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319.

With death the sinner's hope shall cease;
The righteous in his death hath peace.

320.

Disease and pain, with lingering smart,
Had agoniz'd her throbbing breast;
And fears had gather'd in her heart,

And clouds and darkness round her press'd.

The darkness pass'd, and Mercy's rays
Beam'd full on her exulting soul,
Till the rapt spirit, fill'd with praise,
Sprung forth impatient of control.

Thus, when amidst the eastern skies
The kindling beams of day are given,

The impatient lark is seen to rise

And, warbling, wing her way to heaven.

321.

And dost thou think, O boasting Death,
Thine unexpected blow-

The stroke that robb'd him of his breath
For ever laid him low?

A conqueror, he shall hail the hour,

When vanquish'd thou shalt fly; Rise o'er the ruins of thy power,

And live when thou shalt die.

322.

Disturb'd, the sleeper starts and wakes; nor knows
How long or short has been his sweet repose:
E'en so with us the sleep of death may be
A start from time into eternity.

323.

Prepare to be forgotten upon earth!

324.

My wife and my children are gone to their rest; They have reach'd their fair home in the land of the bless'd;

And why should I selfishly sigh or repine,
When they all are enjoying the Presence Divine?

325.

The kindest tribute of respect and love
That an assembled world could join to pay,
Would ne'er the spirit move enthron'd above,
Nor wrap in sweeter sleep the mouldering clay.

Yet something is to human nature due;-
The death of those we love demands a tear:
And none can tell how fervently and true
We lov'd the being who lies buried here.

326.

Though the road to eternal life be hard to the proud; yet He who has said, "I am the way," has made it easy to the humble: walk therein, and Death need not be feared.

327.

Reader, as every day and every hour brings you nearer to the great and final change which awaits you, so let each day and hour find you more prepared for it.

328.

Though my sins were untold as the sands,
My Saviour has scatter'd them wide:

O look on the palms of his hands,

And the rent and the stream at his side.

So long as my Saviour shall reign,

And the throne of his glory endure;

So long will his promise remain,

And my pardon and peace be secure.

329.

Reader, improve thy fleeting hours, and give them to the Lord; remembering that the most precious portion of thy time is that which is nearest to eternity.

330.

The year that gave our floweret birth
Away had scarcely flown,

When, far from this uncertain earth,
Our floweret too was gone.

An angel mark'd it where it grew,
With bright admiring eyes,
Pluck'd it in haste, and with it flew,
Exulting, to the skies.

331.

Her talents and her virtues were formed rather to bless a narrow circle, than to attract the transitory plaudits of a wide one: no one could know her without love, nor lose her without regret.

332.

And dost thou life's enjoyments crave?
And do the fears of death appal?
The shroud, the mattock, and the
Alas! are solemn things to all.

To God thy secret sorrows bring:

grave,

Thy Saviour with thy soul adore;
And he will pluck away their sting,
And give thee peace for evermore.

L

333.

O Reader! call upon thy God,
Wouldst thou be virtuous still;
And read his sacred word, and strive
To learn his holy will:

For all the virtue that thou hast
From God in mercy came;

And thou canst only hope for heaven
Through thy Redeemer's name.

334.

E'en as I watch'd it in my bower,
The blast came by and smote my flower;

Impair'd its beauty with decay,

And bore it from me far away.

That stroke of death-that blast was given

To bear it to the highest heaven,

Where it shall bloom again, and wear

Bright and unfading beauty there.

335.

Though he lived in the midst of every earthly enjoyment, yet his heart was not in these things, for he knew that he had "a better and an enduring substance."

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