The Sacred Minister: a New Poem, Part V

Advanc'd in Life and Wisdom; Grown in Grace; Improv'd in Knowledge of GOD's glorious Son, And in his Likeness: So complete in Him; And ripen'd now for Happiness complete: Behold! The Minister should finish well.

Lo! Now he daily dies, expecting Death, And, for it's coming, daily he prepares. Those Things, that, in his last Hours, may give Pain, He, as the Gates of Hell, with Care avoids: And he, with Care, will all those Things perform, Which, well perform'd, he will, when dying, wish. He every Office does of Righteousness, Of Love and Goodness; and in Season too, Lest he the fair Occasion should let slip.

He'll Watch and Pray, that, aided from above, At last his Faith and Patience may not fail. He will sit Counsels, and Instructions give, Public and private, as a dying Man: And, faithful, he will Charges fit dispense To all, with whom connected, as they come; And These, as ready to depart, pronounce With tender Love and grave Authority.

Tokens he'll grant to Friends of Love sincere: And, while the Prayers of all he humble asks; He will Heav'ns Blessings wish to all around.

As he would, living, live unto his LORD; So, to his LORD, when dying, he would die: Thus dying he, as living, is his LORD's.

Greatly he dies, commending Glory's King; His Truths applauding and his holy Ways To all about him: Urging all of these To fellow him, as he has meant and try'd To follow the Redeemer; great and fair, Beyond the human or Angelic Hosts: And, if they aught have seen in him amiss, All this he kindly cautions to avoid.

And now what yet remains to do? To die! No! This is done: Death's Bitterness is past. O Death, he cries, disarm'd, where is thy Sting? And hast thou, Hades, gain'd the Victory? Tis false: For I am more than Conqueror: Tis GOD, through JESUS CHRIST, the Conquest gives: Therefore to Him is this great Vict'ry due: And I will ever it ascribe to HIM.