ON THE DEATH OF THE REV. WILLIAM FLINT, D. D.
AND thou art gone from us, alas, forever;
How bravely, too, was met the dreadful blow;
Gone to thy rest, with every pure endeavor
That love could yield or charity bestow;
Gone from thy flock which thou so long hast tended
And taught the way in simple words sublime;
Thy voice is hushed, that ever sweetly blended
In sacred lore or tuned to holy rhyme.
How bravely, too, was met the dreadful blow;
Gone to thy rest, with every pure endeavor
That love could yield or charity bestow;
Gone from thy flock which thou so long hast tended
And taught the way in simple words sublime;
Thy voice is hushed, that ever sweetly blended
In sacred lore or tuned to holy rhyme.
At heaven's gate, unto the last declaring,
Nor shunned to teach, those holy truths divine
To every child; for all their trials caring,
And sought to soothe in meekness all benign;
Gone from thy place beside the chancel railing,
From scenes away, where thou hast pleading stood,
For erring man the tempter's power assailing,
In earnest prayer for his eternal good.
Nor shunned to teach, those holy truths divine
To every child; for all their trials caring,
And sought to soothe in meekness all benign;
Gone from thy place beside the chancel railing,
From scenes away, where thou hast pleading stood,
For erring man the tempter's power assailing,
In earnest prayer for his eternal good.
Gone from the table, where in life surrounded
By dear ones whom the Saviour's blood has drawn;
His precious call by thee to us was sounded,
And now we weep for thee forever gone;
We mourn bereaved, the silver cord is broken,
The glass is dim through which we darkly see;
But words of cheer which thou in life hast spoken
Of endless joys, now bring us nearer thee.
By dear ones whom the Saviour's blood has drawn;
His precious call by thee to us was sounded,
And now we weep for thee forever gone;
We mourn bereaved, the silver cord is broken,
The glass is dim through which we darkly see;
But words of cheer which thou in life hast spoken
Of endless joys, now bring us nearer thee.
And while we weep for thee, thou loved departed,
We see, though dimly, near the Father's throne
Thy -form of light;where sorrow's clouds are parted
Soft echoes come, we list each thrilling tone.
Never again may tender words awaken
"The heart that death so suddenly has stilled;
As thou didst plead, now plead for us in heaven,
Our cup on earth with bitterness is filled.
We see, though dimly, near the Father's throne
Thy -form of light;where sorrow's clouds are parted
Soft echoes come, we list each thrilling tone.
Never again may tender words awaken
"The heart that death so suddenly has stilled;
As thou didst plead, now plead for us in heaven,
Our cup on earth with bitterness is filled.
Spring flowers may bloom, but worthless they to gladden,
And song-birds, too, we ever loved to hear;
But song and flowers tend only now to sadden,
So freshly poured in grief upon thy bier;
A glorious thought comes oft while we are grieving,
That thou wilt ope for us the golden door;
Thy death, so full of faith, our fears relieving,
That we should weep, beloved, for thee no more.
And song-birds, too, we ever loved to hear;
But song and flowers tend only now to sadden,
So freshly poured in grief upon thy bier;
A glorious thought comes oft while we are grieving,
That thou wilt ope for us the golden door;
Thy death, so full of faith, our fears relieving,
That we should weep, beloved, for thee no more.