On the Death of a Child

And is the lovely shadow fled,
The blooming wonder of her years!
So soon enshrined among the dead,
She justly claims our pious tears,
Who to those heavenly spirits join'd,
Hath left a wretched world behind.

Her early short-lived excellence
With meek submission we bemoan,
Snatch'd in a fatal moment hence,
Gone from our arms, to Jesus gone,
To heighten by her swift remove,
The grief below, and joy above.
Compare " Young's Night Thoughts," Night v., 889.

In vain the dear departing saint

Forbids our gushing tears to flow,
"Forbear, my friends, your fond complaint,
From earth to heaven I gladly go,
To glorious company above,
Bright angels, and the God of love.

"O praise Him, and rejoice for me,
So happy, happy in my God!
So soon from all my pain set free,
And hasten to that bless'd abode,
With swift desire my steps pursue,
And take the prize prepared for you.

"Meet am I for the great reward,
The great reward I know is mine,
Come, O my sweet redeeming Lord,
Open those loving arms of Thine,
And take me up Thy face to see,
And let me die to live with Thee."

The prayer is seal'd, the soul is fled,
And sees her Saviour face to face:
But still she speaks to us, though dead,
She calls us to that heavenly place,
Where all the storms of life are o'er,
And pain and parting is no more.