Occasional verse, moral and sacred Published for the instruction and amusement of the Candidly Serious and Religious [by Edward Perronet] |
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TO THE MEMORY OF THE REV. MR. VINCENT PERRONET;
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 | Occasional verse, moral and sacred |  |
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TO THE MEMORY OF THE REV. MR. VINCENT PERRONET;
Who, after having been Minister of the Parish of Shoreham, in Kent, for the Space of more than Fifty-seven Years, died on Monday, the 9th of May, 1785, in the Ninety-second Year of his Age.
Ripen'd by years, but more matur'd by grace,At once to end his labours with his race,
The Man of God, as fix'd on Pisgah's top,
Survey'd the prospect, as he felt its hope;
With eye reflective view'd the seasons past,
The world's vast nothing, and its end at last;
His former labours and his ceaseless pains,
His toil unwearied, as minute its gains:
Now deep revolv'd he longs his charge to meet,
And cast his mission at the Master's feet;
From earth he springs, while prophets gone before,
Stretch their wide arms to land him on the shore;
While smiling hosts the patriarch-guest surround,
Mount on the car, and bear him from the ground.
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Borne, as on wings, beyond Creation's sky;
Where, brought in sight of the eternal throne,
Lighting he falls to Him that sits thereon:
When lo! a voice, from out the mercy seat,
Bids strait—“Arise, and stand as on thy feet;
“I know thy works, thy labour, and thy loss,
“And lo! the crown that overhangs thy cross—
“That crown be thine, by thee its honours worn,”
“Whose patient arm my weightier cross has borne.”
There, next to seraphs, and perhaps still higher,
With beams of light, and of distinguish'd fire,
Shall shine, as glowing with superior flame,
The prophets mantle, and his diadem:
And there, the sweeter rapture to impart,
Who, next his God, lay nearest to his heart,
Shall she be found—a mother, long no more,
But earlier call'd from Time's morbific shore:
Where too shall stand, if Hope can feel its ground,
A num'rous offspring, with the patriarch found.
Amazing love! might but this lot be mine,
To shine with stars, where stars for ever shine!
| Occasional verse, moral and sacred | |