Joseph Griggs was an English Presbyterian Minister who died at Walthamstow, Essex, this day October 29, 1768. He was the son of poor parents but commenced writing poems when he was a small child. He entered the ministry in 1743, and became an assistant to Rev. Thomas Bures, pastor of the Silver Street Presbyterian Church, London. He married a woman of wealth and settled at St. Albans. He retired from the active work of the ministry at this time, giving himself to literary work thereafter. We know very little about him apart from a few published literary remains. One of the most famous of his poems was originally entitled, “Shame of Jesus conquered by love, by a youth of ten years.” His childhood intellect and piety must have been great to be enabled to pen the following words.

Jesus! And shall it ever be!

A Mortal Man asham'd of Thee?

Scorn'd be the Thought by Rich and Poor;

O may I scorn it more and more

Asham'd of Jesus! Sooner far

Let Ev'ning blush to own a Star.

Asham'd of Jesus! Just as soon

Let Midnight blush to think of Noon

'Tis Evening with my Soul till He,

That Morning-Star, bids Darkness flee:

He sheds the Beam of Noon divine

O'er all this Midnight Soul of mine

Asham'd of Jesus! Shall yon Field

Blush when it thinks who bids it yield?

Yet blush I must, while I adore,

I blush to think I yield no more

Asham'd of Jesus! of that Friend,

On whom, for Heaven, my Hopes depend;

It must not be--be this my Shame,

That I no more revere His Name

Asham'd of Jesus! yes, I may,

When I've no Crimes to wash away;

No Tear to wipe, no Joy to crave,

No Fears to quell, no Soul to save

'Till then (nor is the Boasting vain.)

'Till then, I boast a Saviour slain:

And O may this my Portion be,