AN INSCRIPTION ON THE GRAVESTONE OF COLIN BROWN,
LATE PROVOST OF PERTH, WHO DIED OCTOBER 17, 1741,
FRIEND, do not, careless on thy road,
O'erlook this humble shrine; For, if thou art a friend of God, Here lies a friend of thine.
His closet was a Bethel sweet; His house, a house of prayer: In homely strains, at Jesu's feet, He wrestled daily there.
He to the city was a guide,
And to the church a fence, Nor could within the camp abide When truth was banished thence.
His life and death did both express
What strength of grace was given: His life, a lamp of holiness;
His death, a dawn of heaven.
"Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm." Song of Sol. viii. 6.
GRANT, Lord, my name engraved may Upon thy heart and breast; And so insure thy love to me, My glorious God and Priest.
O set me steadfast as a seal Upon thine arm Divine, And by confirming marks reveal Thy mighty love is mine.
Grant, also, Lord, that love to thee
May firmly be impressed : And let thy name my signet be, Deep stamped upon my breast.
Oh, may my heart the centre prove Of thy affections keen;
Thy heart the centre of my love, And nought to intervene !
HAPPINESS, thou lovely name,
Where's thy seat, oh, tell me where? Learning, pleasure, wealth, and fame, All cry out," It is not here;"
Not the wisdom of the wise Can inform me where it lies; Not the grandeur of the great Can the bliss I seek create.
Object of my first desire, Jesus crucified for me!
All to happiness aspire,
Only to be found in thee; Thee to praise, and thee to know, Constitute our bliss below;
Thee to see, and thee to love, Constitute our bliss above.
Lord, it is not life to live, If thy presence thou deny; Lord, if thou thy presence give, 'Tis no longer death to die: Source and Giver of repose, Singly from thy smile it flows; Peace and happiness are thine: Mine they are, if thou art mine.
While I feel thy love to me,
Every object teems with joy; Here, oh, may I walk with thee, Then into thy presence die! Let me but thyself possess, Total sum of happiness!
Real bliss I then shall prove;
Heaven below, and heaven above!
THE DYING BELIEVER TO HIS SOUL.
DEATHLESS principle, arise,
Soar, thou native of the skies; Pearl of price by Jesus bought, To His glorious likeness wrought, Go to shine before His throne; Deck His mediatorial crown; Go, His triumphs to adorn; Made for God, to God return.
Lo, He beckons from on high! Fearless to His presence fly: Thine the merit of His blood; Thine the righteousness of God. Angels, joyful to attend,
Hovering, round thy pillow bend; Wait to watch the signal given, And escort thee quick to heaven.
Is thy earthly house distrest, Willing to retain her guest? "Tis not thou, but she, must die; Fly, celestial tenant, fly.
Burst thy shackles, drop thy clay, Sweetly breathe thyself away, Singing, to thy crown remove; Swift of wing, and fired with love.
Shudder not to pass the stream; Venture all thy care on Him; Him, whose dying love and power Stilled its tossing, hushed its roar. Safe is the expanded wave, Gentle as a summer's eve; Not one object of His care Ever suffered shipwreck there.
See the haven full in view;
Love Divine shall bear thee through! Trust to that propitious gale; Weigh thy anchor, spread thy sail. Saints in glory, perfect made, Wait thy passage through the shade; Ardent for thy coming o'er,
See, they throng the blissful shore !
Mount, their transports to improve ; Join the longing choir above; Swiftly to their wish be given; Kindle higher joy in heaven. Such the prospects that arise To the dying Christian's eyes! Such the glorious vista Faith Opens through the shades of death.
« AnteriorContinua » |