The sacred minister: a new poem, in five parts; representing his qualifications for the ministry, and his life and death in it. / By Aurelius Predentius, Americanus. ; [Eight lines of quotations in Latin]

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!

PART I. THE Man who would be wiſe for winning Men, Before he ventures on his arduous Taſk, Diſcretely ſhould begin his work at Home. As he his Hands, from all that's foul, ſhould cleanſe, And learn, inſtead of evil, to do well: He ſhould not yet, like the vain Phariſee, Reſt, if the out-ſide of the Cup be waſh'd: But he ſhould get the inſide purify'd, From worldly Paſſions and from ſenſual Luſts. Entirely and forever ſhould his All Be yielded to his Saviour, that his Whole May ſacred be to HIM, and by HIM own'd. When thus he ſhall be cleans'd from Sin and Luſt; A Veſſel unto Honour meet he'll prove, Fit for his Maſter's Uſe in holy Things, And well to ev'ry good Work thus prepar'd. May I, howe'er unfit, be one of Theſe! And may all they, who Invitations have To bear the Sanct'ary's Veſſels, like them, be Both pure and ſolid! May we, one and all, For This, with conſtant Ardour, always pray! Divine Enlightner of the human Race, Enlighten Thou my Eyes with Rays Divine, That I the Wonders of thy Law may ſee, And, of thy Grace, the Glories may behold; That ſo, from Glory unto Glory, I May, by thy SPIRIT, to thine Image come. And, O Thou, who Divinely purify'ſt; While I myſelf would cleanſe from Filthineſs, All Filthineſs of Fleſh and Spirit; give Help This to do well; and, in the Fear of Thee, Still to preſs on and perfect Holineſs: For I am naught without Thee; nor can do Aught fit for Thee, or thine Acceptance fit: Therefore to Thee myſelf I free reſign, With all I have: Gracious, my all receive, And, to thy Will, completely all conform. Now Earth I leave; and Creatures I renounce: They ſhall not hence my choſen Portion be: My Saviour GOD is my moſt happy Choice: Henceforth HE ſhall be all in all to me.

PART II. THE Work's begun: The Earth's dug up; the Soil, That's light and looſe, is now remov'd away; And firm and ſure is the Foundation laid: 'Tis Vital Goodneſs in the Teacher's Heart. But This alone; though noble, and it makes The Man of real Worth, approv'd of GOD, Uſeful to Men and meet for Heavenly Things; 'Twill not alone ſuffice the Man to make Worthy the Name of Sacred Miniſter. He ſhould much Knowledge have and Learning deep: For otherwiſe, by Laymen learn'd and Wiſe▪ He will be held in moſt profound Contempt: Nor, for him, will his Piety obtain To ſacred Miniſter the due Eſteem. Some there have been, though Novices in Truth, Who ſuddenly, alas! too ſuddenly, Into the Teacher's Chair themſelves have thruſt: Neglecting of thoſe Ways the prudent uſe Knowledge to gain, They Preachers have commenc'd, Not yet inſtructed Scribes: In firm, unfledg'd, They have the Neſt forſook, and flutter'd off: And yet, for them, have great Aſſemblies met: The high, the low, the rich and poor have come To hear the chirping of the harmleſs Doves: And, as they hear, they're charm'd; and, with the View, They are tranſported at their pretty Ways. But the more wiſe and Skilful ſaw their Wants, Their doleful Wants, and inward Feebleneſs: And, ſhrugging up their Shoulders, ſighing ſaid, How much, in Things and Perſons, is there Vain! For theſe ſame forward Creatures little know; And, as unlearn'd, the Scriptures torture will. If you their Declamations can but read, Miſtakes, as Alps on Alps, will riſe to view: And you'll, amazed, ſtand as quite aghaſt, That voice and Flutter ſhould for ſenſe be took. From ſuch Examples all, who live, may learn, That, as a Wiſe Guide, to ſecure Regard, A Man, both Days and Nights, ſhould poring be, And all right Knowledge after he ſhould ſearch, In order to improve and mend Mankind. Great Skill in Languages ſhould be obtain'd: For ſure, by This, right Meaning muſt be learn'd: If You or I nor Greek nor Hebrew know, We can't a Verſe of holy Writ explain: We may indeed, from others, take their Senſe: But are we ſure it is the Senſe Divine? Therefore, the Grammar of the Text, let's learn, That we the true Theology may find, And may it fairly unto others ſhew. This is right Conduct: While too many ſlight Such Care and Toil, and quite contented are, That any, Senſe, ſhould gather for their Uſe. Eudoxus was more conſcientious far: He ſtudied well thoſe Tongues, wherein GOD's Word Was by his Spirit giv'n for human Good: And then, his Knowledge, wiſely he improv'd The terms in every text to underſtand From the vaſt Labours of the plodding few: And, having found the meaning of thoſe Terms, He then, from grateful Knowledge, gave the Senſe; And Inſpiration iſſued from his lips. But O! how griev'd was he, when Men of Worth From others took, as Senſe of Books Divine, What ne'er was there, nor thence could be deriv'd. The ſacred Forms of Speech, and of the Tongues The Idioms, ſhould be very juſtly known: The Cuſtoms too of Nations ſhould be learn'd, Not only holy ones, but thoſe profane. The Perſons, and the Places, of like Name Should be diſtinguiſh'd, leſt the teachers err, And, into Errors, all their Hearers lead. So ſhould the Works remarkable be found, To which the ſacred Pages yet refer. The ancient Iſthmian and Olympic Games, Well to relate, they ſhould be learned well. And all thoſe Ways, which various Nations us'd, In Scripture glanc'd at, they ſhould well diſcern. The Men unlearned can't theſe Things explain: For they are far beyond their narrow Ken: If therefore they preſume t' interpret them, Miſtakes and Blunders they will frequent make: The heark'ning People cannot theſe perceive: But the learn'd will, and penſive hang their Heads, The Hearers pitying and Inſtructors both. Regarding well theſe things, the Miniſter With Care will for his People well provide: From Morn to Night he for his Charge has Thought, And for them often has his ſleepleſs Nights, That they may truly wiſe and happy be. Each Week for them with Studies cloſe begins: Nor has he Reſt or Eaſe, till he obtains Such Food as may afford them Health and Joy. Not ſo Incurio: He, amidſt the Gifts Of bounteous Providence, with Calmneſs lives▪ He happy, with a Face of Eaſe, appears; And ſo he lumbers on throughout the Week: Frequent he comes, where plenteous Tables are, And various Foods and gen'rous Wines are ſerv'd: At Night he plump returns, and peaceful ſleeps. The Sheep in Deſart left don't preſs his Mind; Till the Week cloſes: Then his hurried Thoughts Return to think of Viands for the Fold: If, for his Place, no Vicar he can gain, He, in his haſty Way, will ſomething get; And, on the next day, come with eaſy Air And face unmeaning to bring Crudities: When the faint Flock, if not diſpos'd to reſt, Look for their Food, and longing look: But ah! They chiefly have but Words; and Words are Wind. Such were the Jewiſh Scribes; When JESUS ſaid, Great is the Harveſt; few, the Workers are: To the great Lord of th' Harveſt therefore pray, That, for his Harveſt, He would Lab'rers ſend. Geron was ſuch a Labourer betimes. To CHRIST, and to his People for his Sake, Sacred his Time and Strength and Studies were. When he, for them, Divine Diſcourſes made, He ſtill, as looking on, his Maſter ey'd; And thought, to Him, that he muſt give Account: He thought, he read, he wrote, as ſoon to die; And, at his Death, t' appear before his Judge: And, while preparing thus, he rear'd his Heart; Great GOD and SAVIOUR, Thy Direction give; Aſſiſt my faltering Efforts for thy Sake; And with Succeſs Divine bleſs weak Attempts: Thus, back to Thee, ſhall all the Glory flow.

PART III. THE ſacred Miniſter is now prepar'd, And waits the Call of Nolan Inſtrument: It rings: It tolls: He gravely walks along, And, with Mind Heav'nwards, to his Deſk repairs: Reaching that Place, as well as going there, He lifts his Soul, as flies the winged Dart: To Heav'n it goes, ſolliciting its Aid, And aſking it Proſperity to ſend. Now, with well furniſh'd Mind and warmed Heart, He pours out ſentimental, cordial Prayers; Such as no Reader of a Book can pour. Infatuation yet will keep it's Ground. A well known Liturgy, the Spawn of Rome, Muſt yet be us'd: And yet the piteous Prieſts, Who have no Praying Powers, or none dare move, A formal Piety encourage will: Which, though Devotion's Name and Form it wear; Tis not the Thing: For thoſe confin'd to Forms Muſt to low Words of others ſink their Minds, And, with ſunk Minds, old Terms muſt mumble o'er. Not ſuch Coeleſtius: He no Crutches needs. Pinion'd with Faith and Love he ſoars aloft, And heav'nwards bears his Flock on Eagle's Wings: They gladly mount, and think it good to riſe; Nor willing are to ſink to Things below. And now the Miniſter, when he has ſung With tuned Heart and Voice his LORD's high Praiſe, Riſes the Meſſages of Heav'n to ſpeak. Theſe from the Oracles Divine he took: Nor does ever a Diſcourſe produce, Wherein he does not fairly ſhew, how Men May come to GOD by CHRIST, and bleſſed prove. The Manner of his ſpeaking is moſt plain; And yet adapted to the Truths he brings. When he Religion's Doctrines, and its Laws, Explains and urges, placid is his Face: And his whole Air ſhews ſorth his Mind ſerene. If he the Promiſes of Grace unfolds, He's all alive, by quickning Motives rais'd: And, when the Terrors of Almighty Wrath He would diſplay, he ſpeaks with potent Voice. Quite ſeemly too his Actings all appear: Not like to thoſe, which Raphael drew for Paul, That He might ſhew, with high uplifted Hands, His high Diſlike of Vile Idolatry, Which in vain Athens mightily prevail'd: Much leſs will he in Chriſtian Temples uſe The trifling Geſtures of the Theatre. As, in diſcourſing, greatly he will ſcorn Of human Wiſdom the enticing Words; So, in his Method of Delivery, He will no Garrick for a Pattern take. But, as his Subjects variouſly demand, He will or calm or vehement appear In Word and Action, as may well become The Words of JESUS and eternal Life. So ſpeaks he, as to Men, form'd from above, Redeem'd by JESUS, Candidates for Bliſs, And yet in Danger of perpetual Woes, Theſe, by perſuaſive Motives, taught by CHRIST, He wooes to Wiſdom, Virtue, Happineſs. And ſince mere Suaſions will not gain theſe Ends, He lifts his Prayer, that Energy Divine May, to his Toil, a proſperous Iſſue give. The Labour done; he then quite ſpent returns To bleſs his Houſehold: And, though yet fatigu'd, He's ſtill for Labour: For he loves his Work; Nor thinks, that all is done, while Part remains: This Part at Home, or, he, abroad, performs: For, by his Lips and Walk, he preaches ſtill, And thus the Word of Life holds forth to all.

PART IV. THE Miniſter, as Preaching, has been ſeen: Now let us view his Conduct and his Ways. As he himſelf, with all his mental Powers And his whole Body to his GOD has giv'n; He hence employs himſelf and all for GOD, As bought for HIM, and for HIM ſet apart. He therefore won't ſpend Time, as many do. To earthly Men and Things he'll be no Dupe. True he muſt eat and drink and ſlumbers take; And he ſubmits to Theſe, as Nature claims: For he well knows, that, by Recruits from Theſe, He, to ſerve GOD and Men, is fitted well. Friends he would have: But he's afraid of Theſe, Leſt they ſhould ſteal away his precious Time: Therefore not long with them will he abide. And, if to him they friendly Viſits make, Them he'll not urge to make their Viſits long; For he wants Aids, not Hindrances, of Works. If men of Wealth and Influence him invite To their full Houſes, he will ſometimes go; But then to anſwer kind and pious Ends: Yet often he will not their Calls accept; When, modeſt, he can fair Excuſes make. But, when or Friends beguile or great ones force; So that, of loſt Time, he may well complain: Then ſorrowing he retires; to Work he goes, And, by freſh Diligence, repairs his Loſs. Himſelf he'll not entangle with the World: Quite happy he, if he a Partner has That will take, from him, Earth's Incumbrances, And make him free to mind his great Employ: But if, not yet, he has his faithful Mate; Some Friend he'll find t' abate his worldly Cares. If Sickneſſes off from his Studies take, And pains afflictive Moleſtation bring, From Theſe, he will the beſt of Leſſons learn: And, when, by good Advice and prudent Care, From Theſe he's freed; he with new Vigour ther. Goes to his Labours, and makes ſuch Diſpatch, That he redeems the Hours he grieving ſpent. When Sickneſſes do, on his People, ſeize, And any Sorrows lie upon their Hearts; The Miniſter will then ſweet Kindneſs ſhew, And, by his Viſits, bear away their Pains: But to thoſe, chiefly, quite of weary Minds; As Sinners great, who know their mighty Guilt, And hence their GOD dread as their Enemy; He will the Tongue, that's learned, lenient bring To diſſipate their Fears and ſooth their Minds He'll ſay; Not willing is the GOD of Grace, That any periſh, but that all repent: And He ſo lov'd the world, He gave his Son, That who on Him believes with cordial Faith Periſh ſhould not, but have eternal Life: And, of this Life, our Jeſus has the Words; Who freely all to come to Him invites, To teach and rule and ſave them perfectly: Nor will he any, who ſo come, reject: Then come to Him, and of his fulneſs take: And, in his Favour, let your Soul delight. All this, and more, the learn'd one ſoftly ſpeaks: Whence the dejected Patient, with rais'd Head And Brow relax'd and anxious Breaſt remov'd, Bleſſes the Man, that calm'd his ruffled Soul, And bleſſes GOD his Saviour for the Man. This Miniſter is rarely ſeen abroad; But, when he goes, treats all with Courteſy: Whether, in Houſe or Streets, he any ſees, To all he good and ſweet Behaviour ſhews. As he Relations various ſuſtains, In all Theſe well, he's careful, to conduct. All, whom CHRIST JESUS will to Heav'n receive He will receive and own his Brethren dear: All, who CHRIST's Image have, be will approve, Nor any, who this Image have, condemn. To Young and old he mild Inſtruction gives, And Counſels ſweeter than Hyblean Combs: And, if, in Speech and Action, ſome are ill, Theſe in parental Way grave he'll rebuke. As he would glad receive, to all he does: Nor would in Heart or Speech or Conduct wrong The loweſt Man, or his word Enemy. And, while he Juſtice does and Mercy ſhews: As with his GOD agreed, he humbly walks: The SAVIOUR ſtill he eyes as Jeſus LORD. So doing all, that's right, as unto Him; And ſtill, in doing well, his Pattern minds. And, while he craves, he ſtill depends on CHRIST. For Grace to live, as he has taught and liv'd. What's crooked in him is not yet quite ſtrait: And, what is wanting, he can't number yet: And hence he ſtill on the Redeemer truſts For Pardon and Acceptance with his GOD, And a ſure Title to immortal Bliſs. Such is the ſacred Miniſter in truth! The living Teacher of the Chriſtian Life: Not like St ••• -Player, mimicking a Prince: But, as a Child, reſembling Heav'n's high King. Should Men him praiſe, This but excites his Fear, Leſt GOD loſe Glory; and he gain ſoul Pride, And into Satan's Condemnation ſink. But, if Men baſely him defame, traduce, And of him falſely wicked Things relate; Careful he'll ſhun thoſe Things of ill Report, And, of thoſe ill Things, will th' Appearance ſhun: For the falſe Men he'll pray; and them he'll bleſs; And, when he can, will chearful do them good.

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.

The CONCLUSION, or EPILOGUE. Tis finiſh'd well. The crowning Act is clos'd. Applauſes give, ye Men and Angels too: For the great LORD and Judge of all approves: Well done my Servant good, HE ſays, now come, And enter joyous to thy LORD's high Joy: As Thou haſt, in a few Things, faithful been; O'er many Things I will thee Ruler make. Behold the Man, whom Heav'n's immortal King Delights to honour: He's forever bleſt: Amen! Let Heav'n with Hallelu-JAH ring.

THE END.