Life and Death (1827) (93/85) -- The Renewable Anthology of Early America...

Life and Death (1827) LIFE AND DEATH by James M. Nack Oh! what is life? A painful dream That death awakes us from — Death, who however he may seem In terror cloth’d to some. Our lot from anguish to redeem Shall like an angel come, And clasp us to his icy breast, Where ev’ry care is lull’d to rest; Since well that rest we need, Oh! why Should we thus fearful be to die? The dark impressions on the heart Of many a deed bf ill, The terrors to the grave impart. From which with shudd’ring thrill Our guilty minds revolting start., And cling to being still; Though in that being we can find No fairy spell our souls to bind, And all our thousand sorrows say, “Turn from this wretched world away!” Whatever we may suffer here, If what we merit all Were ours, a doom far more severe Upon our heads would fall; And when, our spirits to unsphere. Death sounds the awful call, We shrink with horror from the world To come, where on us may be hur’d A doom deserv’d. Fears of the grave Our minds but by our guilt enslave. But Christian, shall such fears invade The breast of one for whom A Saviour’s life a ransom paid? Wilt thou too dread the tomb, Where the Redeemer’s head was laid To save thee from the doom Which none but those who scorn Him meet? No — Christian, at thy Saviour’s feet Thy life thou with its crimes canst lay, With hope’s instead of terror’s sway.