128. O what a senseless fool is man to swallow Life is, at best, a transitory glow; A momentary breath of weal and woe: Our moments pass as though we did despise them, And when we cannot have them, then we prize them. Wouldst thou reverse this sinful strange beha viour, Then call thou on thy Guardian and thy Saviour: Repentant, at his feet adoring fall; Make him thy Lord, thy God, thy hope, thy all. 129. As a lowly follower of his Saviour he adorned the doctrines of the Gospel: he visited the sick, comforted the afflicted, and went about doing good to the souls and bodies of men. He proclaimed the glad tidings of salvation, and warned sinners to "flee from the wrath to come." Through all his pilgrimage, he cast his burdens on Him who had promised to sustain them; and calmly passed the dark valley of the shadow of death, fearing no evil, being comforted by the rod and staff of his Redeemer. 130. Were there no monuments but such as stood 131. "Die!" said the Justice Adam first But "Live!" eternal Mercy said; 132. By all belov'd, and full of love to all, Death shock'd her friends, but could not her appal : She pass'd serenely to the realms above, Upborne by arms of everlasting love. 133. Bethink thee, Reader, all are born to die. Think now, if thou hast never thought before. 134. They who labour for the world shall receive the wages of the world, in temporary honours and riches that "make to themselves wings," and "fly away." They who serve God shall be recompensed by God;-here with "a peace that passeth understanding," and hereafter with "an exceeding and eternal weight of glory." 135. He pass'd a life of mingled cares, He liv'd through many a grief, to prove That God could guard and guide him well; He died to find that God is love, And with him evermore to dwell. 136. The brightest earthly hope is but a brilliant bubble bursting against a tombstone. 137. Bethink thee, sinner, wandering wide astray, Will God, indeed, pronounce, with changeless ire, Depart, ye cursed, into quenchless fire?" 66 Read for thyself; take not from me the token: 138. Reader, if thou thinkest lightly of the happiness and misery of another world, remember that millions of ages crowding on millions of ages-millions of ages crowding on millions of ages-and again, millions of ages crowding on millions of ages are but the beginning of eternity. 139. I heard a fearful voice, and fell supine: 'Twas Death that spoke-"The sons of men are mine!" 140. Believer, shrink not from thy body's doom, 141. A child of Adam,- -"dust to dust" His body here was given; A child of Jesus,—with the just F 142. Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids, till thou hast sought that hope of eternal life which is freely offered in the Gospel of the Redeemer. This hope shall animate thy soul, give thee peace in the troublous storms of life, and, amid the fears and darkness of expiring nature, rush as a flaming angel to rescue thee from destruction. 143. Gaze on his Grave, thou passer-by, Who paths of trouble trod; And learn from him, in all thy woes, To put thy trust in God. Then, wading through thy sorrows deep, They shall not thee o'erflow; Fear not the flood; despise the flame; 144. I sought from sickness to be free, |