twelfth chapter of ecclesiastes.
87
Dissolves the elements with fervent heat,
And casts them as a scroll beneath Him. Then,
When they who guard the house shall quit their trust,
And the strong men and brave shall bow themselves,
When the bright eye is dimmed and closed in death,
Earth then can give no pride, no loveliness.
And casts them as a scroll beneath Him. Then,
When they who guard the house shall quit their trust,
And the strong men and brave shall bow themselves,
When the bright eye is dimmed and closed in death,
Earth then can give no pride, no loveliness.
Music shall fail to touch the springs of joy,
And gloomy fears shall gather thick around.
That which thou once didst pass unnoticed by,
When life's bright path was strewed with living flowers,
Shall be a burden to thy aching frame.
When o'er thy heart shall come no fond desire
For future wealth or fame, no cherished hope,
To guide thee as a beacon star through life;
When life's bright cord is loosened, and the soul
Pants for communion with its God and heaven,
Man shall return to his long, silent home;
The mourner, sorrowing, tread his wonted way.
The dust shall mingle with its kindred dust,
Shall be a tenant of the silent tomb,
Where all shall shortly lay their weary frames.
And gloomy fears shall gather thick around.
That which thou once didst pass unnoticed by,
When life's bright path was strewed with living flowers,
Shall be a burden to thy aching frame.
When o'er thy heart shall come no fond desire
For future wealth or fame, no cherished hope,
To guide thee as a beacon star through life;
When life's bright cord is loosened, and the soul
Pants for communion with its God and heaven,
Man shall return to his long, silent home;
The mourner, sorrowing, tread his wonted way.
The dust shall mingle with its kindred dust,
Shall be a tenant of the silent tomb,
Where all shall shortly lay their weary frames.
But rouse, my soul! what blissful flight is thine?
Say, can the grave retain thee in its gloom?
No, like the eagle's shall thy pathway be,
Where eye hath never reached its piercing gaze,
Where stars shine bright beneath the eye of God:
Not like the orbs which meet our mortal sight,
But crowns of glory for the immortal soul.
Say, can the grave retain thee in its gloom?
No, like the eagle's shall thy pathway be,
Where eye hath never reached its piercing gaze,
Where stars shine bright beneath the eye of God:
Not like the orbs which meet our mortal sight,
But crowns of glory for the immortal soul.
Father of light and life! shall erring man,
Who, though allied to dull mortality,
Who, though allied to dull mortality,
