LINES ON A MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL.
Where doth the brightest beauty dwell?
On blooming flower, or blooming cheek?
Where laughing eyes of rapture tell,
And rosy lips sweet health bespeak?
On blooming flower, or blooming cheek?
Where laughing eyes of rapture tell,
And rosy lips sweet health bespeak?
Where doth the brightest beauty shine,
Which I, lone sufferer, most admire?
On that calm aspect, meek, divine,
Where virtue glows with heavenly fire;—
Which I, lone sufferer, most admire?
On that calm aspect, meek, divine,
Where virtue glows with heavenly fire;—
Where serious thought and holy joy
Beam in the mild and speaking eyes;—
Where sacred themes the lips employ
With ardor glowing from the skies.
Beam in the mild and speaking eyes;—
Where sacred themes the lips employ
With ardor glowing from the skies.
What worth, what virtue join to grace
That manly aspect, more than fair;
What goodness shines in that calm face,
As if an angel's smile were there!
That manly aspect, more than fair;
What goodness shines in that calm face,
As if an angel's smile were there!
What must the soul immortal be,
That gives such radiance to the clay;
What glories must that spirit see,
That beams around celestial day!
That gives such radiance to the clay;
What glories must that spirit see,
That beams around celestial day!
What mental power and lofty thought
In those mild accents sweetly flow:
With heavenly love that soul is fraught,
And breathes its excellence below.
In those mild accents sweetly flow:
With heavenly love that soul is fraught,
And breathes its excellence below.
Thou loved and honored worthy one,
May all thy life such beauties yield;
And, when thy earthly course is done,
Be with eternal glory sealed.
May all thy life such beauties yield;
And, when thy earthly course is done,
Be with eternal glory sealed.