JUDGMENT SEPARATION.

Why wilt thou haste to mingle in
Eternity's wide sea?—

That I one day may show his sin,
Who asketh now of me.

JUDGMENT SEPARATION.

O CHRIST! to think how bitter must
The separation be,

When one, beloved, is hidden where
Earth lies so heavily!

Where, in its coffin, in the clay,

The corse congeals to stone;

Or, silently, the livid flesh
Is dropping from the bone.

And yet such banishment, where vile
Corruption broods, as 'twill,-
Where the once beaming form reclines,
So wan, and cold, and still—

Is mirth-compared with parting, when
From presence of Thy face—
Pass the lost nations, bound unto
Their fearful chosen place!

233

234 SHALL HE UNBAR THE GATES OF DEATH.

SHALL HE UNBAR THE GATES OF DEATH.

SHALL he unbar the gates of death,
And walk in renovated bloom,
Who now, deprived of quickening breath,
Sleeps in the quiet of the tomb?

Shall he revive to dawning light,

Who, lowly, seeks his bed in clay;
Burst the corroding bands of night,-
Whom the dull worm hath made its prey?

Shall he regard the vernal suns

That bid the lily deck his grave—

Or from his last cold resting place

Start, while the wintry tempests rave?

Cease mortal! cease the idle strife,

Of precedence and boasted power;
Cease! till these add to fleeting life,

Till these retard the final hour.

TRIUMPHATE.

235

TRIUMPHATE!

FOR THE MISSIONARIES OF THE CROSS, WHO HAVE LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES IN HEATHEN LANDS.

We give Thee hearty thanks for the good examples of all those, Thy servants, who, having finished their course in faith, do now rest from their labours.-Common Prayer.

THOUGH rude the path they trod,
They've journeyed up, O God,
Safely to Thee.

Thou givest them a seat

With Elders at thy feet,—

What can their bliss complete?

Eternity!

Before Thee, who cast down

Green palm and starry crown,

With joy like these?

What is past peril now?

What is Death's sharpness now?

Their martyr hymn peals now

As sound of seas!

Shall plague and pagan spear,

The widow's, orphan's tear,

Our hearts appal?

The prison, rod, and chain,

Day's toil and nights of pain,

To that immortal train

What are they all!

Who's girded for the race?
Who freely takes their place?

Tell us! O tell!

Who'll labour, faint and die ?-
Perish, to reign on high ?-
Speak?-for these wait reply-

Heaven, Earth and Hell.

The Church's chivalry

Cry, Saviour, here are we!

Beneath Thy wing

Folded, though weak, we're strong

Though slain, to us belong

Victories-to lutes the song

We'll give, Great King!

I MARKED THE CALM MOMENT.

237

I MARKED THE CALM MOMENT.

I MARKED the calm moment when, slowly descending, [rest,The Sun, robed in splendour, sank down to its While the pale lingering ray, with the night shadow blending,

Still mantled above, in the beautiful West.

I sighed but methought that in glory appearing, Those beams will return and new lustre display; Again will illume, and the horizon cheering, Appear in the pride and effulgence of Day.

I saw the companion in beauty late blooming, The roses had withered that once flourished fair; Those lips, late so lovely, the clay hue assuming, Were sealed up in death, yet a smile lingered there.

I wept but FAITH said, at the latter day dawning, Affection again will its counterpart see;

This smile is the prescience of that holy morning, Which calls my companion, pure, sinless and free.