our beloved kindred? God calls upon us now, and enquires, "What have you learned of these divine "lessons?" I would ask myself this day, "Have I seen the emptiness and the insufficiency of creatures, and recalled my hope and confidence from every thing beneath and beside God? Have I past "through this solemn hour of trial well, and shewn my supreme love to God, and my most entire "submission to his sovereignty, by resigning so dear "a comfort at his demand? Have I been taught by "the inward pain which I felt at parting, and by the "smart which still remains, how dangerous a thing "it is to love a creature too well? Have I duly "considered my past conduct toward my relations "deceased, and does it approve itself to my con"science at the review? Or have I found matter "for self-condemnation and repentance? Have I "treasured up the memory of their virtues in my "heart, and set them before me as the copy of my "life? Have my thoughts followed the soul of my "dear departed friend, and traced it with pleasure to "the world of blessed spirits; and does my own soul

seem to fix its hope and joy there, and to dwell "there above? Are my thoughts become more "spiritual and heavenly? Do I live more as a bor"derer on the other world, since a piece of me is 66 gone thither? And am I ready for the summons, "if it should come before to-morrow?”

Happy Christian, who has been taught by the Spirit of grace to improve the death even of the dearest relative to so divine an advantage! The words of my text are then fulfilled experimentally in you, Death is your's: death itself is made a part of your treasures. The parting stroke is painful indeed, but it carries a blessing in it too; for it has promoted your heavenly and eternal interest. Amen.

DEATH AND HEAVEN.

IN FIVE LYRIC ODES.

ODE I.

The Spirit's Farewell to the Body after long Sickness.

How

I.

am I held a prisoner now,

Far from my God! This mortal chain Binds me to sorrow; all below

Is short-liv'd ease or tiresome pain.

II.

When shall that wondrous hour appear,
Which frees me from this dark abode,
To live at large in regions where

Nor cloud nor veil shall hide my God?

III.

Farewell this flesh, these ears, these eyes,
These snares and fetters of the mind;

My God, nor let this frame arise,
Till every dust be well refin'd.

IV.

Jesus, who mak'st our natures whole,
Mould me a body like thy own;

Then it shall better serve my soul

In works of praise and worlds unknown.

ODE II.

The departing Moment; or absent from the Body.

1.

ABSENT from flesh! O blissful thought!
What unknown joys this moment brings!
Freed from the mischiefs sin hath wrought,
From pains, and tears, and all their springs.

II.

Absent from flesh! Illustrious day!
Surprising scene! triumphant stroke,
That rends the prison of my clay,
And I can feel my fetters broke!

Absent from flesh! Then rise, my soul,
Where feet or wings could never climb,
Beyond the heavens where planets roll,
Measuring the cares and joys of time.

IV.

I go where God and glory shine;
His presence makes eternal day.

My all that's mortal I resign,

For Uriel waits and points my way.

ODE III.

Entrance into Paradise; or present with the Lord.

I

AND is this heaven? And am I there?

How short the road!

How swift the flight!

I am all life, all eye,

all ear;

Jesus is here my soul's delight.

II:

Is this the heavenly Friend who hung
In blood and anguish on the tree,
Whom Paul proclaim'd, whom David sung,
Who died for them, who died for me?

III.

How fair, thou Offspring of my God!
Thou first-born Image of his face!
Thy death procur'd this blest abode,
Thy vital beams adorn the place.

IV.

Lo, he presents me at the throne

All spotless; there the Godhead reigns Sublime and peaceful through the Son: Awake, my voice, in heavenly strains.

ODE IV.

The Sight of God in Heaven.

I.

CREATOR-GOD, eternal Light,
Fountain of good, tremendous Power,
Ocean of wonders, blissful sight!
Beauty and love unknown before!

II.

Thy grace, thy nature, all unknown
In yon dark region whence I came;
Where languid glimpses from thy throne
And feeble whispers teach thy name.

III.

I'm in a world where all is new;
Myself, my God: O blest amaze !
Not my best hopes or wishes knew
To form a shadow of this grace.

IV.

Fix'd on my God, my heart, adore;
My restless thoughts, forbear ta rove ;
Ye meaner passions, stir no more;
But all my powers be joy and love.

ODE V.

A funeral Ode at the Interment of the Body, supposed to be sung by the Mourners.

I.

UNVEIL thy bosom, faithful tomb;
Take this new treasure to thy trust,
And give these sacred relics room
To seek a slumber in the dust.

II.

Nor pain, nor grief, nor anxious fear
Invade thy bounds. No mortal woes

Can reach the lovely sleeper here,
And angels watch her soft repose.

HI.

So Jesus slept; God's dying Son

Past through the grave, and blest the bed.
Rest here, fair saint, till from his throne.
The morning break and pierce the shade.

IV.

Break from his throne, illustrious morn;
Attend, O earth, his sovereign word;
Restore thy trust, a glorious form;

She must ascend to meet her Lord.