The trial is over, the jury are gone in, and none can now be heard ; Well they are agreed upon the verdict, just, and fixt, and final, And the sentence showeth clear before the judge hath spoken: Now-while resting matter is at peace within the tomb, on the foretaste, Waiting souls in eager expectation pass the solemn interval: They slumber not at death, but awaken, quickened to the terror of the judgment; They lie not insensate among darkness, but exult, looking to the light. Idiotcy, brightening on the instant, when that veil is torn, Freed from fetters of the flesh, burst into mind immediate: gone, And each hasteneth to praise the mercy that made him irresponsible. For soul is one, though manifold in act, working the machinery of brain, Reason, fancy, conscience, passion, are but varying phases; If, in God's wise purpose, the machine were shattered or confused, Still is soul the same, though it exhibit with a difference; gent. That solvent eateth away all dross, leaving the gold intact: Matter lingereth in the retort spirit hath flown to the receiver: And lo, that recipient of the spirits, it is some aerial world, An oasis midway on the desert space, separating earth from heaven, A prison-house for essences incorporate, a limbus vague and wild, Tartarus for evil, and Paradise for good, that intermediate Hades. O DEATH, what art thou? a Lawgiver that never altereth, Fixing the consummating seal, whereby the deeds of life become established; O Death, what art thou? a stern and silent usher, Leading to the judgment for Eternity, after the trial scene of Time; O Death, what art thou? an husbandman that reapeth al ways, Out of season, as in season, with the sickle in his hand : O Death, what art thou? the shadow unto every substance, O Death what art thou? antitype of nature's marvels, Thou calm safe anchorage for the shattered hulls of men,Thou spot of gelid shade, after the hot-breathed desert,Thou sHent waiting hall, where Adam meeteth with his children, How full of dread, how full of hope loometh inevitable Death: Of dread, for all have sinned; of hope, for One hath saved: The dread is drowned in joy, the hope is filled with immor tality! -Pass along, pilgrim of life, go to thy grave unfearing, The terrors are but shadows now that haunt the vale of $ OF IMMORTALITY. GIRD up thy mind to contemplation, trembling inhabitant of earth; Tenant of a hovel for a day,-thou art heir of the universe for ever! For, neither congealing of the grave, nor gulfing waters of the firmament, Nor expansive airs of heaven, nor dissipative fires of Ge henna, Nor rust of rest, nor wear, nor waste, nor loss, nor chance, nor change, Shall avail to quench or overwhelm the spark of soul within thee! THOU art an imperishable leaf on the evergreen bay-tree of A word from Wisdom's mouth, that cannot be unspoken; A ray of Love's own light; a drop in Mercy's sea: A creature, marvellous and fearful, begotten by the fiat of Omnipotence. I, that speak in weakness, and ye, that hear in charity, Shall not cease to live and feel, though flesh must see cor ruption : For the prison-gates of matter shall be broken, and the shackled soul go free, Free for good or ill, to satisfy its appetence for ever: For evil,-dreadful doom, to be hurried on eternally to evil,- AND is there a thought within thy heart, O slave of sin and fear, A black and harmful hope, that erring spirit dieth? Freely unto each, universally to all, is restored the privilege of essence: Whether unto grace or guilt, all must live through Him, Death in Adam, life in Christ; the curse hung upon the cross: Who art thou that heedest of redemption, as narrower than the fall? All were dead,-He died for all; that living, they might love; If living souls withhold their love,-still, He hath died for them. Eve stole the knowledge; Christ gave the life; Knowledge and life are the perquisites of soul, the privilege of man: Mercy stepped between, and stayed the double theft; God gave; and giving, bought; and buying, asketh love: And in such asking rendereth bliss, to all that hear and answer, For love with life is heaven; and life unloving, hell. CREATURE of God, his will is for thy weal, eternally progressing, Fear not to trust a Maker's love, nor a Saviour's ransom: We shall not die, but live,-and, of his grace, we love! Who shall sound the depths? who shall reach the heights? Freedom, in the gyves of fate; and sovereignty, reconciled with justice. Ir then, as annihilate by sin, the soul was ever forfeit, Godhead paid the mighty price, the pledge hath been redeemed: He, from the waters of Oblivion raised the drowning race, Lifting them even to Himself, the baseless Rock of Ages. None can escape from Adam's guilt, or second Adam's guerdon : Sin and death are thine; thine also is interminable being: Let it be even as thou wilt, still are we ransomed from nonentity. The worlds of bliss and woe are peopled with immortals: Here is the creature feeling for its God, and the prodigal returning to his Father. But, behold, His reasonable children, standing in just pro bation, With ears to hear, neglect; with eyes to see, refuse: They will not have the blessing with the life, the blessing that enricheth immortality; And look for pleasures out of God, for heaven in life alone: So they snatch that awful prize, existence void of love, And in their darkening exile make a needful hell of self. THEREFORE fear, theu sinner, lest the huge blessing Immor tality, |