The Invisible World: or, the state of departed spirits between Death and the Resurrection. A poem, etc

Appendix

. By REV. W. ROBINSON, MISSIONARY OF THE BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY. CALCUTTA : PRINTED AT THE BAPTIST MISSION PRESS, CIRCULAR ROAD. 1844.

Preface

. Though the author has, in conformity to prevailing custom, denominated his work a poem, because it is written in verse ,* yet he prefers no claim to that superior style, which is, by way of eminence, termed poetical. The deep interest which he felt in the subject, and a desire to benefit his fellow-christians, were his inducements to writing ; and he ventures to hope, that a work on a subject so very important and interesting as the state of departed spirits, though in a plain style, will not, if found consistent with Scripture, be wholly unacceptable to the serious reader. The doctrine of an intermediate state, is neither so generally received, nor so well understood as it ought to be ; and should a perusal of the fol lowing pages, correct some errors, and lead to a profitable and Scriptural contemplation of the state which awaits us after death, the author's object will be accomplished.

The author has to acknowledge, with many thanks, the kindness of Dr. Yates in looking over the proofs, and suggesting improvements. NAMES OF SUBSCRIBERS. Names. Residence. Copies. Allen, W. Esq. C. S Dacca, Two. Arathoon, A. H. Esq. . . . . Ditto, Three. Alexander, J. W. Esq. C. S. . . Comillah. One. Butcher, Charles, Esq. . . . . Dacca, One. Brown, R. Esq. M. D Ditto, One. Brown, E". E. Esq. . . . . Burrisal, One. Bareiro, Rev. S. . . . . . . Ditto, One. Beecher, W. Esq. . . . . . . To be sent to Major Jenkins, One. Bronson, Rev. M . . Nowgong, Central Assam, One. Brown, Rev. N. . . . . . . Seebsagur, One. Bruce, C. A. Esq. . . . . . . Tengri Mookh, via Seebsagur, Two. Boaz, Rev. T. . . . . . . Union Chapel, Calcutta, One. Barker, Rev. Cyrus, . . . . Gowahatee, One. Bett, J. J. Esq. . . . . . .

Dacca, One. Campbell, Capt. R. . . . . Gowahatee, One. Cutter, Rev. O. T. . . . . Jaipore, One. Crawford, W. W. Esq Agra, One. Carter, J. Esq Ditto, One. Carlow, A. Esq. . . . . . . Ditto, One. Campbell, J. G. Esq. C. S. . . Dacca, One. Cashman, John, Esq. . . , . Serampore, One. Cecil, R. W. Esq Ditto, One. Christian, Mr. John,. . . . . . Monghyr, One. Cockburn, James, Esq. . . . . Dacca, One. Cockburn, William, Esq. . . . . Berhampore, One. Carrau, J. L. Esq. . . . . Kinderdine's Lane, One. Charles, Rev. J., D. D. . . . . Chowringhee Lane, One. Caulfield, Mrs. R Burrisal, One. Conlan, T. Esq Ditto, One. Chill, M. M. Esq. . . . . Dacca, One. Chill, D. H. Esq. . . . . Bow-Bazar, One. Cooper, B. H. Esq. C. S. .. .. Dacca, One. Christian, J. Esq. . . . . Ditto, One. Dearden, James, Esq. . . . .

Serampore, One. VI NAMES OF SUBSCRIBERS. Names. Residence. Copies. Dear, Mr. H Monghyr, One. D'Cruz, Mr. Marshal, . . • • Serampore, One. D'Rozario, P. S. Esq Old Court House corner, One. Ducas, A. Esq Dacca, 0ne- Duff, Rev. A., D. D Cornwallis Square, One. Dyson, A. Esq Middle Road, Intally, One. Dealtry, Ven'ble Archdeacon T. . . Old Church, One. DeRodt, Rev. R Calcutta, One. Ellis, J. Esq Ditto, One. Evans, Rev. W. W For the Lai Bazar Church, One. Ewart, Rev. D Wellington Square. One. Fink, Rev. J. C Chittagong, ' One. Floyd, J. Esq, Allipore, One. Fisher, Rev. H. S Garstin's Buildings, One. Fisher, Rev. Henry, Ditto, One. Glass, G. D. Esq Dacca, Two. Glass, Mr. John, Bhaugulpore, One. Gordon, Evelyn M. Esq. C. S. . . Dacca, Two. Gordon, Capt. J. T Nowgong, One. Gordon, R. Esq Agra, Four.

Gordon, A. R. Esq Ditto, One. Gordon, W. E. Esq Ditto, One. Griff, B.Esq Ditto, One. Gardiner, G. R. Esq Ditto, One. Gardiner, G. C. Esq Ditto, One. Greenway, W. Esq Ditto, Two. Grant, F. Esq Burrisal, One. Gray, E. Esq. Calcutta, One. Gunn, W. J. Esq Chittagong, Two. Hassell, Mr. N. P Fort William, One. Hawkins, J. A. F. Esq. C. S. . . Middleton Street, One. Hay, G. C. Esq. . . . . . . Old Court House corner, One. Hughes, John, Esq Circular Road, One. Hutteman, G. Esq. . . . . Office of Supt. of Police, Three. Hawkins, T. N. Esq. . . . . Burrisal, One. Hookins, Geo. Esq. . . . . Gowahatee, One. Hungerford, Lieut. Townsend, . . Dacca, One. Irvine, James, Esq. . . . . . . Upper Circular Road, One. Jahans, Joshua, Esq. . . . . Agra, One. Johannes, Rev. J. . . . . . . Chittagong, One. NAMES OF SUBSCRIBERS.

VII Names. Residence. Copies. Johnson, Samuel, Esq Shahpoor, Tirhoot, One. Jordon, G. J. Esq Burrisal, One. Jordon, A. J. C. Esq. .. .. Ditto, One. Jones, W. H. Esq. . . . . . . Dacca, One. Jenkins, Major, F. . . . . . . Assam, One. Knott, J. Esq. . . . . . . Burrisal, One. Kissen Chunder Ghose, Babu, . . Ditto, One. Lamb, G. Senior, Esq. . . . . Dacca, One. Lamb, G. Junior, Esq. . . . . Ditto, One. Lawrence, Rev. J Monghyr, One. Lewin, Lieut. W. . . . . . . To be left with F. Harley, Calcutta, One. Leonard, Rev. O Dacca, One. Lee, Mrs. Z. Burrisal, One. Lowis, J. Esq. C. S Theatre Street, One. Loyd, T. K. Esq. C. S Agra, One. Leslie, Rev. A. Circular Road, One. Lucas, A. Esq. . . . . . . Dacca, One. Mack, Rev. John, . . . . . . Serampore, One. Mackay, C. Esq. . . . . . . Mymensing, One. Mackay, Rev. W. S. . . . . . .

Lower Circular Road, One. Marshman, J. C. Esq. . . . . Serampore, One. Mathee, Capt. J. . . . . . . Gowahatee, One. Mendes, L. Esq. . . . . . . Lai Bazar, One. Muller, Thos. Esq Mint, One. McLeod, Mr. Old Post Office Street, One. Morgan, Rev. T. . . . . . . Howrah, One. Moore, Rev. W. . . . . . . Monghyr, One. Nundoo Coomar Banerjee, Babu, . . Burrisal, One. Ostell, Lepage, & Co. . . . . Tank Square, One. Owen, C. Esq. . . . . . . Calcutta, One. O'Dowda, R. Esq. . . . . . . Court House, One. Parsons, Rev. J Monghyr, One. Pogose, I. J. N. Esq. .. .. Dacca, One. Patrick, John, Esq. . . . . Agra, One. Pogose, A. N. Esq Ditto, One. Pereira, J. F. Esq. .. .. .. Burrisal, One. Paterson, Geo. Esq. . . . . . . Dacca, One. Pogson, W. R. Esq Mymensing, One. Reily, J. Esq. Dacca, Ten. NAMES OF SUBSCRIBERS.

Names. Residence. Copies. Reily, J. H. Esq Jessore, One. Roberts, J. B. Esq Nowgong, One. Reid, P. B. Esq Agra, One. Rowe, J. Esq. Intally, One. Roxburgh, Capt. J Calcutta, One. Samadhar, R. N. Esq Barisal, One. Scott, Capt. Gowahatee, One. Scott, K. M. Esq. M. D Ditto, One. Scott, H.Esq Dacca, One. Simons, C. T. Esq Gowahatee, One. Sinclair, W. Esq Dacca, One. Small, Rev. G Calcutta, One. Smith, A. T. Esq Jessore, One. Smith, J. Esq. Ditto, One. Smith, H. A. Esq. . . . . . . Dacres' Lane, One. Smith, W. W. Esq Howrah, One. Smith, Chas. Esq. C. S Churra, One. Smith, Capt. T Care of E. Gray, Esq. One. Strong, C. R. Esq Nowgong, One. Swatman, Capt. W Dacca, One. Sturt, R. R. Esq. C. S Burrisal, Two. Sturgeon, T. Esq Dhurrumtollah, One. Skipwith, J. K. Esq. C. S Comillah, One. Stevenson, Dr. W Jumalpore, One.

Taylor, J. Esq. M. D. . . . . Dacca, One. Thacker, W. Esq Calcutta, One. Thompson, Rev. J. T. . . . . Delhi, Twenty-four. Thompson, E. B. Esq Calcutta, One. Thornton, J. Esq Seebpore, Upper Assam, One. Thomas, Rev. J. . . . . . . Circular Road, One. Thomas, Mr. W Bow-Bazar, One. Uvedale, M. Esq North Road Itally, One. Urquhart, J. W. Esq. . . . . Agra, One. Vos, D. J. Gregory, Esq. . . . . Calcutta, One. Wise, J. P. Esq Dacca, Two. Wagentrieber, J. H. Esq. . . . . Ditto, One. Watson, Maj. General Archibald, . . Allahabad, One. Wyatt, S. G. Esq William's Lane, One. Young, T. Esq. C. S Chittagong, One. Yates, Rev. W., D. D Calcutta, One. THE INVISIBLE WORLD.

Book I Argument

Invocation of the Deity. Two human saints walking on the Heavenly hills, long after the resurrection, enter into conversation. One narrates the circumstan ces of his death, then requests the other to tell of his state on earth. The other replies, that he had never died, but had lived to the last day, and undergone that change, of which Paul speaks (1 Cor. xv. 51,52.) He then mentions a few circumstances connected with the last day and the resurrection. The saint, who had died, speaks of what he saw after the resurrection. States his surprise at the vast multitudes, which he then saw collected — speaks of the intermixture of the good and bad — of the angel's separating the wicked from the just — tells of a young man, the son of pious parents, who was separated from them on that day, because he had not believed on Jesus Christ — requests the saint, who had lived to the last day, to describe some of the scenes, which he witnessed after the resurrection.

The saint complies and states the case of a rich man, whom he knew, and who died but a few months before the last day — describes a com pany of saints assembled round their former pastor — mentions an ungodly man, who approached that assembly to take a final leave of his father and mother — states, that the saints, who were living, just before the last day, believed it near — mentions the earth's last Sabbath — requests the saint, who had died, to tell him some thing of the state of disembodied spirits in the unseen world. He agrees ; but first mentions some of the opinions, which prevailed, about departed souls, when he lived on earth. THE INVISIBLE WORLD.

BOOK I.

Thy help, Eternal God, I now implore, While I attempt a theme too great for man, Unless assisted by thine aid divine. Of things unseen, by mortal eyes ; unheard By mortal ears ; and not, by mortal thought, Clearly to be conceived, I wish to tell. Thy Holy Word proclaims to man a world Unseen, where human souls, after they leave The body, all reside ; on that would I Discourse. But chiefly, would I speak, of that Part of the world to come called Paradise, Where the departed spirits of the saints, After the toils of life, in comfort rest. O may thy Holy Spirit me direct, My mind enlighten, and from error free ; And teach me to conceive of things unseen, Consistently with Scripture, and with truth. The resurrection day was past, and all The saints had long possessed their great reward, When, walking on the Heavenly hills, arrayed In pure white robes, and wearing crowns of life, b dark Which, at the Saviour's feet, they oft had laid In token of the honour due to Him, Who had redeemed them with his precious blood, Two happy beings, saints of Adam's race, Held conversation sweet on Heavenly joys ; — On the great things, which they had seen and known, And on some great events which, they had heard, The Almighty purposed soon to bring to pass, And thus discover to the saints in bliss, More of his glorious attributes divine.

Themes, such as these, did much their minds engage, And wonderful the thoughts and words produced When Heavenly minds, by mutual intercourse Excited, thus upon each other act. Could men, on earth, have heard discourse like this, They would have felt unutterable things. At length, they to another subject came ; 'Twas one of interest deep to Adam's sons, — Their state on earth ■ for they remembered well The various scenes of their mortality. The way, by which the Lord had, through a world Of sin and sorrow, led them they reviewed ; They told of all his goodness, and the hopes They, while on earth, enjoyed of Heavenly bliss ; — Hopes, more than realized by all the saints. " My way through life," said one, « was sometimes Nor can I boast, that I was always free From the sad fear of death * yet, thanks to God, He gave me, in that very trying hour, Such holy peace as all my fears dispelled.

When it was clear, the destined time was come For me to tread the gloomy vale of death, And pass at once into another world, My friends were sad, my family all mourned;

BOOK I

They sat and wept, then looked on my pale face With wishful eye, which seemed to say : ' O ! that He might be spared to us a few years more!' And there was one, my other self, who was Quite overwhelmed with grief, when she perceived, That we must part, and she be left alone. I felt her anguish, and I wished to live To be her comfort, and my children's too. Besides, I had my fears, I could not feel Quite sure, that all was right, that death would be A certain entrance to a better world. But I looked upward in the trying hour ; God heard the prayer of my poor trembling heart ; He calmed my troubled mind, taught me to rest On the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ, And feel I rested on a solid rock. My fears returned no more ; our gracious God, Quite faithful to his word, forsook me not,' But as my day was, made my strength, and gave Me grace sufficient for the trying hour.

Now, I could leave all dear to me on earth, Because I could them all to God confide ; Assured, that he, who had my helper been In life, and who, in death, was my support, Would never them forsake. I called my wife, And said : ' My love, be comforted ; I go Before; you'll follow soon. Arrived in that Bless'd world, to which I go, I will not you Forget, but for your coming watch. When there We meet, no further separation shall We know. Meanwhile, look up to Him, who is The orphan's father, and the widow's God. The time is short ; weep then as though you wept Not, and rejoice in hope of that bless'd day, When, in the Saviour's presence, we shall meet. God will, I hope, for our dear children, hear Our prayers, and bring them safely to that world Of rest. The prospect cheers my heart ; may it Cheer yours, while you my loss deplore.

Now, I Can go in peace, for, on atoning blood, Is all my trust. May the same trust be yours, And the same peace your mind support, when you, As I now do, lie on the bed of death.' " Finding, that all was well, I wished to go I wished to join the spirits of the just, To see my Saviour, and pour out my heart In grateful praises for his love to me. A few short struggles o'er, I had my wish ; I felt, that I had pass'd the gate of death, And that I was for ever safe indeed ; Angels conveyed me soon to Paradise, And there the Saviour's welcome I received. Thus ended all my sins, and griefs, and fears, Now brother, tell me how it was with you." " My history, brother, differs much from yours The dreaded path of death, I never trod ; The pains of dissolution ne'er were mine ; I ne'er was parted from my friends on earth ; Ne'er saw them weeping round my dying bed ; I never entered on the separate state ; Nor did 1 e'er see Paradise, the abode Of happy souls till the great judgment day, lived on earth, in the last age of time ; And ere I felt decay, or hoary locks My head adorned, I heard the trumpet sound, That raised the dead. I saw the dead arise ; For, when that awful sound was heard, I was Among the tombs, whither I had, as oft

BOOK I

Before, for serious meditation gone. Some of my Christian friends, who, a few weeks Or months, had been interred, sprung from their graves, Before my eyes, and looked around with smiles. Me soon they recognized and said : ' Brother, Rejoice, the resurrection day is come ; Now, we shall all our crowns of life receive.' " Soon, as you know, a second blast was heard •* Then were the living changed ; then they, at once, Put on the garb of immortality. That change I underwent, yet cannot it Describe : for process, there was none for man T' observe ; 'twas done at once ; a moment's space, The twinkling of an eye, as Paul had long Foretold, completed all. O ! what a time Of joy was that to some ; while others felt The deepest wo. Many good men had preached, And others written, others deeply thought, About that day ; yet neither tongue nor pen Could tell, nor thought conceive, a scene so grand, So solemn, and so awful, yet so bright, And so absorbing to the sons of men.

Who then for honours, riches, or estates, Or any earthly things, the least concern Exhibited ? No ! brother, then we saw, What all most deeply felt, and many wished They had so felt before, that earthly things Were nothing worth ; for then, all were assured, That they had done with earth, that they must dwell For ever in another world, a world Of endless happiness, or endless wo. " After the dead were raised, and living changed, There was, you know, a pause, a solemn pause, • See Appendix, Note A. to Book I. In the proceedings of that awful day. It was, I thought, as though the Judge would grant To men a little space to look around And recollect the scenes of earth ; to call To mind their earthly history ; that they The past reviewing might anticipate Their bless'd reward, or everlasting doom.

You, no doubt, saw, in some, a joyful hope, A full assurance, that they should receive, From Jesus' hands, a crown of righteousness ; Others, you must have seen, with downcast eyes And looks, which told of horror in the soul." " Yes ! brother," said the other saint, " I much Observed of an affecting kind. One scene I witnessed, which I will to you describe. " After the dead had all been raised, and all The living changed, the surface of the earth, As you must have observed as well as I, Seemed covered with its late inhabitants. At sight of all those countless multitudes, Surprise did, for a time, my thoughts enchain. Large armies gathered on the battle field, — Nay ! that assembly vast, which Xerxes once Conducted into Greece, and which to view, Required a mountain's height, were emblems faint," Thought I, ' of this interminable throng.' Both hill and dale were full, farther than eyes, Just then immortal made, could penetrate ; Even an angel's ken, as he pass'd through Earth's atmosphere, the limits of that throng — That almost boundless throng, could scarcely trace, As I, in wonder lost, looked on, I thus Exclaimed : ' Had Europe and America,' With Africa, and Asia, and all

BOOK I

9 I The islands of the sea, at once turned out The countless swarms of their inhabitants, And into one assembly formed them all ; That multitude, though greater far, than man Had e'er before collected seen, compared To the assembly of this day, would have A concourse small, — a little group, appeared ! O ! how amazing, to behold, at once, All, that had ever lived on earth ! to see All generations, which the earth had borne, In one assembly vast, collected stand ! Then, was the harvest of the earth ; then what Our Lord, about the wheat and tares, had said, Came strongly to my mind ; and, of his words, An illustration full, I soon beheld. " You are aware, that this vast multitude, Dense as it seemed, yet its divisions had ; That, in some places, crowds, in others, groups, And smaller parties were convened ; while some, In quest of friends, from place to place, removed The tares and wheat, as yet, were intermixed.

The wicked, it was clear, could not endure The thought of separation from the just ; Some of them even seemed to hope, the good Would prove a refuge for them from the wrath Of the Great Judge ; but such a hope, how vain I joined a crowd, in which I recognized Some, who, on earth, my fellow-travellers Had been ; whose holy conversation had, Comfort and strength, imparted to my mind. Two of these blessed saints had watched beside My bed of death, and had, in earnest prayer, My soul committed to the Saviour's hands. I met them both again in Paradise ; c Where 1 both sought and found all those dear saints, With whom I had my earthly pilgrimage Performed; and in the crowd, in which twas, 1 most of them observed. In that crowd too, I many others recognized, with whom, Though never known to me, on earth, I had, In sweet communion lived, in Paradise.

I cannot well describe, nor can those saints, Who did not die, fully conceive, the joy We felt, when, death subdued, we had obtained That object great, for which on earth we strove, And which, in Paradise, we always much Desired, — the resurrection of the dead. Then did we all a shout of triumph raise, And, in Paul's words, exclaim : " O death ! where is Thy sting ? O Hades ! where's thy victory ?"* " All in the crowd, in which I stood, did not That shout of triumph join ; all were not saints. There were some tares among the wheat : for some Ungodly men, whose nearest relatives, On earth, had walked in holiness of heart And life, now sought with them a place to find. Much then, did those ungodly men lament, That they repentance had so long deferred ; So long the Saviour's offered grace refused. ' We did intend,' many exclaimed, ' to turn To God, to seek his mercy, and be saved.

We knew the admonitions of our friends, And ministers were just, and that they sprung From minds benevolent, intent upon our good ; And we resolved, ere death should end our course, To give those admonitions all their weight ; And, by repentance deep, prepare for this * Such is the literal rendering of 1 Cor. xv. 55.

BOOK I

11 Last, awful day. But oh ! the cursed love Of sin ! By it allured, we still, in spite Of all resolves, continued to transgress, Till death's strong hand assailed our mortal frame, And mercy's door for ever on us closed.' " But soon, the awful parting moment came, When, by the angels, as our Lord had said, The wicked should be severed from the just. Two mighty angels now approached the crowd, In which I stood. ' Hail happy saints,' said they, ' Our brethren now in immortality.' The wicked trembled much ; for well they knew, For what intent these mighty ones had come. They would have fled, but there was no escape ; Resist they could not, for the angels' strength Was irresistible. Some did entreat The just to intercede for them, or hide Them from the angels' scrutinizing eyes ; But none would interfere ; they would not sin, By daring to resist their Saviour's will.

Near me was one, his looks declared him lost, Whom I had known on earth ; he was the son Of pious parents ; one, who had, in life, Maintained an upright character, and who Attended much the house of God ; but he Had never felt his ruined state, nor sought, By faith in Christ, the pardon of his sins. He thought, that, being free from the foul blots, Which stained the characters of some, he had But little cause to fear : and hoped, that he, For death and judgment, should be found prepared. His parents saw his error, and they oft Admonished him, and begged him not to trust To his good character ; but to admit, c b That, in the eyes of God, he was a great Transgressor, and to place his only hope Of life eternal on the Saviour's blood. But the young man would not his dangerous state Believe ; he still would hope, that all was well.

At last, a mortal sickness came ; he felt, That he must die ; then, he was serious, And much alarmed. He called on friends to pray With him ; on me, among the rest ; but none Of us could see in him that change of heart, That faith in Christ, which we so much desired. He sometimes spoke of Christ, but cleaved, we feared. To his own works. We strove to undeceive Him, and to bring him to depend on Christ Alone ; but ere we could be satisfied, That he had trusted on the Saviour's blood, He was removed, and we were left in doubt. His parents grieved, and feared, all was not right ; Yet sometimes they would hope, that he was saved. Thus, between hope and fear, they left the case To the Great Judge, who would, they knew, do right. This young man, when the angels came to take Away the wicked, by his parents stood.

The terror of his mind almost refused Him utterance. In tones and accents wild, He begged his parents*1 intercession ; prayed, That they would not permit their only son, So much beloved, to be for ever torn From their society. His cries were vain ; The parents calmly said : f Son, you would not Our admonitions hear ; you would depend On your own works, rather than Jesus Christ ; The Saviour's grace you slighted ; when he called, You would not hear ; and now you call, he will

BOOK I

Not hear. We cannot help you ; nature's ties, Strong as you think them, do not bind us now. We loved you once ; but now we cannot love One, who does not the Saviour love, though he May be our son.' Just then, an angel came, And, in a moment, from the parents drove Their unbelieving son. Anguish, despair, And malice, in his countenance, I read. " Many strong angels, as you must have seen, Were thus employed the wicked to collect, And place in separate companies ; o'er each Of which a guard of angels stood, to keep Them in safe custody, till the command Was issued to conduct them to the place Of judgment. When I looked around, and saw So many companies of wicked men, That had been severed from among the just ; Our Saviour's words come strongly to my mind, That he would give command to gather first The tares, and them in bundles bind to burn.

Thus did he send his mighty angels forth, To gather those, who wrought iniquity, And cast them into that dread furnace, where They'll ever weep, and wail, and gnash their teeth " Thus have I something told of what I saw ; And now I hope, that you will favour me With some account of things, which you observed As you on earth remained, till the last day, And many persons knew, who, like yourself, Were found alive, when that great clay arrived ; And others knew, who died but a short time Before, and recognized them after they Arose ; you must have witnessed many things Of interest deep, and worthy to be told." " True brother," said the saint, who lived to hear The trumpet sound, and see the dead arise, " I scenes of joy and scenes of grief beheld ; And, some of them, I will to you describe. " There lived, a long time, in my neighbourhood, A rich, ungodly man, who was content To make this world his all ; nor cared nor thought, With seriousness, about the world to come.

This man I knew, while he was yet alive ; He died before the resurrection day, But a few months ; and, on that day, I saw And recognized him, and observed him well. As, in a stately mansion, he had lived, So, in a costly sepulchre, with all The pomp of mourning, he had been interred. A tablet fair, of pollished marble, told His name, his age, and highly him extolled For many virtues, which he ne'er possess'd. After he rose, he turned, his broken tomb, To view ; and, as he his late resting-place Surveyed, he said, ' O that my slumbers here Had never been disturbed ; but that dread sound Has waked the dead, and now the judgment comes.' As thus he spoke, his down-cast eyes glanced on His epitaph, unbroken yet, among The ruins of his tomb. He read and paused ; Then sighed to think how far it was from truth. ' O ! had I been as this false marble says, A sincere Christian ; had the virtues here Ascribed to me, but really been mine ; I should not now have been among the lost. O ! that the Judge would take this epitaph As my true character ! The wish is vain ! He knows my sins, and he will punish them.