On the Death of Mrs. Elizabeth Blackwell, March 27, 1772, Part 4

Soon as the' appointed sickness came,
And promised her departure near,
She welcomed death in Jesu's name,
Nor weakly dropp'd a lingering tear.
Let those lament with conscious dread.
Who teach, "Ye must in darkness die:"
She knew her Advocate had sped;
Her place was ready in the sky.

"How can I doubt my blissful end,
How can I tremble to remove.
When Jesus, my almighty Friend,
Is the great God of truth and love?
Him, God supreme for ever bless'd.
Sole self-existing God, I own,
Who purchased my eternal rest,
And calls me up to share His throne.

"Surrounded by His power I stand,
Whom day and night His mercies keep;
He holds me in His chastening hand;
He gives to His beloved sleep:
While in His mercies I confide.
He keeps my soul in perfect peace;
He comforts me on every side,
And pain is lost in thankfulness.

"Who for so poor a creature care.
My friends, are with His kindness kind;
My burdens for His sake they bear;
The Fountain in the stream I find:
I magnify my Saviour's name,
I praise Him with my parting breath,
And, sinking into dust, proclaim
The everlasting arms beneath."

In words like these the dying saint
Her humble confidence express'd,
Or calmly sigh'd her only want.
And languish'd for that endless rest:
Rest after toil and pain, how sweet
To souls whose full reward is sure;
Who their last wish, like her, submit,
Like Jesus, to the end endure!

Enduring, with that patient Lamb,
The' appointed years of sacred woe,
She comes as gold out of the flame,
To triumph o'er her mortal foe;
Sweet peace, and pure celestial hope,
And humble joy, the bride prepare.
While, waiting to be taken up,
She whispers soft her final prayer.

The witness which through life she bore,
When now made ready to ascend,
Loving, and meek, resign'd, and poor,
She bears consistent to the end:
No sudden starts, with nature mix'd,
No violent ecstasies of grace,
Her eye on Him, her heart is fix'd.
And silence speaks her Saviour's praise.

Exempt from nature's agonies.
Who now is able to conceive
What with her closing eyes she sees?
She cannot bear the sight and live:
In sweet communion with her God,
She gHdes insensibly away,
Quietly drops the smiling clod.
And mingles with eternal day!