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Were here thy state eternal,-could thy wealth
Forestall eternity, or for thyself

And heirs buy mansions in the world above,
Thou hadst excuse for an unbounded love
Of trash, that's root of ev'ry evil here,
And misery hereafter will insure!

PAUL THE APOSTLE.

Lo! flesh and blood must to the grave go down,
A life spiritual they can not assume,

From dust they came, to dust they shall return!*
Yet, time shall end,-eternity begin,-
Death's only sleep,—we shall awake again;
For at the last, the awful trumpet's sound,
All shall arise and leave the lonely tomb!

A DISCIPLE.

Methinks I hear the faithful christian say, When at departure from this world of wo,

My dear, dear, friends, my mortal race is run, "I in the grave must sleep to wait the morn, "When all the dead God's waking trump shall hear, "Shall life renew, immortal reappear!

"But, ah my soul! where 'tis that thou shalt flee, "Death's strongest fetters can't imprison thee?

* See 1 Corinthians chap. xv.

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"Faith bids me hear my great Redeemer say,

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By grace thy soul to heaven shall haste away. "Then my dear children, weep ye not for me, "A few years past, and you as I will be; "To other worlds the grave's but a relay, "But faithful serve your God, His words obey, "And you and I, cloth'd in immortal bloom, "O'erwhelm'd with joy, shall surely meet again "To part no more; in heaven dwell employ'd "In giving glory to a gracious God."

PAUL THE APOSTLE.

The Saviour's triumph over death and sin Is certain proof the dead shall rise again.* But, some will say, "How shall the dead arise, "As clos'd in earth, or sea, each moulder'd lies, "That myriads gone some thousand years ago, “Have chang'd to their primeval dust ere now; "Whose ashes scatter'd o'er earth's spacious round, By eyes most searching never can be found?"

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Vain man! wilt thou thy Maker thus defy,
And impiously omnipotence deny ?

Wast not thou form'd of lifeless earth at first?
Can't the same power revive thy sleeping dust?
Observe the grain thou sowest, does it not die,
Yet spring again, producing life anew?

* See 1 Corinthians chap. xv

So, art not thou a transient plant here sown
That lives to die, and then to earth return,
Yet scatters seeds to propagate its race,

Who stay their time, and then to their's give place?
Behold, the sun, the moon, and ev'ry star!
Did not a God once cause them to appear?
Yes, the majestic, and stupendous whole
From nothing sprang at His supernal call.
So, at his word, the dead to life shall spring,
And as first fruits a ris'n Saviour's giv'n;
Though in corruption are our bodies form'd,
To incorruption we shall all be chang'd,
The first must death's usurp'd dishonours meet,
The last's ordain'd eternity to greet.

Then, as through Adam we're consign'd to die,
So we through Christ shall live eternally;
Therefore, my brethren, let us so prepare,
As we may rise to see a happy shore!
We die, 'tis true; but 'tis again to live;
We only sleep;-the time will sure arrive,
When soul and body shall once more unite
In firmer league than death can separate;
And both depart to see another land,
Of joy, or wo, at the great God's command.
The solemn trumpet sounds;-the dead awake;
And at the call all rise;-and all partake*
Of immortality.-Ah, wondrous change!
Ah! what a splendid, grand, delightful, range

* See 1 Corinthians chap. xv.

Becomes conspicuous to th' immortal eye,
We stand amaz'd at the stupendous view!
The body nature form'd, made resiant here,
In form spiritual's rais'd to die no more!
We see corruption incorrupt become,
And all the bless'd assume a glorious form,
Which shall not fade, no more putrescent be,
But live unsulli'd in eternity!

Christ's faithful servants first, are bid to come*
Forth envelop'd in everlasting bloom;
These shall in heavenly splendour re-appear
To meet their Lord amid illumin'd air:
The faithful living at this awful hour,†

As quick as eye can twinkle, by the power
Of God, will change their earthly, transient, form,
In a moment immortality put on,

By heavenly escort instantly be caught

Up their lov'd Saviour joyfully to meet.

DISCIPLE.

My great removal, my dear friends, is near,
In other worlds I shortly shall appear;
Accept my parting gift, my farewell boon,
Ere I fly hence to a more happy clime.

See 1 Thessalonians chap. iv. + See 1 Corinthians chap. xv.

My children dear, your parent's bed approach,
To clasp in mine your lovely hands outstretch,
And let a father's blessings comfort give,
Absorb your grief at taking final leave.

Remember, though you be left orphans here,
A gracious God will with paternal care
Give His protection; He will succour those
Who honor and adopt His holy cause !
Frail nature's debt all men are call'd to pay,
And shortly from this world must wing away;
The aged soon the summons will receive,

The young, ere long, the same commands shall have;
The rich, the poor, the prince, the humble slave,
Must all repair to sleep within the grave;
Without distinction in its dark domains,
Become the prey of all-devouring worms.
Yet, God will raise us from our native clay
On yet a hidden, but approaching day ;
If holy here, we shall be happy where
We meet again to separate no more.

Then, weep not at my leaving you awhile,
Death's certain,-but let not his stay beguile;
His call be soon, or be prolonged late,

'Twill come, so be prepar'd to meet your fate;
Though I first tread the path, yet you shall stray
And follow me along the devious way.

God bless you all, my first of worldly cares,
May His rich grace preserve from evil's snares;

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