On the Death of Mr. Thomas Walsh, April 8, 1759, Aged Twenty-Eight, Part 2

While Christ with all his heart he sought,
And all his gifts from Christ received,
A witness of the truths he taught,
A pattern to the flock he lived;
Them by his bright example led
The power of godliness to prove.
In word, in converse, and in deed.
In faith, in purity, and love.
Did he not labour day and night,
In ministerial works employ'd,
His sweet relief, his whole delight,
To search the oracles of God,
To listen at the Master's feet,
To catch the whispers of His grace.
And long for happiness complete,
And gasp to see His open face?
Did he not triumph in the cross,
Its prints as on his body show,
Lavish of life for Jesus' cause,
Whose blood so free for him did flow?
He scorn'd his feeble flesh to spare.

Regardless of its swift decline,
His single aim, his ceaseless prayer
To' attain the righteousness Divine.
Impatient to be truly great,
Ambitious of a crown above.
He coveted the highest seat,
He ask'd the grace of perfect love:
He ask'd, alas! but knew not then
The purport of his own desire.
How deep that cup of sacred pain,
How searching that baptismal fire!
The Lord allow'd his bold request;

The servant is call'd forth to share
That anguish of a wounded breast,
Those pangs which only God could bear
Who drank in His sad days of flesh
The potion by His Father given.
And bids His members feel afresh
The fierceness of the wrath of heaven.
A taste of that mysterious cup
His faithful follower now received,
And fiU'd his Lord's afflictions up,
While grief beyond conception grieved:
His agonizing soul sweat blood.

With Christ he fainted on the tree,
And cried in death, " My God, my God,
Ah! why hast Thou forsaken me!"
Tried to the last, but not forsook,
But honour'd with distinguish'd grace,
Heavenward he cast a dying look.

And saw once more his Saviour's face:
"He's come! my Well-beloved," he said,
"And I am His, and He is mine!"
He spake; he gazed; and bow'd his head,
And sunk into the arms Divine.
Shout all the first-born church above
His full triumphant entrance there.
Shout all on earth, whom Jesus' love
Hath call'd His cross and crown to share
Our calling. Lord, we calmly see,
Our burden joyfully sustain.
And die through one dark hour with Thee,
With Thee eternally to reign.