Page:Elegy on the much lamented death, of the Rev. Mr. Thomas Monteith, late Minister of the Gospel in Dunse, who departed this life the 22d of May, 1787.pdf/4

 His Maſter's work lay near his heart,

He ſpoke the truth in every part,

Nor did he fear the face of man,

Speaking to conſcience was his plan.

An able Miniſter we ſay,

Of the New Teſt'ment in his day;

He ſhunned not for to declare,

The Lord's whole counſel every where.

A noble champion for the cauſe,

Of Chriſt, and his moſt holy laws,

Earneſt contending for the faith,

Deliver'd to the ſaints, till death.

He proved Chriſt's divinity,

To be the ſame with God's moſt high,

Againſt the Arians did exclaim:

For their abuſe of Jeſus name.

On all the ſeaſons he did treat,

On drought, and rains, on cold, and heat;

A ſtrick obſerver of the times,

A ſharp rebuker of bad crimes.

His Maſter's preſence oft he had,

Which made his countenance right glad;

He ſpoke with ſuch an air and grace,

That it appeared in his face.

Much did he ſpeak of God's great love,

Which from the Scriptures he did prove;

And alſo of the loving Lamb,

Who to ſave ſinners freely came.

He made appeal unto his God,

That he was clear of a lall [sic] their blood;

And to them he did teſtify,

Their blood upon their heads would lie.