138

But thy spirit, brother, soars away
Among the faithful blest,

Where the wicked cease from troubling,
And the weary are at rest.

1 THOU art gone to the grave, but we will not deplore thee;

Though sorrows and darkness encompass the tomb, The Saviour has passed through its portals before thee,

And the lamp of his love is thy guide through the gloom.

2 Thou art gone to the grave; we no longer behold

thee,

Nor tread the rough path of the world by thy side; But the wide arms of mercy are spread to enfold

thee,

And sinners may hope, since the Sinless has died.

3 Thou art gone to the grave, and, its mansions forsaking,

Perhaps thy tried spirit in doubt lingered long; But the sunshine of heaven beamed bright on thy waking,

And the song that thou heard'st was the seraphim's

song.

4 Thou art gone to the grave, but 't were wrong to deplore thee,

He

When God was thy Ransom, thy Guardian, and
Guide;

gave thee, and took thee, and soon will restore
thee,

Where death has no sting, since the Saviour has

died.

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S. M.

WILSON.

Death of a Xoung Girl.

1 WHAT though the stream be dead,
Its banks all still and dry!

It murmureth now o'er a lovelier bed,
In the air-groves of the sky.

2 What though our bird of light
Lie mute with plumage dim;
In heaven I see her glancing bright,
I hear her angel hymn.

3 True that our beauteous doe
Hath left her still retreat,

But purer now in heavenly snow,
She lies at Jesus' feet.

4 O star! untimely set!

Why should we weep for thee!
Thy bright and dewy coronet

Is rising o'er the sea.

140

C. M.

WILSON.

Consolations in Bereavement.

1 THE air of Death breathes through our souls, The dead all round us lie;

By day and night the death-bell tolls,

And says, "Prepare to die!"

2 The loving ones we loved the best,
Like music all are gone;

And the wan moonlight bathes in rest,
Their monumental stone.

3 But not when the death-prayer is said,
The life of life departs:

The body in the grave is laid,
Its beauty in our hearts.

4 At holy midnight voices sweet,
Like fragrance fill the room;
And happy ghosts with noiseless feet,
Come brightening from the tomb.

5 We know who sends the visions bright,
From whose dear side they came!
We veil our eyes before thy light,
We bless our Saviour's name!

6 This frame, O God, this feeble breath,
Thy hand may soon destroy;

We think of Thee, and feel in death
A deep and awful joy.

7 Dim is the light of vanished years
In the glory yet to come;

O idle grief! O foolish tears!
When Jesus calls us home.

141

C. M.

ANONYMOUS.

Death of the Young.

1 CALM on the bosom of thy God,
Young spirit, rest thee now!
E'en while with us thy footsteps trod,
His seal was on thy brow.

2 Dust, to its narrow house beneath!
Soul, to its place on high!

They that have seen thy look in death,
No more may fear to die.

3 Lone are the paths, and sad the bowers,
Whence thy meek smile is gone;
But O, a brighter home than ours,
In heaven is now thine own.

L. M.

Death of an Enfant.

ANONYMOUS.

1 As the sweet flower that scents the morn,

But withers in the rising day,

Thus lovely was this infant's dawn,

Thus swiftly fled its life away.

142

2 It died ere its expanding soul
Had ever burnt with wrong desires,
Had ever spurned at Heaven's control,
Or ever quenched its sacred fires.

3 It died to sin, it died to cares,

But for a moment felt the rod:—
O mourner! such, the Lord declares,
Such are the children of our God!

143

10s. M.

MONTGOMERY.

Death of a Christian in his Prime.

1 Go to the grave in all thy glorious prime,
In full activity of zeal and power;

A Christian cannot die before his time,
The Lord's appointment is the servant's hour.

2 Go to the grave; at noon from labor cease;
Rest on thy sheaves, thy harvest-task is done;
Come from the heat of battle, and in peace,
Soldier, go home; with thee the fight is won.

3 Go to the grave, for there thy Saviour lay
In death's embraces, ere he rose on high;
And all the ransomed, by that narrow way,
Pass to eternal life beyond the sky.

4 Go to the grave:-no, take thy seat above;
Be thy pure spirit present with the Lord,
Where thou for faith and hope hast perfect love,
And open vision for the written word.