When Primitive Devotion, Zeal and Love
Fled back to the' Ark like Noah's weary Dove,
Heaven left some Sparks behind, to let us see
What once we were and still we ought to be;
Some few good Men, and this was one, to save
A sinking World, not only just but brave:
Nobly he stemmed the Tide; vast Seas roll by
And dash the Rock, but could not mount so high:
The firm Foundation could not sink or start,
'Twas deep and sure, a meek and humble Heart.
The noisy Bar the Road to Wealth and Fame
He shuns those gaudy Toys below his aim,
The despised Gospel all his Thoughts did claim:
Nor rashly did the sacred Charge invade,
He chose it as an Office, not a Trade,
Trembling the weighty Task he undertook,
But when engaged did never backward look.
His Zeal alike well placed and well designed;
Neither luke-warm, nor raging, cold nor blind:
Sworn to no Party, in no Interest he
But that of common Christianity.
⟨image 72⟩So sweet, so affable, his Mind, and Face,
He proved, Good-nature was no Foe to Grace.
His Charity, like Heaven's, confined to none;
Not, even the worst but shared his Rain and Sun,
Tho' with a kinder Influence still he viewed
Those few, who spite of the' Fashion, dared be good.
Improved even old Disciples, gained the young,
And dropped Instruction from his silver Tongue.
These had his Soul, and his true Friendship tried,
With these he prayed, for these he lived and died.
Loved 'em so well, that when Heaven called away
Almost he's in a strait to go or stay.
Till Meditation did the Clouds remove
And showed the Glories of tho Blest above.
What Mansions in his Fathers-house prepared,
What Joys by Mortals never seen nor heard:
Then like the Hart whom the hot Chase invades,
Who plunges in the Brook from his loved shades,
His thirsty Soul breaks out with eager hast
And finds those Streams of Bliss he died to taste.
WHen Primitive Devotion, Zeal and Love
Fled back to th' Ark like Noah's weary Dove,
Heav'n left some Sparks behind, to let us see
What once we were and still we ought to be;
Some few good Men, and this was one, to save
A sinking World, not only just but brave:
Nobly he stemm'd the Tide; vast Seas roll by
And dash the Rock, but could not mount so high:
The firm Foundation could not sink or start,
'Twas deep and sure, a meek and humble Heart.
The noisy Bar the Road to Wealth and Fame
He shuns those gawdy Toys below his aim,
The despis'd Gospel all his Thoughts did claim:
Nor rashly did the sacred Charge invade,
He chose it as an Office, not a Trade,
Trembling the weighty Task he undertook,
But when engag'd did never backward look.
His Zeal alike well plac'd and well design'd;
Neither luke-warm, nor raging, cold nor blind:
Sworn to no Party, in no Interest he
But that of common Christianity.
⟨image 72⟩So sweet, so affable, his Mind, and Face,
He prov'd, Good-nature was no Foe to Grace.
His Charity, like Heav'ns, confin'd to none;
Not, even the worst but shar'd his Rain and Sun,
Tho' with a kinder Influence still he view'd
Those few, who spite o'th' Fashion, dared be good.
Improv'd ev'n old Disciples, gain'd the young,
And dropt Instruction from his silver Tongue.
These had his Soul, and his true Friendship try'd,
With these he pray'd, for these he liv'd and dy'd.
Lov'd 'em so well, that when Heav'n call'd away
Almost he's in a strait to go or stay.
Till Meditation did the Clouds remove
And show'd the Glories of tho Blest above.
What Mansions in his Fathers-house prepar'd,
What Joys by Mortals never seen nor heard:
Then like the Hart whom the hot Chase invades,
Who plunges in the Brook from his lov'd shades,
His thirsty Soul breaks out with eager hast
And finds those Streams of Bliss he dy'd to taste.
