Poetical fragments heart-employment with God and it selfPoetical fragments heart-imployment with God and it self

2. This methodized my Studies to my gain; Shamed the contending, jingling, formal vein: The greatest matters it did first impose: Necessity my Book and Lesson chose: I studied first to save my self and others; What edified my own Soul and my Brothers: Thence to the Branches I in order clime; First Few and Great, next Many, Small, Sublime. I near preferred to Talk, before, to Eat, Words, before Things, the Dish before the Meat: And yet I love and value all the rest: My curious mind would fain have known the least: But knowing Life's too short to reach to all, I left till last the needless things and small.

2. This methodiz'd my Studies to my gain; Sham'd the contending, jingling, formal vein: The greatest matters it did first impose: Necessity my Book and Lesson chose: I study'd first to save my self and others; What edifi'd my own Soul and my Brothers: Thence to the Branches I in order clime; First Few and Great, next Many, Small, Sublime. I nere preferr'd to Talk, before, to Eat, Words, before Things, the Dish before the Meat: And yet I love and value all the rest: My curious mind would fain have known the least: But knowing Life's too short to reach to all, I left till last the needless things and small.

3. The frequent sight of Death's most awful face, Rebuked my sloth, and bid me mend my pace! Thou knewest my dullness needed such a spur; So prone was I to trifle and demur. Who dare his Soul for gain or pleasure sell, That lives as in the sight of Heaven and Hell? ⟨p. 40⟩4. This called me out to work while it was day; And warn poor Souls to Turn without delay: Resolving speedily thy Word to Preach; With Ambrose, I at once did Learn and Teach. Still thinking I had little time to live, My fervent heart to win mens Souls did strive. I Preached, as never sure to Preach again, And as a dying man to dying men! O how should Preachers Men's Repenting crave, Who see how near the Church is to the Grave? And see that while we Preach and Hear, we Die, Rapt by swift Time to vast Eternity! What Statues, or what Hypocrites are they, Who between sleep and wake do Preach & Pray? As if they feared wakening the Dead! Or were but lighting sinners to their Bed! Who speak of Heaven and Hell as on a Stage! And make the Pulpit but a Parrot's Cage? Who teach as men that care not much who learns; And Preach in jest to men that sin in earns. Surely God's Messenger, if any man, Should speak with all the seriousness he can; Who treateth in the Name of the Most High, About the Matters of Eternity! Who must prevail with sinners Now or Never, As those that must be saved Now, if Ever: When sinners endless Joy or Misery, On the success of his endeavours lie! Though God be free, he works by Instruments, And wisely fitteth them to his intents.