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.
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