Classic Poem

Behold the priviledg of a Christian
Above another man
Both tenants to one Lord,
Yet in their tenures they do not accord:
One hath two lives in present, and the third
In future, but confirm'd by God's own Word.

The life of nature first, the life of grace
Takes up the second place;
The life of glory last,
Which comes not till the other two are past.
The Christian esteems the natural
Compar'd with th' other nothing worth at all.

The natural man in present hath but one,
And in reversion none;
Yet he doth so depend
Upon that one as if it ne're would end.
Not once considering how each trivial thing
Serves to draw on its speedy ruining.

And as the beasts that perish so shal he
To dust dissolvèd be;
Yea, a worse mischief shall
After this life this wretched man befall,
Of his unhappiness it being the least
That his short breath expireth like the beast.

For his one life a double death shall have;
His body in the grave,
His soul in hell shall lye
A second death that's to eternity,
A miserable man he is indeed,
Whose single short life two long deaths succeed.

I will account no more this life of mine
To be my own, but Thine;
Not I, but Thou dost live
In me, who for me, Lord, Thy self didst give.
It was Thy love that made Thee dye for me,
It is my faith that makes me live in Thee.