Let angels guard thy sleeping dust,
Till Christ shall come to raise the just,
Then may'st thou wake with glad surprise
And in thy Saviour's image rise.
309.
By sudden death I'm snatch'd away
Death scarcely left me time to say,
"The Lord have mercy on my soul!"
So absolute is his control!
Reflect when thou my grave dost see
The next that's made may be for thee.
310.
Released at length from cares and lingering pains,
In peace here rests a mother's lov'd remains;
Nor did she wish to live, prepared to die,
Her soul was gather'd to the saints on high:
Ah! not for her, but for ourselves we weep;
May we with her on Jesus' bosom sleep,
Be this our prayer, our lips, our hearts allow,
"Almighty Father, let thy will be done."
311.
Within this grave a social friend is laid,
Who has the common debt of nature paid;
When living, honest, generous, and kind,
Now dead, a loss to all that's left behind.
What though I lived beyond the age of man,
The longest life on earth is but a span;
O God, impress on ev'ry heart thy truth,
That age is but the eve of youth.
To see in one short day decay'd,
The hope of future years;
To feel how vain a father's prayers,
How vain a mother's tears;
To think the cold grave now must close,
O'er what was once the chief
Of all the treasur'd joys on earth,
This is a mother's grief.
When call'd of God with her to part,
'Tis God can reconcile the heart:
Then may our spirits meet above,
To live in heaven's eternal love.
On earth they were their parents' care,
And hope and joy with them were given:
And now it is their daily prayer,
To meet them at the gate of heaven.
315.
Blest be the hand divine, which gently laid
My heart at rest beneath this peaceful shade:
When life is past, and we our course have run,
Then well are they who truly well have done.
Here lies the dust of a once charming flower, That promis'd sweets, but wither'd in an hour: Children! presume not on a length of days, But learn to seek betimes your Maker's ways. 317.
We know, by faith we know,
If this vile house of clay,
This tabernacle sink below
In ruinous decay ;
We have a house above,
Not made with mortal hands;
And firm, as our Redeemer's love
That heavenly fabric stands.
BURTON-ON-TRENT CHURCH-YARD.
The tumults of this life afflict no more,
For thou hast landed on a peaceful shore;
The painful mortal conflicts now are past,
And thou hast gained the victory at last.
Why weepest thou? the infant is not dead,
It softly slumbers in its lonely bed;
Jesus will tend with care the precious clay,
Till the bright morn, the resurrection day.
320.
Restrain your sorrow and for death prepare, That we in heaven eternal bliss may share. 321.
Stay, gentle reader, cast a sober eye;
God knows how soon thou in thy grave must lie ; Think not by strength, death's summons to withstand, Nor with thy wealth to stay his fatal hand.
Adieu, my friends, my race is run,
How soon the work of time is done;
They only wise who live to God,
And rest their hopes in Jesu's blood.
Watch, 'tis your Lord's command,
And while we speak, he's near,
Mark the first signal of His hand,
And ready all appear.
We know not why our little innocent was removed; but, as she was given in mercy, we believe that in mercy she was taken away.
No room for mirth or trifling here,
While life so soon is o'er.
In an instant I sank 'neath the shadows of death,
And eternity round me arose;
O reader, remember, that life is a breath;
And a breath may bring thine to a close.
Short was my race, long is my rest,
God call'd me when he thought it best;
My time was come, I in a moment fell,
And had not time to bid my friends farewell.
Death's approaching-life ere long must cease, "Abide in love," and "follow after peace;" For love divine can ne'er decay,
Though faith and hope shall pass away.
Farewell, dear friend, thy loss to us is great,
Left here behind to mourn thy lost retreat,
A tender husband and a father dear,
We daily found in you whilst living here;
A neighbour kind, and friend sincere and just,
Was proved in him who now lies in the dust.
Sober, though lib'ral, and though prudent, just,
Trusty, though cautious whom he ought to trust:
He passed through life respected and admired,
To that blest kingdom he so much desired.
Unmov'd, you read the inscription on this stone,
Another soon may read one on your own;
Then haste, prepare for death's decisive hour,
The present instant's only in your power.
332.
Though life's unruffled days had flown,
Ere yet was past her vernal prime;
And sickness o'er my head has strewn
The snows of age before their time.
Happy the man of peaceful life,
Who strives to shun all hurtful strife;
Man's favour shall his life befriend,
And God will bless him in the end.
Slowly her earthly frame decay'd,
Her end appear'd in sight;
Nor was her steady soul afraid
To take its awful flight.
Now she resides where Jesus is,
Above this dusky sphere;
And drinks full draughts of heavenly bliss,
She tasted of while here.
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