THE FEAR OF DEATH REMOVED.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 105, 4 October 1879, Page 3

THE FEAR OF DEATH REMOVED.

Thou speakest of the fear of Death, its ghastliness and gloom, And dreary shadows flung across the portals of the tomb; Thou sayest that the best of men must tumble like the grass, When from this loved and lowly earth to unknown worlds they pass. Thou picturest the love of home, the light of childhood's sky; And askest who could leave such things with no heartbreaking sigh P My heart was pained, and oft I thought can this be true of those Who have on Jesus cast their guilt, the burden of their woes. Till, as I mused the truths of God, like beacon tires at night, Beamed forth from Scriptures' vivid page, upon my aching siglit; I know that my Redeemer lives, and though my flesh must die, By dying He hath swallowed up the grave in victory. Aye in the shadowy vale of death no ' evil will I fear, For Thouart with me, Then my God, to animate and cheer. No wild dreams these, I speak of things that often times have been; Of parting words that I have heard, and death-beds I have seen: Of a long loved father, circled by his children and bis wife, With every joy to gladden earth and bind him unto life, Who calmly said, "My children must not stay me from my rest, My work is finished, and 1 long to sleep on Jesus' breast." And gentle maidens I have seen who seemed for earth too frail, Tread with a firm confiding step, alone the darksome vale; Aye, and on childhood's pallid lips have words of triumph played And tiny lingers cioßped in death told " I'm not afraid." But why speak on of things like these, when every heart must know Some parent, partner, brother, child, who trembled not to go Where Jesus' steps have gone before, and He.himself is nigh, Whispering above those boisterous wavts, " Fear nothing, it is I." Ours is the grief who still are left in this far wilderness, Which will at times, now they are gone, seem blank and comfortless; For moments spent with loving hearts are breezes from the hills, And the balm of Christian brotherhood like Eden dew distils. And .we whose footsteps, and whose ,', pearts, so Often fail and faint, Seems_,;ilCJto : sljare tHe.SQ'othing voice'of ..-> ?ne.departed saint; ..... ' But not like those whom ,'....• no bright hopes .sustain, For,- they who sleep in Jesus, God will bring with Him again. Love eraves the presence, and the sight o'f all its'well-beloved, And therefore weep we in the homes whence they are far removed ; Love craves the presence, and the sight '. of each beloved one, And therefore Jesus spuke the word that called them to his throne. Father I will that all mine own whom thou hast granted me, Bo with me where I am to share Thy glorious bliss with Thee, Thus Heaven is gathering one by one in its capacious breast, All that is pure and permanent, and beautiful and blest. The family is scattered wide, though of one name and heart, Part militant in earthly gloom,—in heavenly glory part; But who can speak the raptures when the circle is complete, And all the Children sundered now, beforo their Father meet ? One fold, one shepherd, one family, one everlasting home. Lo! I come quickly, even so, Amen, Lord Jesus come. Thos. Richd. Scholey. j