Philippians 2:27: The was sick nigh unto death: but God had, &c

But could the chief apostle grieve,
That Jesus should a saint receive
To everlasting rest?
Then I may lawfully bemoan
Myself, for her to glory gone
In her Redeemer's breast.

My friend no more on earth appears;
The tribute of thesé pious tears
She asks, and justifies:
And weeping, through the vale of woe,
With calm submissive grief I go,
To meet her in the skies.