On the death of my husband, Samuel Smith.
Gone is my husband, no more shall I see
That kind look of love as he smiled upon me.
I cherished and loved him; and who can tell
My anguish while on his departure I dwell?
Long I have been with him, in sickness and health,
Shared in his losses, and enjoyed with him wealth;
He lives in my memory, lives in my heart,
His virtues are printed there, ne'er to depart.
Fast were we joined by the tenderest ties,
And lonely I mourn o'er the grave where he lies.
I hear not his steps, but the lone place I see,
Where oft his kind words have been spoken to me.
I miss him while gather the shadows of night;
I miss him when dawns the fair morning light.
I miss him--but where are the words to express
The depth of my grief in such loneliness.
I smile when I'm sad, and seem joyful in grief;
When alone bitter tears are my only relief;
Bruised now is the heart by the blow that has come,
Dark now the dear spot, once so bright as my home.
Though wealth were my portion, and splendor surround,
More empty 'twould seem while the loved was not found.
With him I'd be blest, though earth's treasures were few,
And trouble should prove my affection more true.
Oft I imagine each member is here,
Those pledges of love and affection so dear,
I view the loved circle, but ah! there's a space--
'Tis vacant, and nought can to me fill the place.
But those left behind, his dear image reveal,
Who only affection and sympathy feel;
Their kindness I know, the returns of their love,
And ask for them blessings that come from above.
But he's gone to the grave, where, free from all care,
He knows not the grief which for him I now bear.
There rest till our Saviour shall bid thee arise;
Then may we immortal ascend to the skies.
With this hope I can triumph o'er earth's deepest gloom,
The dearest and loveliest can yield to the tomb;
When bowed in submission, my Saviour appears,
Bids me trust in his word, and refrain from my tears.
Look Up.
Lone Pilgrim, cease that mournful sigh--
Look up! redemption draweth nigh.
Have loved ones gone, does earth look drear?
Look up! shed not that bitter tear.
What though the heart is saddened now,
And shadows gather on thy brow,
And grief the bosom heaving still--
Look up! submit to Heaven's own will.
Do trials, unexpected, rise?
Look up! and view the glorious prize;
Let not life's sorrows press you down--
Look up! prepare to take the crown.
Lift up your head, rejoice and sing--
Look up! by faith behold your King.
He soon is coming, heed his call--
Look up! and make your God your all.
He'll come, all troubles here to end,
He'll come, a never-failing friend,
He'll come to take his children home--
Look up! and pray, Lord, quickly come.
Overcoming Sin.
How fiercely does the conflict rage within,
While striving to subdue some cherished sin;
What shall be done? The idol is most dear,
And often is the victim vanquished here.
Though trivial it may seem, sin's poisonous dart
Will sting the conscience and will wound the heart,
Destroy the peace and condemnation bring,
And drive us from the shelter of His wing.
In view of this, who dare a sin commit?
Our cherished idols we must all submit;
As one small leak the largest ship will sink,
So one dear sin, will lead to ruin's brink.
While love for sin in any form remains,
Though not committed, we are still in chains;
Sins must be broken off by righteousness,
And then will God deliver, own and bless.
No condemnation then--all peace within,
Untrammeled freedom from the love of sin;
Oh! blessed freedom! nought can then control
The heavenward flight and rapture of the soul.
Will You be a Pilgrim?
Will you come in with the pilgrims, though a remnant they may be,
And know the blessed privilege of gospel liberty?
Will you take the name of Christ, and be redeemed by sovereign grace,
And find in him from every storm a sure, safe hiding-place?
Will you part with earth's delusive joys, with all its vain delights,
And "bear the consecrated cross," to have the Christian's rights?
They have a right to call on God; and he's vouchsafed his aid.
The ancients said, We'll trust in thee, nor ever be dismayed.
They said, 'Tis nothing, Lord, with thee, with many or with few,
To put a mighty host to flight, and all our foes subdue.
Will you go against the multitude, in his own strength and name?
He fought their battles and he's still unchangeably the same.
Their hope's an anchor to the soul, both sure and steadfast too,
And buoys their spirits up in all the conflicts they go through.
Will you have this hope to cheer you, to an unfading crown--
A crown that far outshines this world, with all its grand renown?
They've no abiding city here, but look for one to come,
A glorious city all illumed, to be their final home.
Oh! will you suffer sorrow here, and have a home in Heaven,
A kingdom that will shortly be, to all the faithful given?
Home for the Weary.
If there's rest for the weary, a home for the meek,
Hope for the trembling and strength for the weak,
Take courage, worn pilgrim, nor sink in despair,
While braving the storms that but hasten us there.
The waves and the billows will over us go,
And waters most bitter will oft overflow.
Our hearts with fierce conflicts and anguish be riven,
But hope to the end; there's salvation in Heaven.
Oh, who will endure the last searching test,
With Abrah'm and Isaac and Jacob be blest
In the kingdom of God? and who will be lost,
To find when too late, what earth's pleasures have cost?
Shall we cling, then, to what Christ would have us give up?
Oh, no! grieve him not, and he with us will sup.
He'll shelter us here in the last coming strife,
And give us to drink of the water of life.
How blest to be ready and waiting to hear
The last trumpet sound, and see Jesus appear!
Such then will rejoice that redemption has come,
Be changed to his image, and received to their home.
The Enemy's Power.
Rev. xii, 12.
As Satan has in wrath come down,
To bring us 'neath our Maker's frown,
We must resist his course.
He'll bring beneath his dread control
The doubting, disobedient soul,
By his satanic force.
Where least expected his attack,
To lead us to perdition back,
And claim us as his own.
Alarming are his wily arts,
Most fearful, too, his fiery darts,
When undiscovered thrown.
Armed and equipped we must be sure,
His fierce temptations to endure,
His fatal snares to meet.
'Tis easy going with the tide;
In Jesus Christ we must abide,
And be in him complete.
There's no true consolation here,
But to be holy in our sphere,
From condemnation free.
When all our foes within are slain,
The tempter then comes but in vain,
With Heaven he'll ne'er agree.
The humble, merciful and just,
In God who wholly put their trust,
Shall find protection sure.
Their fortress, shield and firm defense,
Is naught less than Omnipotence,
With strength given to endure.
Those who in God securely stand,
When thousands fall at their right hand,
No plague will them come nigh;
They're safe 'neath Heaven's sheltering wings,
'Mid crash of worlds, all earthly things,
Which will in ruin lie.
Thus guarded here, when all is o'er,
They'll be with those who die no more,
Forever safe in Heaven,
Where all is union, peace and love,
Made welcome to the courts above,
Where life eternal's given.
But we are here on dangerous ground;
Some will be weighed and wanting found,
Will from the truth depart,
Will false, delusive spirits heed,
And pride and arrogance will feed,
And harden still the heart.
When self, that mighty foe, prevails
To conquer, every effort fails;
Self will be gratified,
E'en at the expense of present peace,
Till conscience' warning voice will cease,
And self feel justified.
And some, in view of being lost,
Will self indulge, whate'er the cost,
Nor think to be forgiven.
Their dearest idol bears such sway,
So loved, their practice does but say,
If one must go, 'tis Heaven.
A course deliberate thus pursued,
Instead of having self subdued,
Eternal life they'll lose.
They'll bear the burden of their guilt,
For which the blood of Christ was spilt,
And go the way they choose.
Justice will utter, Let them go,
They've proved their final overthrow--
Their day of grace is past.
May those who're not yet given o'er,
Repent, ere closed is mercy's door,
And thus be saved at last.
Sustaining Grace.
Homeless was my blessed Saviour,
Patient, too, mid all his grief;
Why be downcast, sad, desponding,
When he'll freely give relief?
Oh, 'tis not that I am homeless,
Nor that I am suffering pain;
But my Saviour seems hid from me,
And my hope does not sustain.
I would daily have the witness,
That my dear Redeemer lives;
That he's interceding for me,
And my every blessing gives.
Live then for this blest approval,
Not one sin allow a place;
God commands us to be holy,
While we run the Christian race.
He is holy who hath called you;
So be ye, in word and deed;
To enjoy the Saviour's presence,
We must to our ways take heed.
None can have this full salvation,
While to one known sin a slave;
Jesus came to free and pardon,
And from sin his people save.
Fearless then go forth to battle,
Conquering sin through Christ the Lord;
He'll assist while we're obedient
To the teachings of his word.
Glorious conquests have been witnessed;
God for ever is the same;
We may all be strong and mighty,
Through his great and holy name.
Go Forward.
Stay not halting, be decided!
With God's people take your place,
They who seek a home in Heaven
All must run the Christian race.
Though the Red Sea is before you,
And the Egyptians in the rear,
Venture forward, no retreating,
Linger not a moment here.
If you go, you can but perish;
Onward move where God can save.
Hasten ere you're with the wicked,
Sinking 'neath the swelling wave.
God here meets his trusting people,
Makes a passage through the deep,
He'll display his power in saving
Those who his commandments keep.
Why Art Thou Cast Down?
Why this dark depth of grief and gloom, this anguish and despair?
The unpardonable sin you mourn, is not yet yours to bear.
Why thus disquieted, cast down? Hope thou in God; he'll give
The very blessing you most need; look up to him and live.
This crushing weight of heartfelt grief, this flow of sorrow's tide,
Will ere long bring the sad report, Of broken heart he died.
God knows what has befallen you, knows why the sore event;
Wait until he shall show you why this bitter cup was sent.
Be at your post, where'er it be; the claims of life fulfill.
Be no one act or motive wrong; heed Heaven's own bidding still.
Then let the hail sweep o'er your path, let storms in fury rise,
God will in safety bring you through to mansions in the skies.
He's at the helm, he'll guide the ship through every dangerous strait,
And make you welcome when within the holy city's gate.
No bitter scenes of heartfelt grief, though now with anguish riven,
Will meet you in that world of bliss, the holy calm of Heaven.
Trust.
My cause is with my blessed Lord, he does my footsteps guide;
He's led me in an unknown way, and laid my plans aside;
He's hedged up all my well-laid schemes, or what seemed so to me,
And oh! what wisdom I behold, now his designs I see.
I'll glory in his holy name, and pray, Lord guide me still;
In each event submission learn, and sink into his will.
His will is welcome, tho' it lay each earthly prospect low;
God is too wise to err, and will what's best for us bestow.
The Psalmist made his boast in God, and we may do the same;
The word exhorts to cry aloud, and praise his holy name.
Should those here hold their peace, whom God has his own Spirit given,
Where could he look for honor due, and whom make meet for Heaven?
Regardless of the world's cold frown, we would march boldly on,
Nor right nor left would turn, but go where our dear Saviour's gone,
There's mansions there, and Jesus will prepare his saints a place,
Where they will never cease to sing of his redeeming grace.
Are we expecting to be there, and share each proffered bliss?
The Father's love is not in those who love a world like this.
Then tarry not in all the plain; seek high and holy ground,
Lest in the balance when we're weighed, we should be wanting found.
"Brother, Live!"
When dark misfortune's tide is up,
Its surges running high,
If we have lost our hold on God,
Where then for refuge fly?
Oppressed, desponding, near despair,
Health, strength and courage fled,
These cheering words heed, "_Brother, live!_"
And raise your sinking head.
Though anguish deep, and bitter grief
Be felt and long be borne,
Abide the test; seek no relief
That's not from Heaven alone.
Deliverance must be found in God,
A blessing to secure;
There is encouragement for those
Who trials well endure.
In tribulation's beaten path,
The ancient prophets trod;
It is the only way that brings
The wanderer home to God.
Let patience have its perfect work,
Be purified and tried;
Be ready when the King shall come,
To e'er with him abide.
Condense.
The article which now you think
So perfect and complete,
Would doubtless be, if half as long,
For printing twice as meet.
Once and again your thoughts condense,
Then what remains improve;
For matter must be weighty now,
The minds of men to move.
No preface does your piece demand,
No introduction needs;
Select the wheat, but cast aside
The straw, and chaff, and weeds.
How many worse than wasted hours
Are spent foul works to read,
Fictions which poison heart and mind,
And basest passions feed.
Search for some richer gems than these,
Ideas new and rare;
Soon will you learn the good to save,
The valueless to spare.
With heart and mind thus disciplined,
And quickened every sense,
Let these three rules your pen control--
Condense, condense, condense.
"The Bond of Peace."
When love unites the saints
There'll be no sad complaints
Against each other;
No bitter root will spring,
A wrong report to bring
Against a brother.
Each will delight to see
Sweet peace and harmony,
And long for more;
God's love the heart will fill,
And selfish motives kill,
As ne'er before.
In union there'll be strength,
Through all the breadth and length
Of this grand host;
Armed for the battle-field,
No point of truth they'll yield,
Firm at their post.
And when the battle's o'er,
They're safe forevermore,
With Christ their King;
Through him they gain their crown,
And lay their weapons down,
And victory sing.
Christian Submission.
The Lord is mine, his will my choice;
I'm his to suffer or rejoice,
While here on earth I stay.
I know in whom I have believed;
He has my sacrifice received,
And will direct my way.
Whate'er he calls me here to do,
He'll give me grace and help me through;
He'll lead and guide me home.
He's promised to be with me here,
And said to me, "Be of good cheer,
The world I've overcome."
Let friends deride, let scoffers rage,
Let hell against my soul engage;
No one of them I fear.
My Lord has conquered all my foes,
In vain they rage, or me oppose,
While my Deliverer's near.
Myself, my all, to God I give,
And to his glory would I live,
From sin's dominion freed.
I'll trust him though he hides his face.
Sufficient for me is his grace,
In every time of need.
He's coming, whom we have desired,
In all his saints to be admired;
Even so, Lord Jesus, come.
Come, in thine own appointed way;
We'd wait in patience to that day,
When thou shalt call us home.
Who is Without Fault?
Is there one here, who, e'er thus far,
Has blameless been preserved?
Who never strayed, made one mistake,
Or e'er from duty swerved?
There may have been no outward act
To cause one pang of grief;
But has there been no secret fault,
No sin of unbelief?
Then judge not harshly; who can tell
Thy brother's suffering now,
That he has failed in any point,
To pay the Lord his vow?
From secret faults, the Psalmist prayed,
Dear Lord, oh! cleanse thou me,
And from presumptuous sins keep back,
Preserve and make me free.
Left to himself, how great his fall!
And he himself the guide.
How humbled, mortified, subdued,
His vanity and pride!
We are left to sin, to punish sin,
No consolation here;
Reflection only swells the tide
Of anguish sad and drear.
Our falls oft cause a bitter grief,
That no redemption knows;
The deep, the painful, bleeding wound,
Time here can never close.
The die when cast, the ship when sunk,
To light can never rise.
Our good name lost--and all on board,
Then goes in sad surprise.
Oh! what a vacancy then made,
An empty, aching void;
Our peace of mind in silence crushed,
And hope's bright boon destroyed.
But there is pardon with our God,
For crimes of deepest dye;
Be self and pride then humbled low,
In dust and ashes lie.
It should be there, and God will see
Those whom he loves refined.
He'll keep them in the crucible
Till they his statutes mind.
He'll watch the furnace and will see
The gold sustains no loss.
Oh! be the faithful process borne,
And all consumed the dross.
God must in us his image see,
And we reflect the same.
Oh! may we honor and adore,
And glorify his name.
Overcome and Live.
Confess your faults, and for each other pray;
The slanderous tongue, oh! be it far away;
That tameless thing which sets the world on fire,
And rouses all the angry passion's ire.
Where this is god, our God can ne'er abide,
Nor where there's lightness, selfishness, or pride;
His dwelling's with the meek and low of heart,
And for himself he'll set all these apart.
Who would not thus be honored of the Lord,
And have from him a large and rich reward?
Who would not be with saints and angels blest,
And have in Heaven at last eternal rest?
Live for it, then; all God's commandments keep,
Although the way be through afflictions deep.
Cast all your care on Him who cares for you,
And he will lead and guide you safely through.
And when you reach fair Canaan's blissful shore,
When sin and suffering are forever o'er,
You'll find the city glorious to behold,
Christ is its light, its streets all paved with gold.
You'll by the King of kings be welcomed there,
Where tuned to praise is every sigh and prayer.
No blight to mar, no tear to dim the sight;
And to the tree of life you'll have a right.
You'll meet dear loved ones long since fallen asleep,
All deathless raised from their lone caverns deep;
Together there you'll sing, We're saved by grace,
And brought by Jesus to this glorious place.
No farewell parting, no sad word adieu,
Your home forever in the earth made new.
Oh! bliss which mortal tongue can ne'er express,
To be with Jesus, robed in righteousness.
Glory and honor will to Him be given,
Who's purchased for us peace and rest in Heaven,
Who bore our sins, and by whose stripes we're healed.
And to eternal life and glory sealed.
With glory, hallelujah, Heaven will ring,
In honor to the Lord our sovereign King.
Each will his note the highest strive to raise,
To give to Jesus, honor, glory, praise.
The Last Message of Mercy.
Angel of mercy art thou here
And hovering o'er us now?
Oh! may we all before our God,
In adoration bow.
To heed the message, or reject,
The world will soon decide.
While some in love receive the truth,
More will its claims deride;
Why will they slight the offered boon?
Though we their lot deplore,
They place themselves beyond the reach
Of mercy's lingering store.
Too late! their dreadful doom now sealed,
Too late! will be their cry;
We might have lived, but now, alas!
The second death must die.
The Spirit and the bride say come,
Let naught obstruct the way;
But hasten God's commands to keep,
And all his will obey.
Oh! be entreated while there's hope,
To heed the message given;
That with the ransomed you may find
A place of rest in Heaven.
We Love.
We love; for Jesus loves,
We love his image here.
We love to meet, we love to pray,
And hold each other dear.
We know it's of the Lord,
Or we could not unite
With those ne'er seen before
In bonds of sweet delight.
By this shall all men know,
One family we are.
Oh! could they know our joys,
And with us in them share!
There's hope, we know there's hope,
That mercy lingers yet,
Or we should cease to feel,
Their miseries forget.
We'll feel as Jesus feels;
We'll love and pity too;
We'll weep, we'll pray, we'll plead,
And tell them it's for you.
This love we'll not give o'er
Though we endure their hate.
'Twill urge, Oh! come to Christ
Ere it shall be too late.
'Twill bring us at their feet
In attitude of prayer,
'Twill cry, O Lord, forgive,
And these yet longer spare.
He says, I hear your prayer,
I'll save if they will come,
Oh! then to God return,
And have in Heaven a home.
Have Mercy on Yourselves.
Have mercy, Lord, we often pray,
And lead us in the narrow way,
While we ourselves refuse to go
Where God can lead or mercy show.
Have mercy on yourselves. Beware
Lest you are caught in Satan's snare,
Or wandering far on worldly ground,
Are in its deadening spirit drowned.
Have mercy on yourselves. Take heed,
That no perverted taste you feed;
That neither word nor act degrade
The vows and promises you've made.
True, in ourselves we helpless are
To help ourselves. Lord help, 's our prayer,
Poor, wretched, miserable and blind,
In thee all needed help we find.
Be this our motto, then: We'll try
To help ourselves; while God is nigh;
And he in every trying hour
Will aid us with his sovereign power.
The Advent.
Those who've heard the proclamation
Of a coming Saviour near,
Will behold him in great splendor,
When in clouds he shall appear.
He will come; this generation
Will not pass till all is o'er.
Signs foretell he's now approaching,
And is even at the door.
Oh! what scenes will burst upon us,
When the heavens and earth shall shake,
When the trump of God is sounding,
And the dead in Christ awake!
Saints now living, made immortal,
With the risen from the dead,
All arrayed in robes of honor,
With their Saviour at their head.
Freed from sin and every sorrow,
Ever to be with their Lord,
And for all they've suffered for him,
Meet a rich and sure reward.
But where will the thoughtless sinner
Find a secret place to hide,
From the wrath of him who loved us,
And for us was crucified?
Rocks and mountains cannot hide them,
Caves and dens are sought in vain;
Unlamented and unburied,
Will be found the wicked slain.
If there's yet one ray of mercy,
Lingering for transgressors here,
Let them haste to gain the treasure,
Bought and paid for us so dear.
The Coming Day.
The great day is near, when probation no more,
For the careless backslider will longer remain;
And the sinner will find when all mercy is o'er,
What a treasure he's lost which he might have attain'd.
The saints will come forth in immortal array,
Their triumph o'er death and the grave be complete,
The living be changed, and together ascend,
Their glorious Redeemer in Heaven to meet.
With him forever, 'tis said they will be,
And the song of their victory never shall end.
Forever with Christ in his glorious home,--
Oh, who can such glory and bliss comprehend?
And are we prepared for this glorious place?
Are we able to stand when the Lord shall appear?
Our victory o'er self must be full and entire,
Or still for ourselves may we tremble and fear.
God loves to redeem and to save us from sin;
Let us haste to pursue the true path of reform;
And the strength of Omnipotence then will be ours;
We shall conquer the foe, we shall weather the storm.
Domestic Afflictions.