On the Death of Mrs. Elizabeth Blackwell, March 27, 1772, Part 1

God of all power, and truth, and love,
Whose faithful mercies never end.
Thy longing servant to remove,
Who dost the flaming convoy send;
Help us Thine attributes to praise.
Help us Thy follower to pursue,
Till all obtain the crowning grace.
Till all with her Thy glory view.

Ere yet she into being came,
Thou didst Thy favourite handmaid choose,
Thy love inscribed her with Thy name,
And mark'd the vessel for Thy use:
With tender, gracious awe inspired,
With innocence and purity,
God, above all, the child desired,
And gave her simple heart to Thee.

Her pious course with life began,
Call'd by the consecrating rite.
In wisdom's pleasant paths she ran.
And served her Maker day and night:
Watchful to keep her garments clean,
Glad to frequent the hallow'd place.
She never left her God for sin.
Or wholly lost that earliest grace.

While, zealous for Thy righteous law.
She her integrity maintain'd,
Thou didst her trembling spirit awe,
And bless with lowhness unfeign'd:
No Pharisaic pride or scorn
Could harbour in her bosom find.
Her virtue into poison turn,
Or taint so pure and good a mind.

Touching the legal righteousness,
While blameless in Thy sight she lived,
Thee she confess'd in all her ways.
And all her good from Thee received;
Faithful even then, she flew to tend.
Where'er distress'd, the sick and poor,
Rejoiced for them her life to spend,
And all Thy gifts through them restore.

Did not her alms and prayers arise,
Memorial sweet, before Thy throne?
Grateful, accepted sacrifice,
They brought the gospel blessing down:
To one who Thee sincerely fear'd,
Thou didst the Comforter impart:
The herald spake; the grace appear'd,
And stamp'd salvation on her heart.

Her unopposing heart received
With meekness the engrafted word,
With reverential joy believed,
And sunk before her smiling Lord:
Reciprocal affection moved,
And wonder ask'd, " How can it be?
Hath God so poor a creature loved.
Or bought so mean a worm as me?"