Have giv'n examples with good counsel fraught,
By which fucceeding pilgrims might be taught !
O fortunate probationer! who were Chofen without exercife of pain or care! 'Twas thy peculiar privilege to be
From all the woes of thy furvivors free;
Which oft the braveft fortitude oppress,
And on the firmeft faith inflict distress.
Affliction's arrows, with fore anguish barb'd,
Are for our choiceft comforts oft referv'd.
"Temptation's fiery darts for ever fly,
By Satan aim'd at our integrity.
But you, fweet babe, by Providence belov'd,
From fuch distress and danger were remov'd.
Think, then, ye mourning parents, nor complain For breathless children, as ye weep in vain. Why fhould you be in lamentations drown'd, While
your young babes with victory are crown'd, Before the fword was drawn, or cruel ftrife Had fhed its venom on the ills of life? Perhaps Almighty GoD forefaw fome wile, Some tempting evil that fhould them beguile, Of fore adverfity, a dreadful storm, Or of dire wickednefs, a monftrous form. How then in words which nothing can avail, Against that kind precaution dare you rail?
That, which your dear and pleasant plant convey'd,
Free from temptation, to a fragrant shade;
Before the lightnings flew, the thunders roar'd,
And its deftructive rage the tempest pour'd?
Remember that of them you're not bereav'd,
But from "the coming evil they are fav'd."
And let furvivors, doom'd to bear the heat
And burden of the day, with joy relate,
That this for their encouragement they've got,
More honor's won by having bravely fought,
Than fhould the victory with ease be gain'd,
Or a rich prize be with small toil obtain'd.
They who with refignation could obey
Afflictive Providence's angry fway;
And who glad homage to the cross have paid,
On which their blefs'd Redeemer once was laid;
Who did their minds with perfeverance fill,
And faithfully perform their master's will:
Thefe, after they on earth GoD's praise have fung,
While fervent gratitude inspir'd each tongue;
Perhaps in Heav'n like brightest stars will blaze,
And spread around them their refulgent rays;
Shall in GoD's everlasting kingdom fee
Stronger joy beam forth in an high degree.
Here a fond mother's grief is funk to reft,
The blafted hope of a kind father's breast.
Like a well-water'd plant the youth up grew,
Shot deep, rofe high, and manhood had in view.
But as the cedar just began to tow'r
Its branching head within the verdant bow'r ;
And promis'd in a little time to lay,
O'er all the trees, an arbitrary sway;
Behold unto the root the axe is laid,
The blow is ftruck, by which its honors fade,
And did he fall alone? O! no; the joy
And comfort of his father, brought fo nigh;
And all the hopes which fill'd a mother's heart,
At once were blafted by Death's fatal dart.
Doubtless, it would have pierc'd one's heart to view
The tender parents their dead fon purfue.
Perhaps, o'erwhelm'd with tears, void of relief,
On this fame spot they stood, choak'd up with grief.
This thought disturbs me; and methinks I fee
The griev'd pair at this fad folemnity.
Their hands they wring, in agonizing pain,
And weep their lov'd, lost son, but weep in vain.
Is it but fancy all? or do I hear
The mother's anguifh for her breathless dear;
Of her foul's darling taking her last leave,
While for her pangs no comfort fhe'll receive?
Dumb fhe remained, while with pain she fees,
The end put to the awful obfequies :
She leans upon the partner of her woes,
'Till irrepreffible her torture grows.
Her forrows of all comfort her bereave;
She hastily advances to the grave;
And fastens one more look on her lov'd boy,
The laft, alas! fhe ever muft enjoy;
And as she looks, with mournful words fhe cries,
With broken accents, and heart-rending fighs;
Farewell, my fon! my dearest fon, farewell! "Would to GOD I had died ere you fell!
Farewell, my child, to happiness and you! "To both I now for ever bid adieu !
"Think not that pleasure can for me be found; My head fhall fink with forrow to the ground."
From this afflicting fight let parents know, What to their children's intereft they owe; If they thro' moral paths would have them run, And the deftrućtive wiles of Satan fhun.
'your own bodies' offspring can you move, If you regard thofe pledges of your love; O! fpare no pains; be diligent to teach Counfel, by which they may to Heaven reach; By which they faving wisdom may receive, And in the "nature of the Lord may live." Then may their life yield comfort to your mind, Or in their death you'll confolation find. If their fpan is prolong'd, their blameless ways Will be a staff for your declining days.
If in the midst their years be lopp'd away,
With greater hopes, and with lefs fears, you may
Commit their lifeless bodies to the clay;
Than the furvivors you can send to know
What benefits from education flow.
The future hopes of having them reftor'd,
"Will folace for your present loss afford;
When you receive them to your longing arms,
Highly improv'd in noble, godly charms.
A trial hard it is, I must confefs,
And more afflictive than I can express,
A blooming child, fprung from your loins, to leave
In the receffes of the gloomy grave:
Upon your knees whom you have dandled long,
And caught delightful accents from its tongue;
Join'd to your love by many a fond tie,
Become now both the comfort of your eye,
And the fupporter of your family!
Doubtless you would in keenest anguish mourn,
To have the dear one from your bofom torn.
But O! you and the child would more be croft,
To have his foul from GOD for ever loft;
For early fin, or fhameful want of grace,
Debarr'd from ev'ry hope of faving peace:
And doom'd to regions of corroding pain,
With fiends in endless torments to remain!
How would it your distresses aggravate,
Confcious of your neglect, when now too late,
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