Lazarus-how pungent was his wo!
What troubles Job oppress'd!
What pains did Jesus undergo!—
But now they all have rest.
Look up, my soul, direct thy eyes
To God for heavenly grace;
And thou shalt soon from suff'rings rise,
And reach his heavenly place.
FAITH TRIUMPHANT IN THE PROSPECT
OF ETERNITY.
WHY fear, my soul, approaching death,
Since Jesus is thy faithful friend?
That moment, which demands thy breath,
Will all thy pains and trials end.
Why shouldst thou fear to reach the coast,
Where Christ in endless bliss resides,-
Where thou shalt see that heavenly host
O'er which the Saviour now presides?
I know that he's in mercy gone,
And will for me prepare a place :—
Take, Lord, thy wand'ring member home, And quicken thou my loit'ring pace!
Defiance, Grave!-I raise my head;
Nor will I live in ceaseless fear:
My Lord has first prepar'd my bed;-
How harmless does the grave appear!
See, O my soul, thy Saviour come!
Thy guardian-thy protector see!
See there thy pardon!-see thy home!
See there the joys prepar'd for thee!
Look not at sin-avert thy head:
Lo! for thy guilt another bleeds!
The seat of judgment never dread,
Since Christ for thy acquittal pleads.
Boldly the fiend's assaults despise,
Since angels, night and day, attend
To guard thee with their wakeful eyes,
Until the hours of trial end.
The pains of Hell no longer mind,
Since Jesus has the keys of fate,
And must the souls of all mankind
Admit through their appointed gate.
See there thy throne!-behold the crown,The branch of palm,-the white array, Which Jesus bought, and made thy own, Against thy coronation-day!'
Prepare thy lyre, thy viol bring;
Prepare thy hymns and sacred lays,
That thou above may'st sweetly sing
To thy exalted Saviour's praise.
Then for thy dissolution cry,
And long to see thy heavenly spouse;
To mount above the nether sky,
Released from this vile prison-house,
To join with yon angelic train,
Who range the smiling fields of bliss,
Where Christ and all his servants reign,
And care not for a world like this!
Free is their state from grief or pain,
From sin and sorrow's least alloy;
There death and sadness never reign,
But everlasting bliss and joy.
But O! take proper heed to wear
Thy gorgeous jewels on thy breast;
And thus before thy Lord appear
In all thy bridal beauty drest.
Fill up thy lamp with oil, and light
Thy candle to avoid surprise;
Nor in soft slumber, all the night,
Presume to close thy weary eyes.
Awake, and wait with sleepless eye,
Until the royal bridegroom come;
And when they raise the midnight cry,
He'll take thee to thy lasting home.
Yes, yes, he comes!-I see him move!
He comes in mercy,-and for me!
Now I'm beneath his skirt of love;
O! tell me can this dying be?-
Into thy hand my soul I give,
And soar with haste to worlds above;
For there with thee I long to live,
Since all my heaven is in thy love.
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