American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1827-05-11

COLLINS, a Uorthy Minister Of tte Society {
Friends ut Lynn, (.Nass.)
Could The afflicted muse but prune her wing.
And the swolln breast compose itself 10 sing:
Could what VIC in an humble sam, admire,
The B0som 1cd7m with chaste poetic fire;
Then christian love should raise her vove lay,
And t, Departed worth, tribute pay;
The stratus though feeble, should sincerely flow,
And Just need on truth and grace besow,
For these IL CoLIlss shone sereney forth,
And form'd a character of real worth.
knezv hin when III giddy rounds OF mirth
He sought for happiness in things of earth;
When The light mind with buoyan, feelings soar'd,
AID for delight, forbidden things cxplord-
Quenchd were the sacred sparks of holy truth,
Impressed upon him in his early youth,
When the young airy mind with heightened glce,
Was from restraint, hard struggling to be free;
Bewitchng pleasures, then alIur'd his mind
In them, content, he rutnly sought TO find,
But found it not i'Iill he ~hO came to call
The wa,derer lack from sin, and guilt and thrall,
Spake TO his soul the quickening po1ocr he felt
WI ich caused lns hard, obdurate hear, TO melt.
PunErni and deep, was keen convictions dart
Tim godly sorrow pan'd the broken heart
hut the good Shepherd. by his tender care
Soutl'd all his fears, and sav'd him from despair:
And gently led him by alliring grace,
In the sweet paths of righteousness and peace
A sacred calm ensued within his breast,
And now the wandcrer found place of rest
New objects Of pursuit inspird his mind,
And purifying love, his soul rtin'd,
The friends OF truth he now delights to meet:
And sit like MANY, at the Masters feet.
ender sympathy, by grace inspirti,
And love OF truth, his placid bosom hr'd;
Yet from bis heart oft rose the unconscious sigh,
And CRATE fill tears weuld glisen in his eye
The inward travail, which he deeply felt
Ocrwhehn'd his mind, and caused his heart 10 melt;
Till by The power Of sweet constrainng love,
He capd his friends the same delight 10 prove.
And the first language ofh laboring breast.
III words ofinspira ion, were expressed.
sThe lofty looks Of man shall be brought low:
Aud naughty ones shall to Jehovah, bow;
And Con alone shall be exalted high,
In truth, and grace, and power, and majesty"
This his first testimony; simply given
Received by friends. a message sent from Heaven.
He in his future trials stood approval
BY his great hlaser-and by men BELOVED.
III temper open, amiable, and mild,
In manners smple-lovey child
He to the Youth, pleasing pattern. gave
OF access easy, pious, cheerful. grave,
All classes, felt an interest in the man,
For innoccnce thr ough all his actions
Long, able Minister, he stood.
And spent useful life, in doing good.
At home, abroad the humble Christian shone,
While all the praise, he gave to Con sone
The Sauiol,rS merns, formd his only plea,
While low in prayer he how'd the suppliant knee.
Gre,tly, his Master blest the dying scene,
And made him pass the dreary vale. serene,
While listening multtudes stood weeping round
To hear The last sad solemn, pleasing sound
Flow from the dying lips of their dear friend,
AS life was drawing to peaceful end.
Then calmly leaning on his Sa,ionr's breast,
He sweetIy sunk to everlasting rest M.
sJsaah ID CHI 18th "