Preaching the Gospel – Christian Cultural Heritage

_{25 June 2023 extracted from Poems and Hymns}

_{by English author, hymn writter, preacher Richard baxter  (1615-1691)}

Thou 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 men’s souls did strive.

I preach 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!

_{Richard Baxter (1615–1691) was an English Puritan church leader, poet, hymn-writer, theologian, and controversialist. He was well known for his pastoral ministry in Kidderminster, from which he wrote the book “The Reformed Pastor”, which has become our church’s pastoral handbook.}