556 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1813. 



Whose victim on his bed of torture lay, 

 Breathing the slow remains of life away. 

 Erewhile, victorious faith sublimer rose 

 Beneath the pressure of collected woes ; 

 But now his spirit waver'd, went and came. 

 Like the loose vapour of departing flame, 

 Till at the point, when comfort seem'd to die 

 For ever in his fix'd unclosing eye, 

 Bright thro' the smouldering ashes of the man. 

 The saint brake forth, and Adam thus began : 



" — * O ye, that shudder at this awful strife, 

 ' This wrestling agony of Death and Life, 



* Think not that He, on whom my soul is cast, 



* Will leave me thus forsaken to the last ; 

 ' Nature's infirmity alone you see ; 



* My chains are breaking, I shall soon be free ; 



* Though firm in God the Spirit holds her trust, 



* The flesh is frail, and trembles into dust. 



* Horror and anguish seize me ; — 'tis the hour 



' Of darkness, and I mourn beneath its power ; 



* The Tempter plies me with his direst art, 



' I feel the Serpent coiling round my heart ; 

 ' He stirs the wound he once inflicted there, 

 ' Instills the deadening poison of despair, 



* Belies the truth of God's delaying grace, 

 ' And bids me curse my Maker to his face. 



— « I will not curse Him, though his grace delay ; 



< I will not cease to trust Him, though he slay ; 



* Full on his promised mercy I rely, 



' For God has spoken, — God, who cannot lie. 

 — • Thou, of ri>y faith the Author and the End ! 



< Mine early, late, and everlasting Friend ! 



* The joy, that once thy presence gave, restore 



< Ere I am summoned hence, and seen no more : 

 ' Down to the dust returns this earthly frame, 



* Receive my Spirit, Lord ! from whom it came ; 



* Rebuke the Tempter, show thy power to save ; 



* O let thy glory light me to the grave. 



* That these, who witness my departing breath, 



* May learn to triumph in the grasp of death.' 



*' He closed his eye-lids with a tranquil smile, 

 And seem'd to rest in silent prayer awhile : 

 Around his couch with filial awe we kneel'd, 

 When suddenly a light from Heaven reveal 'd 

 A spirit, that stood within the unopen'd door;^ 

 The sword of God in his right hand he bore ; 



