How oft have we been partners through the day,
Or sung in hymns our nightly hours away!
Alas! my partner’s gone! Can I forbear
To welcome down my cheek the rolling tear?
No more on earth his voice shall mix with mine,
In social converse, or in songs divine!
Be it my chief concern to be prepar’d,
Like him to die, and meet my just reward.
False witnesses did raise a vile report,
And laid things to his charge that he knew not:
But now he’s gone to be with Christ on high,
Where he is safe, and may their power defy.
Now slander and reproach at once may cease;
No more can they disturb our brother’s peace!
Their arrows keen can never pierce his soul,
He is departed, and hath reach’d the goal!
Farewell! but Oh! we hope to meet again,
And join our voices in a nobler strain,
Where Jesus our great Prophet, Priest, and King,
In everlasting majesty doth reign!
REFLECTIONS ON PETCH’S TOMB.
Dear Petch belov’d! Thy endless portion’s fix’d!
As death hath left thee, so shall judgment find:
Thy spirit, with a world of spirits mix’d,
Hath left its mouldering tenement behind!
Sprightly and active, thou the other day,
Didst fill thy station in this world of cares;
In life’s fair morn, thy soul hath slipt away,
From its delusions, and a thousand snares!
Thy cheeks a more than common bloom did wear,
Thy voice with music sweetly did agree;
Thy heart was lively, thy complexion fair:—
Had I chose one for life, I’d chosen thee!