On the Death of Mr. Ebenezer Blackwell, April 21, 1782, Part 1

Happy the follower of his Lord,
Call'd, and indulged in Him to die,
To gain a full immense reward,
Bestow'd by Jesus in the sky!
He rests from all his labours there.
Pursued by all his works of love,
And waits for us the joy to share.
Triumphant with our friends above.

Then let us cheerfully pursue
Our comrade to that heavenly land.
And keep, like him, our end in view.
And love, like him, our Lord's command:
Obedient both in word and deed,
By works his genuine faith he show'd,
Rejoiced in Jesu's steps to tread.
And spent his life in doing good.

Affliction's kind, unfailing friend,
He wisely used his growing store.
And prized his privilege to lend
To God — by giving to the poor.
The Lord His liberal servant bless'd,
Who paid Him back the blessings given:
And still, the more his wealth increased,
More treasure he laid up in heaven.

Through life inviolably just,
He his integrity maintain'd,
Most strictly faithful to his trust,
An upright man of truth unfeign'd:
His roughly honest soul abhorr'd
The polish smooth, the courtier's art,
While, free from guile, in every word
He spoke the language of his heart.

Who always liberal things devised,
By liberal things he firmly stood,
Sincerely loved his friends, and prized,
Their burdens bore, and sought their good
But chiefly those to Jesus dear.
Who travell'd to the land of rest.
As brethren intimately near,
He cherish'd in his generous breast.

A man of passions like to ours.
For years he groan'd beneath the load,
And wrestled with the adverse powers.
And look'd to the atoning blood:
The blood, which once his pardon bought,
Did here the contrite sinner save;
And all his faults are now forgot.
Are buried in his Saviour's grave.