Your grief is natural, and only those who have lost
their first-born can fully realize it:--
"Young mother! what can feeble friendship say,
To soothe the anguish of this mournful day?
They, they alone, whose hearts like thine have bled,
Know how the living sorrow for the dead;
I've felt it all,--alas! too well I know
How vain all earthly power to hush thy woe!
God cheer thee, childless mother! 'tis not given
For man to ward the blow that falls from heaven.
I've felt it all--as thou art feeling now;
Like thee, with stricken heart and aching brow,
I've sat and watched by dying beauty's bed,
And burning tears of hopeless anguish shed;
I've gazed upon the sweet, but pallid face,
And vainly tried some comfort there to trace;
I've listened to the short and struggling breath;
I've seen the cherub eye grow dim in death;
Like thee, I've veiled my head in speechless gloom,
And laid my first-born in the silent tomb!"
Now in all these bereavements of the Christian home we have developed the
wisdom and goodness of God; and the consideration of this we commend to the
bereaved as a great comfort. They are but the execution of God's merciful
design concerning the family. Pious parents can, therefore, bless the Lord
for these afflictions. It is often well for both you and your children that
bereavements come. They come often as the ministers of grace.
Pages:
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308