The Soul releas'd by Death

Active Spark of heav'nly Fire, In a Clod of Earth confin'd, Ever fluttering to aspire To the Great PATERNAL MIND; Strugling still with upward Aim To mingle with thy native Flame! Death soon will break this Pris'n of Clay, And give thee Leave to spring away; Then to thy native Regions go, There with th' Etherial Flames to glow.

Come, thou shining Hour, appear! Happy Moment, Oh draw near!— 'Tis come! — I feel the purple Stream Stagnate; in misty Darkness swim My dizzy Eyes confus'd and dim; Bedew'd with could and clammy Sweat; The dancing Pulses cease to beat; In vain I gasp for Breath — Strange! Can this be Death?

Hark! Th' Angelic Envoy say, "Sister Spirit, come away, "Drop the Cumber of the Clay, "And with thy Kindred join"— Angels, I come; conduct me on: Instruct me in a World unknown, In Mysteries Divine: Instruct me unexperienc'd Stranger how To act as the Immortals do; To think, and speak, and move like you: Teach me the Senses to supply, To see without the Optics of an Eye; The Music of your Songs to hear Without the Organ of an Ear.

Yes! now Blest Angels, now I find The Pow'rs of an unfetter'd Mind! How active and how Strange! O happy Place! O blissful State! Welcome Felicity compleat! Welcome amazing, happy Change!

And is this then Eternity! And am I safely landed here! No more to Sin, no more to die, No more to sigh, or shed a Tear! — My Soul! can this be I? I, who just now imprison'd dwelt In yonder World of Woe and Guilt! Just now shudd'ring, trembling, sighing, Startled at the Thought of dying! Am I indeed the same? Or is it all a pleasing Dream?— The very same! — Ye heav'nly Choirs! Cherubic and Seraphic Fires! Come, assist my labouring Tongue; Sound aloud the grateful Song; Assist a Stranger to express His Thanks to rich unbounded Grace — JESUS! th' unbounded Grace was thine, Who bled and languished on the Tree, And bore infinite Pains for me, To raise me thus to Joys Divine. And do I see Thy Face at last, O my Dear, incarnate GOD! And has Thy Love Thy Servant plac'd In this Thy shining, blest Abode! Enough! — Thy Bounty gives me more Than I could think or wish before.