;

The Conqueror rose by power and might

But He by suffering all.

“Father forgive; he cry’d aloud,

“They know not what they do:

“Now Justice answered with my Blood,

“Let these poor sinners go.”

He spent his Life to weave a Robe

To hide our shame and pride;

“‘Tis finish’d now”, he cry’s aloud,

And bow’d his Head and dy’d.

The Earth did quake, the Rocks did ...

When our bold Champion fell’

Jews wag’d their Heads and Devil’s found

The Tidings sound in Hell.

Water and Blood flow’d from the side

Of our incarnate God:

By Water we are purified

And justify’d by Blood.

The dying Thief rejoic’d to see

This Fountain in his day;

And there have I as ... as he,

Wash’d my sins away.

Joseph of Arimathes

Unto the Cross did come;

Took down the Corps, bore it away

And laid it in his Tomb.

The Guard was plac’d, the Watch was set,

The stone was seal’d and sure;

God shut in Death- Heaven in the Pit,

Strange, - What an Overture !

Come Sinners see your Saviour dead,

And weep around his grave;

For you he liv’d, for you he bled,

Your precious Souls to save.

As Man he like a Martyr dy’d

As Mediator, love.

That Load of guilt that Man incur’d

To bind the bleeding love.

But here again I must refrain

The Rovings of my song,

Nor let my plantive Notes prophane

The Victory he has won.

Satan, and Sin, and Death and Hell,

Were all his captur’d Foes.

He bound them to his Chariot wheel

And triumph’d when he rose.

Heaven did appoint a Jubilee

And shout his glad return;

Angels proclaim’d his Victory

And Hail’d him welcome home.

Now he assumes his Kingly Throne,

His Heralds loudly cry,

“Sinners return and Kiss the Son,

“And you shall never die.

“Throw down your Arms and trust his grace,

“And you shall be forgiven.

“You soon shall see him face to face

“And dwell with him in Heav’n.

“But if you shall refuse his Reign,

“Continue to rebell;

“He’ll send your Souls to endless Pain,

“A constant fiery Hell.” End of poem.

“Spiritual Song, written by Elder John Leland soon after the defeat of York-town by General Washington” is clearly noted for pedigree upon the final page, immediately following the conclusion of the poem itself. An extraordinary historic Patriotic Revolutionary War period original Contemporary Handwritten manuscript poem, authored by John Leland, one of the most famous and important Clergymen in Colonial, Revolutionary War and Federal Period America.
John Leland (May 14, 1754 – January 14, 1841) was an American Baptist minister who preached in Massachusetts and Virginia, as well an outspoken abolitionist. He was an important figure in the struggle for religious liberty in the United States. Leland also later opposed the rise of missionary societies among Baptists.

Leland was born on May 14, 1754, in Grafton, Massachusetts. He described his father as a Presbyterian and his mother as a separate new-light Christian.

He was baptized in June 1774 by Elder Noah Alden. Leland joined the Baptist Church in Bellingham, Massachusetts in 1775. He left for Virginia in 1775 or 1776, and ministered there until 1791, when he returned to Massachusetts.

A well-known incident in Leland's life was the Cheshire Mammoth Cheese. The people of Cheshire, Massachusetts made and sent a giant block of cheese to President Thomas Jefferson. Leland took the block from Cheshire to Washington, D. C., and presented it to Jefferson on January 1, 1802. While there, Leland was even invited to preach to the Congress and the President. Of this incident he wrote, "In November, 1801 I journeyed to the south, as far as Washington, in charge of a cheese, sent to President Jefferson. Notwithstanding my trust, I preached all the way there and on my return. I had large congregations; let in part by curiosity to hear the Mammoth Priest, as I was called."

Leland held, in seminal form, to what has been called the "liberty of conscience" position on public policy theology.

Leland died on January 14, 1841 in Cheshire, Massachusetts. His tombstone reads, "Here lies the body of John Leland, of Cheshire, who labored 67 years to promote piety and vindicate the civil and religious rights of all men." Several of Leland's hymns are preserved in the Sacred Harp.

The John Leland Center for Theological Studies in Virginia is named in Leland's honor.

Excerpts from his writings:

"The notion of a Christian commonwealth should be exploded forever...Government should protect every man in thinking and speaking freely, and see that one does not abuse another. The liberty I contend for is more than toleration. The very idea of toleration is despicable; it supposes that some have a pre-eminence above the rest to grant indulgence, whereas all should be equally free, Jews, Turks, Pagans and Christians." - A Chronicle of His Time in Virginia.

"Truth disdains the aid of law for its defense — it will stand upon its own merits." - Right of Conscience Inalienable.

"Every man must give account of himself to God, and therefore every man ought to be at liberty to serve God in a way that he can best reconcile to his conscience. If government can answer for individuals at the day of judgment, let men be controlled by it in religious matters; otherwise, let men be free." - Right of Conscience Inalienable.

"Resolved, that slavery is a violent deprivation of rights of nature and inconsistent with a republican government, and therefore, recommend it to our brethren to make use of every legal measure to extirpate this horrid evil from the land; and pray Almighty God that our honorable legislature may have it in their power to proclaim the great jubilee, consistent with the principles of good policy." - Resolution for the General Committee of Virginia Baptists meeting in Richmond, Virginia in 1789.

(From Wikipedia)