What if death My Sleep invade?
Should I be of death afraid?
Whilst encircled by Thine arm
Death may strike-but cannot harm
What if beams of opening day
Shine around my breathless clay?
Brighter visions from on high
Still regale my mental eye.
Tender friends awhile may mourn
Me from their embraces torn
Dearer, better friends I have
In the realms beyond the grave.
See the guardian angels nigh,
Wait to waft my soul on high!
See the golden gates displayed!
See the crown own to grace my head!
See a flood of sacred light,
Which no more shall yield to night.
Transitory world, farewell!
Jesus calls with him to dwell.
With thy heavenly presence blest,
Death is life, and labor rest.
Welcome sleep or death to me--
Still secure, for still with thee. DODDRIDGE
"My soul" says Dr. Doddridge, "is vigorous and healthy, notwithstanding the decay of
this frail and tottering body." The most distressing nights to this frail body have been
as the beginning of heaven to my soul. God hath, as it were, let heaven down upon me in
those nights of weakness and waking. Blessed be his name!"
On the morning of his departure (for Lisbon), Lady Huntingdon entered his room, and
found him weeping over the open Bible lying before him.
"You are in tears, Sir," she said.
"I am weeping, madam," replied the Doctor, in a faint yet solemn tone," but they are
tears of joy and comfort. I can give up my country, my friends, my relatives into the
hands of God; and as to myself, I can as well go to heaven from Lisbon as from my own
study at Northampton."
"I see, indeed, no prospect of recovery," again said the dying man, "yet my heart rejoiceth
in my God and my Saviour, and I can call Him, under this failure of everything else,
its strength and everlasting portion. God hath indeed been mercifully good to me, but
I am less than the least of his mercies; less than the least hope of his children. Adored
be his grace for whatever he hath wrought by me."
On the 30th of September, accompanied by his anxious wife and servant, he sailed from
Falmouth; and, revived by the soft breezes and the ship's stormless passage, he sat
in his easy chair in the cabin enjoying the brightest thoughts of all his life. "Such
transporting views of the heavenly world is my Father now indulging me with as no words
can express," was his frequent exclamation. --- Mrs. Knight's "Lady Huntingdon and her
Friends."
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