On the Death of Dr. Boyce, February 7, 1779, Part 2

The' eternal mind at last is known,
The will omnipotent obey'd,
The Father hath call'd home His son,
And number'd with the' immortal dead!
Redeem'd from earth, the' unspotted youth
Hath join'd the virgin-choir above,
And sees unveil'd the God of truth.
And triumphs in his Saviour's love.

Not of the world, while here he lived,
A stranger to its hopes and fears.
With reverence he rejoiced and grieved,
Resign'd throughout his thirty years:
From vice and every great offence
By grace miraculous secured.
He kept his childish innocence.
And faithful unto death endured,

A daily death through life he died.
In weakness, weariness, and pain,
By many a sharp affliction tried,
His faith did every cross sustain:
What but the' Invisible display'd
Could bear him through the fiery test.
While still he look'd to God for aid,
And God in all his ways confess'd?

So modest, diffident, and meek,
So small and mean in his own eyes,
Did not his life and actions speak
An humble soul, without disguise?
Let others of their virtue tell,
Their knowledge, or superior grace,
His good he studied to conceal,
And only sought his Maker's praise.

Religion undefiled and true
In works of charity is shown:
Twas thus his loving heart we knew.
Who made the sufferer's griefs his own
So swift to succour the distress'd.
So wise and tender to reprove,
He clasp'd a sister to his breast
With more than a fraternal love.

His soul in pure affection flow'd
To all by nature's ties endear'd;
Freely he paid the debt he owed,
The friend in every act appear'd;
The warmth of piety unfeign'd.
The flame of love unquenchable.
That in his grateful bosom reign'd.
Let an afflicted parent tell.

For her a suffering life he lived,
For her a daily death he died,
With all her pains and sorrows grieved.
On all her crosses crucified;
Willing for her on earth to stay.
And want his place above prepared, —
But, call'd at last, he drops his clay,
And mounts, and gains a full reward.