On the Death of Mrs. Hannah Dewal, Part 1

Farewell, thou best of friends, farewell
(Since God revokes His richest loan;)
Return, with kindred souls to dwell,
As pure and upright as thine own.
No longer could our prayers detain
The pilgrim from her heavenly rest:
Go, blessed saint, with Jesus reign,
And lean for ever on His breast.

In hope to share thine happiness,
We check the' unruly, selfish sigh,
Restraining nature's soft excess.
The tears commanding from our eye.
When Jesus to Himself doth take
A vessel of His glorious love,
Tis sacrilege to wish her back,
To rob the sanctuary above.

Yet should we on her memory dwell,
The pattern fair she left behind,
Her genuine faith and temper'd zeal,
Her noble, free, Berean mind;
Her diligence to search the word,
If man his pardon'd sin may know;"
She sought till there she found her Lord,
And held and never let Him go.

On Him she fix'd her single eye.
And steady in His steps went on.
Studious by works to testify
The power of God in weakness shown.
A quiet follower of the Lamb,
She walk'd in Him she had received.
And more and more show'd forth His name,
And more and more like Jesus lived.

No sudden fits of transient love.
No instantaneous starts, she knew;
But show'd her heart was fix'd above,
And poorer still and poorer grew.
The seed increased, she knew not how.
Nor aim'd her Saviour's work to' explain.
Nor tempted Him by nature's Now,
But waited all His mind to gain.

Transparent as the crystal stream,
Her life in even tenour flow'd;
Careful to be, and not to seem,
Whate'er she was, she was to God.
Superior to reproach and praise.
By no fantastic impulse driven,
As unperceived she ran her race.
As rapid, as the orbs of heaven.

Thither her GodHke spirit soar'd,
Above all pride, all wrath, all fear;
She triumph'd with her glorious Lord,
Yet sufFer'd with His members here.
At every shape of woe distress'd.
How did her yearning bowels move!
Soft pity fill'd her generous breast.
And mix'd the eagle with the dove.

For friendship form'd, her constant heart
With pure, intense affection glow'd;
She could not give her friend a part.
Because she gave the whole to God.
Her friend she clasp'd with love entire,
Enkindled at the Saviour's throne,
A spark of that celestial fire,
A ray of that eternal Sun.

Could actions, words, or looks express
How warm, how boundless, her esteem?
Her soul's delight to' oblige and please.
Bliss to impart her joy supreme.
Say you, who shared that angel here.
Whom neither life nor death disjoin.
Was ever transport more sincere?
Was ever friendship more Divine!