Page 110 - Standing Display

Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered

Bereavement Black Borders

WHO DIED ON THE 23rd MARCH, 1877.
BY A M E MBER OF THE DEACONS' COURT.

THERE'S a Voice from the grave, now prepare, Such was our dear pastor's every day story,
Yonder in heaven above, be sure you are there; When he ascended the pulpit in his sabbath glory ;
Those words you remember while earth bore the man, His prayers breathed so sweet from that spirit above,
Was, Now be in Christ, without him there is none. Gave answer in return by that same spirit of love.

His looks were so solemn, with his fiowiug white hair, · His work as a minister waa fully employed,
Made the church and the people think where they All Courts of our Church he heartily enjoyed ;
wer~; He was true to his Master in thonght, word, and deed,
The psalm being ended, the prayer was beJnn, Who meet him in combat had much for to dre:irl.
A- crack with his Master about sins that were done.
The Church Union battle drew men from afar,
The sermon commenced, ·his usual Sabbath work,
Our pastor came through it without even :t scar,
A short outline of text, with a few heads to exh~rt ;
In the midst of the t hrong J. J. Woon might be seen,
Those so pointed and true made each heart for to. feel,
The truth to hold forth without fear did he deem.
Every word was sent home, for they were true as the
steel.
At home in his manse so homely and kind,
Of the Church or his work, but to stories was blind ;
The summings up of the whole, in his solemn strain,
The Church and the world he knew everywhere,
Brought all to our minds that our hearts might retain,
And left in no doubts. by his wisdom so rare.
The earnest request, Remember, thu~e words are not
mine ;
But ponder them well, may God make them thine. In his sick visitations, how solemn and gmnd,
His heart breathed to'heaven, that happy land,
How his eye it did glisten, and his voice it, did shake, Made the patient's heart feel that glow of delight
When he spoke of sweet heaven, and the step he To rest on their Saviour with all their whole might.
would take ;
His heart it did quiver, and the tears did clown fall, His Session and Deacons' Court were his anxious
For love to his Maker was his all in all. care,
With his kindest attention to each of them were ;
That souls for bis hire was his earne&t stand, No opportunity was missed to let all have their say,
That all might be with him in that happy land, That Profit and Pleasure might carry the clay.
Where souls are set free from sorrow and sin,
And the joys of sweet heaven now do begin. His saintly spirit now rests with his God,
In yonder sweet heaven he is relieved of his load ;
The blessin~ in closing poured out so entreating, Let us follow him now while God gives us breath,
Caused all to give ear to his kindest inviting ; That Christ be our portion while here npon earth.•
His memory is admired by they most understood
Our godly old minister, the late Dr. JAMES JULIUS JAMES COLTART.
W.oo.o.