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 | The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley |  |
433
EPITAPHS.
IMITATION OF BISHOP LOWTH'S EPITAPH ON HIS DAUGHTER.
Farewell, my dearest child, farewell!
Wise, pious, good, beyond thy years!
Thy ravish'd excellence I feel
Bereaved—dissolved in softest tears.
Wise, pious, good, beyond thy years!
Thy ravish'd excellence I feel
Bereaved—dissolved in softest tears.
But soon, if worthy of the grace,
I shall again behold thee nigh,
Again my dearest child embrace:
“Haste to my arms, Maria, fly!
I shall again behold thee nigh,
Again my dearest child embrace:
“Haste to my arms, Maria, fly!
“To a fond father's arms return,”
I then in ecstasies shall say,
“No more to part, no more to mourn,
But sing through one eternal day!”
I then in ecstasies shall say,
“No more to part, no more to mourn,
But sing through one eternal day!”
FOR MR. CHARLES GREENWOOD.
The blessed, tempted man, who always fear'd,Hath laid triumphantly his burden down;
Intrepid when the stingless foe appear'd,
He bow'd his head, and gain'd the victor's crown:
434
Who humbly chose on earth the lowest place,
His endless fears are lost in endless love,
His ceaseless prayers in never-ending praise.
FOR MR. THOS. FORFITT, AGED 76.
Of gracious riches full, and happy days,A Christian here concludes his glorious race;
Disciple of a meek and lowly Lord,
He labour'd on, and long'd for his reward,
Till ripe for bliss, he laid his body down,
And faithful unto death, received the crown.
FOR MR. RICHARD BOARDMAN.
With zeal for God, with love of souls inspired,Nor awed by dangers, nor by labours tired,
Boardman in distant worlds proclaims the word
To multitudes, and turns them to the Lord:
But soon the bloody waste of war he mourns,
And loyal from rebellion's seat returns;
Nor yet at home, on eagles' pinions flies,
And in a moment soars to paradise.
FOR MR. PETER JACO.
Fisher of men, ordain'd by Christ alone,Immortal souls he for his Saviour won:
435
Perform'd and suffer'd the Redeemer's will;
Unmoved in all the storms of life remain'd,
And in the good old ship the haven gain'd.
FOR MR. RICHARD KEMP.
Fond of his king, and to his country true,He paid to Cæsar and to God their due;
And soon experiencing the Saviour's grace,
Fought the good fight, and won the Christian race;
In every state, in every duty shined,
Generous and just, beneficent and kind;
Friend of distress, and father to the poor,
Active to do, and patient to endure;
No injuries his steadfast soul could move,
Abate his zeal, or weary out his love:
A steward wise, a doer of the word,
An humble, faithful follower of his Lord,
Close in his dear Redeemer's steps he trod,
Took up his daily cross, and lived for God,
Till summon'd to complete his sacrifice,
And claim his purchased mansion in the skies,
He more than conqueror in death appear'd,
And trampled on a foe he never fear'd!
O that I might, like him, my life resign;
O might his soul's eternal state be mine!
436
ON MRS. LUNELL.
A follower of the bleeding Lamb
Her burden here laid down,
The cross of Jesu's pain and shame
Exchanging for a crown.
Her burden here laid down,
The cross of Jesu's pain and shame
Exchanging for a crown.
True witness for her pardoning Lord,
Whose blood she felt applied,
She kept the faith, obey'd the word,
And lived a saint, and died.
Whose blood she felt applied,
She kept the faith, obey'd the word,
And lived a saint, and died.
Reader, her life and death approve,
Believe thy sins forgiven;
Be pure in heart, be fill'd with love,
And follow her to heaven.
Believe thy sins forgiven;
Be pure in heart, be fill'd with love,
And follow her to heaven.
ON MISS MOLLY LEYSON.
Beneath a daughter of affliction lies,The tears for ever banish'd from her eyes;
Wash'd in the laver of atoning blood,
The spirit here hath dropp'd her earthly load,
Fulfill'd her visit, and return'd to God.
O that our flesh, like hers, might rest in hope,
Till earth and ocean give their prisoners up,
Till the great Object of our love and fear
With myriads of His shining friends appear,
And all with shouts proclaim the heavenly Bridegroom here.
ON MRS. POPKINS.
A Christian here her glorious journey ends,Caught from her earthly to her heavenly friends;
437
Her prayers accepted, and her pardon seal'd,
The spotless soul, a native of the sky,
Has paid her visit, and return'd on high.
Mourner, to heaven thy earnest wishes breathe,
And live her life, that thou may'st die her death;
Silent and sad pass through this weeping vale,
With arms Divine the glorious throne assail;
Assured the crown of life shall then be given,
And God shall wipe away thy tears in heaven.
ON MRS. HORTON. [1786.]
A meek and lowly follower of the Lamb,She more than conquer'd all in Jesu's name,
Wash'd in His blood, and kept her garments white,
And blameless walk'd in her Redeemer's sight,
Till fill'd with love she fainted on His breast,
And found within His arms her everlasting rest.
ON THE DEATH OF LADY GERTRUDE HOTHAM, APRIL 12TH, 1775.
Stranger to sin, and guilty fears,An useful life of fourscore years
She lived on earth, like those above,
A life of humble praise and love:
And lo, the same from first to last,
When all her toils of love are pass'd,
With triumph calm her course she ends,
And in a flaming car ascends!
438
THE FOLLOWING WRITTEN FOR MR. B. LATROBE, A MORAVIAN MINISTER IN LONDON, WAS PLACED ON THE AUTHOR'S TOMBSTONE.
With poverty of spirit bless'd,Rest, happy saint, in Jesus rest;
A sinner saved, through grace forgiven,
Redeem'd from earth to reign in heaven!
Thy labours of unwearied love,
By thee forgot, are crown'd above;
Crown'd, through the mercy of thy Lord,
With a free, full, immense reward!
| The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley | |