369.

My sins were unnumber'd; my frailty and pride
As deep as the ocean, as strong as the tide:
But more strong than the tide, and more deep
than the sea,

Was the love of the Saviour who sorrow'd for me.

Accus'd by my conscience, oppress'd by my care, I was bound with the fetters of grief and despair; But He pitied my bondage, and bade me be free, And He wrought out an endless salvation for me.

370.

The clarion of the archangel shall summon them on high: till then they will slumber side by side, and the whirlwind will not wake them.

371.

Think not, my friends, who lov'd me best,
My sands of life too swiftly run;

But rather bow to God's behest,
And let his sacred will be done.

His wisdom, who in love and power
My life and hope of glory gave,
Decreed the very day and hour
When I should sink into the grave.

M

372.

Art thou prepared, Reader, with the grave before thee, to be judged with the same judgment with which thou hast judged others?

373.

Go, seek to learn thy God aright,
While life and health are given;

For canst thou read the book of earth,
And count the stars of heaven?

In all thy learning and thy pride,
Thy hours have vainly flown,
If, with the knowledge of the world,
Thy God is still unknown.

374.

What, though awhile in dust I slumber here,
And leave behind a wife and children dear!
He who preserv'd me will not them despise,
But guide them by his mercy to the skies.

375.

He lived in the practice and died in the spirit of charity; and this spot is well known to the fatherless and widow.

376.

Our child, that moulders in the tomb,
Was beautiful from birth;

We fondly thought to see her bloom
A lovely flower on earth:

But she was born for better things;
The high behest was given,
And holy angels wav'd their wings,

And wafted her to heaven.

377.

His spirit was gentle and kind, and took heed
To fulfil the Almighty's command ;

He honour'd his parents, in word and in deed,
And his days were prolong'd in the land.

If thy spirit, through good and through evil report,

To honour thy Maker be given;

Though the days of thy life upon earth may be short,

Yet thy joys shall be longer in heaven.

378.

Sinner, if God had spoken and thou hadst not heard, thou mightst find forgiveness; but if He has cried aloud and thou hast not regarded, how canst thou hope for mercy?

379.

To this enquiry all thy thoughts apply:
O seek in haste to know with all thy power,
Since it is certain, Reader, thou must die,
What will support thee in a dying hour!

380.

When the clarion of the archangel shall resound, the bones that here moulder in earth shall spring towards heaven; the eyes that are dim shall sparkle with joy; and the heart that lies motionless shall beat with rapture to hail the second coming of the Son of God.

381.

I was born on the high-foaming billow,
And rock'd in the merciless deep!
The rough-roaring sea heav'd my pillow,
And lull'd me, unconscious, to sleep.

Though I met with my death on the ocean,
My heavenly Pilot, at hand,

Gently led me through every commotion,
And brought me to his promis'd land.

Now dwelling in regions of glory,

How sweet is the calm I enjoy!

My friends, though ye weep at my story,
Rejoice at the bliss of your boy.

382.

Prepare thee, Reader, for thy latter end; for though it may be an easy thing to exchange temporal pleasures for eternal felicity, it must needs be a hard thing to lose at once the joys of earth, without possessing a hope of the joys of heaven.

383.

The whirlwind cannot break their sleep

Where they in darkness lie;

Nor earth nor hell their ashes keep
When summon'd to the sky.

384.

And must we then, whene'er we die,
To light or darkness go,

And reign with joy in heaven above,
Or groan in hell below?

O let us, while we yet have breath,
Fly from the burning flame,
And seek the offer'd grace of God,
Through our Redeemer's name.

O Lord, thy mercy we implore;
Our souls betimes prepare
The dreadful pains of hell to shun,
The joys of heaven to share.