The Sacred Minister: a New Poem

While some the Hero sing, with all his Skill, His martial Valour and his famous Deeds, And the dire Exploits of his Dogs of War:

While others celebrate the Patriot brave, Who shakes his Hands from Bribes, and always scorns To be or high or rich by filthy Ways; And who, to selfish Views and sordid ends, Ever prefers the public Interest:

While These ill-judging will applaud a Court, Where Falshood, Lust and Vice appear in State; And Virtue's Semblance is the But of Scorn:

While Those regardless are of Courts or Arms, Of Valour's Force and most advent'rous Deeds: For they can only think and write of Love, How it springs up, and how it operates In Courts and Cities and calm rural Cots:

While Others call forth their poetic Fire, And every Muse invoke, the Works to praise Of wide Creation, Providence Divine, And all the Wonders These present to View:

Behold! A feeble Genius would select A Subject more adapted to his Thoughts: He sings the MINISTER of Things Divine.

To shew, how he should be prepar'd and form'd; What Piety and Learning should him fill, And how These should be drawn to Exercise; How he should live and how expend his Time; How, or in House or Desk, he should discourse, And how he worthily should quit the Stage.

This is the Work; The arduous Labour This: 'Tis great beyond his Power, who undertakes.

Therefore, O Wisdom and O Power Divine, JESUS, of all the Deity possest In human Nature and in human Flesh; Who, living here, didst teach, as Man ne'er taught, And didst in more than mortal Manner live; And now art seated on GOD's glorious Throne; My soul ascends to Thee with quiv'ring Wings: Assist it's tow'ring Flight; enlarge it's Views, And give it strength to reach it's noble End.

The Prophet, who of Royal Lineage came, But, through the Grace Divine, more dignify'd, Esaias, when the Leprous King expir'd, And worms were ending, as they had begun; The living and immortal SAVIOUR saw High on an elevated Throne above, And with his Train the Heavenly Temple fill'd: The Deity, as burning ones with Wings Cov'ring their Faces and their Feet from View: And yet as flying with expanded Wings, Gave forth responsive Voices: These the Words:

JEHOVAH SABAOTH is wholly thrice: His Glory is the Earth replenishing. Such were the Voices: So HE cried aloud: Then of the Door the stately Columns mov'd; And the whole House was fill'd with threatning Smoke; Smoke threatning darksome Things to Israel's House.

The Prophet then astonied,—Wo to me! How can I live? For I'm of Lips unclean, And I with People dwell of leprous Lips: And yet JEHOVAH SABAOTH I've seen: Mine eyes have view'd the King, th' enthroned King.

Then to the Prophet came a Seraph forth With a live Coal, dispatching, in his Hand, Which HE, with Forceps, from the Altar took: And This HE laid upon the Prophet's Mouth: Lo This, said HE, has gently touch'd thy Lips: Thy Sin's expiated: Thy Filth is cleans'd.

Reviving Tidings to the deadned Man! He's rais'd from death, and finds new Life and Strength: The Voice, the Word, Jehovah, then he hear'd: Whom shall I send, HE said; and who will go For us, as we're IMMANUEL, GOD and Man?

The Prophet, rapt and animated, cries, Here, LORD, I am: Me with thy Pleasure send.

The fearful Message then JEHOVAH spake; The same it was the GOD Incarnate brought, When HE the faithless, wicked Hebrews told; That, since themselves they made deaf, blind and hard, Deaf, blind and hard they therefore should remain: Nor would HE turn, and heal, their hardned Hearts.

O blest JEHOVAH, Son of GOD confess'd, Do not, or others or unworthy me, On such a direful Errand send as this; Which makes my Entrails tremble, Knees to smite, And Rottenness to penetrate my Bones. But send thy worthless servant, who, with Those, That are more worthy, thy free Gifts have gain'd, The dark t' enlighten, and the stubborn bend, To purify the filthy, and to raise From Earth and Flesh and Sense immortal Souls, And bring them to the Life of GOD and Heav'n.

But who dares think such high Success to find, That his Heart has, and Lips, and Hands unclean, And still, conversing, lives among th' impure? The GOD of Grace indeed his Gifts bestows On them that are rebellious Sons of Men:

As Kings, when crown'd, with lib'ral Hand dispense Their Coronation Medals on the Croud. And HE, who freely dissipates these Gifts, May bless them so as happily to guide The souls of many to perpetual Bliss; While they, who have them, perish in their Sins; Forlorn, abhorr'd, unpitied in their wo. So were the Men corrupt, who help'd to build, For Noah's House, the Ark of Safety strong; While they were to the wat'ry Vengeance damn'd.

Awaken'd be my Fears, great Saviour GOD, Lest I should perish, while I others save: And may I sedulous my Cares employ To save myself and others gain to Bliss!