"Those whom God loves die young!
They see no evil days,—
No falsehood taints their tongue,
No wickedness their ways.
"Baptized, and so made sure,
To win their blest abode,—
What shall we pray for more?
They die, and are with God!"
C. E. H.
The belief expressed in these words is of great antiquity. See the story of Cleobis and Biton, in Herod. l. 31., and the verse frown the Δὶς ἐξαπατῶν of Menander: