On the Death of Mr. John Hutchinson, July 23, 1754

Glory, and thanks, and praise
To Him who reigns above,
The God of unexampled grace,
Of unexhausted love;
Whose Spirit often grieved
Hath all long-suffering shown,
And now to paradise received
His poor rebellious son.

His son (and mine) is fled
Beyond the reach of sin,
The everlasting doors display'd
Admit the wanderer in:
Shout, all ye heavenly choir,
The doubtful conflict past,
My son is scarcely saved by fire
But he is saved at last.

Scaped from a life of pain,
Disburden'd of his load;
The struggling soul hath burst its chain
Oi peevish flesh and blood:
Safe to the haven brought,
Where storms can never come,
And every folly, every fault,
Is buried in his tomb.

The pain, whose lingering strife
And frequent impulse tore
The wasted seats of irksome life,
Shall never vex him more:
Nor love's severe excess,
Nor anger's furious start.
Can his indignant spirit oppress.
Or rend his frantic heart.

The tyrannizing power
Of his own wayward will.
The buffetings of sin are o'er,
The stubborn pulse is still;
Jesus hath heard our prayer,
And caught him to His breast,
And lull'd the self-tormentor there
To everlasting rest.

Omnipotent to save,
Thou didst Thine arm reveal,
And on the margin of the grave
All his backslidings heal:
"Thou didst Thy blood impart,
To sign his soul's release,
And whisper love into his heart,
And bid him die in peace."

Our hearts with hopes and fears,
Dying, he chills, and warms,
The sad desponding sinner cheers,
The confident alarms:
Left to the tempter's power,
He cries to all " Beware,"
But pardon'd at his latest hour,
Prohibits our despair.

Instructed from above,
Let us the warning take,
Nor ever. Lord, abuse Thy love,
Or Thee or Thine forsake:
Ah! rather now receive
The purchase of Thy blood,
Than let us live to tempt or grieve
The patience of our God.

In self-mistrusting fear
Thy mercy we implore.

keep us, till our conflicts here
Triumphantly are o'er:
Ah! make us better, Lord,
And take us at the best.
Meet to receive our full reward
In love's eternal feast.