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Sweet the hour of tribulation, When the heart can freely sigh; And the tear of resignation Twinkles in the mournful eye.

Have you felt a spouse expiring In your arms before your view? Watch'd the lovely soul retiring From her eyes that broke on you?

Did not grief then grow romantic, Raving on remember'd bliss ?

Did you not with fervour frantic, Kiss the lips that felt no kiss?

Yes! but when you had resign'd her,

Life and you were reconcil'd;

ANNA left---she left behind her One, one dear, one only child.

His

But before the green moss peeping
poor mother's grave array'd,
In that grave the infant sleeping,
On the mother's lap was laid.

Horror then your heart congealing,
Chill'd you with intense despair;
Can you call to mind the feeling
No! there was no feeling there!

From that gloomy trance of sorrow, When you woke to pangs unknown, How unwelcome was the morrow, For it rose on YOU ALONE.

Sunk in self consuming anguish, Can the poor heart always ache? No, the tortur'd nerve will languish, Or the strings of life must break.

O'er the yielding brow of sadness
One faint smile of comfort stole :
One soft pang of tender gladness
Exquisitely thrill'd your soul

While the wounds of woe are healing,
Whilst the heart is all resign'd;

'Tis a solemn feast of feeling,
'Tis the sabbath of the mind.

Pensive memory then retraces
Scenes of bliss for ever fled,

Lives in former times and places,
Holds communion with the dead.

Dreams of love your grief beguiling
You have clasp'd a consort's charms, -
And receiv'd your infant smiling
From his mother's sacred arms.

Trembling pale and agonizing,
While you mourn the vision gone,
Bright the morning star arising
Open'd heaven from whence it shone.

Thither all your wishes bending
Rose in ecstacy sublime,

Thither all your hopes ascending,
Triumph'd over death and time.

Thus afflicted, bruised, broken,
Have you known such sweet relief?
Yes, my friend! and by this token,

You have felt "THE JOY OF GRIEF."

Whether it may please God, that you and your beloved partner shall be exercised, with the cares and sorrows of bringing up a family, still remains to be

proved. Should you be denied the pleasures of an offspring, you will at least have this consolation, that you will escape many of the most poignant of sorrows human nature is called to endure. How

ever, this may be, it becomes you to be resigned to the will of God. What he appoints for us is best. Reconciliation to his will, and acquiescence in whatever he pleases to send us, produce the highest felicity that we can possibly enjoy in this world.

That you and your beloved may completely realize such an inestimable blessing, is the best wish of,

Your sincere and affectionate friend.

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I have now arrived at that part of the subject, which will speedily bring my remarks to a conclusion. Our sorrows here must ere long have an end. But it delights my mind, it fills me with

inexpressible pleasure, to think that the season is fast approaching, when all our sorrows will be turned into joy.

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Sorrows are the medicine of the mind, -They make us acquainted with ourselves. They show us what spirit we are of. They wean us from the world.They lead us to the throne of grace.They teach us to pray.---They bring us to a more intimate acquaintance with him who has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.---They increase our faith:-- enliven and encourage our hope: ---and most effectually draw our hearts from earth to heaven.

The most sorrowful circumstances, and the most distressing seasons we pass through, are frequently our greatest blessings.---They work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.--They are the seed time of the soul:-the harvest is in heaven.---We sow in tears;--but we shall reap in joy.

I have had my hour, and I am thankful. I have known and enjoyed in a considerable degree, the pleasures of the marriage state; I have also known something of its sorrows: but I can truly say, that I remember them without regret ;--or rather, with adoring gratitude, under

a deep sense of my obligations to God, who has led me, and who has supplied me, all my life long unto this day. I have found it good to be afflicted; and I am thankful for it. My cup has been mixed by a kind, gracious, fatherly hand. He hath done all things well.

In reflecting on the number of persons I have seen enter into the marriage state, who have been separated by death; and in very many instances where both parties are removed into the eternal world, thought grows more intense. It is impossible not to look homeward.

Do I believe? I shall see the glory of God. Jesus has said: Ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go, and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to myself; that where I am there ye may be also.' If L believe this, I must be happy:

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Oh what delightful employment for faith Faith overlooks the things that

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