TELL me, my soul, and in good earnest tell,
Why dost thou seem afraid to Christ to go,
With him and his celestial host to dwell,
From this vile Vale of misery and woe?

'Tis hard that thou art forc'd to leave thy wife,
Thy children, family, and social train,
Lands, houses, cattle, goods, here in this life,
Never to have a sight of them again.

Howe'er take comfort, for thou shalt above
Much greater wealth, and richer treasures boast,
Thou firmer friends and comrades there shalt prove,
In Jesus Christ, and his angelic host :

And if thy Children shall th' Almighty fear,
And all their days in righteousness employ,
Thou shalt thyself again behold them there,
In endless glory, and in endless joy.

Instead of friends and comrades, thou above
Shalt have the saints and the seraphic train,
To treat thee with the most endearing love;
Thy children too shall please thee, there, again.

Thy wife, thy children, and thy family,
Leave thou to God - and on his aid depend,
Who plainly has profess'd himself to be
The Orphan's father, and the Widow's friend.

Prize not thy riches, nor thy paltry store,
With greater wealth thou shalt above be bless'd,
Than Alexander ever own'd - nay, more
Than any conqueror on earth possess'd.

Ne'er mind thy house, though it a palace were,
In heav'n, each house is built by art divine,
The walls are made of pearl and topaz, there,
And brighter than the clearest mirror shine.

Thy orchards, fields, and vineyards never mind;
Terrestrial riches ne'er too-highly prize,
Thou richer lands, and finer fruits shalt find,
And gardens much more fair in paradise.

On gold and silver lay no stress at all,
For gold in heav'n is strew'd beneath thy feet,
There pearls and gems erect each gorgeous wall,
And golden ingots pave each glitt'ring street.

Make no account of office, or of trade,
In heaven various offices are found,
The meanest, there, God's minister is made,
The meanest, there, a mighty king is crown'd.

Mind not gay ornaments, nor vestments fine,
In paradise their garments all are white,
Thy own shall there with dazzling lustre shine,
Than the meridian sun itself more bright.

Of meat, which leaves thee hungry, never think,
The tree of Life itself in Eden grows,
Manna's their food - the fount of Life, their drink,
And there no end th' eternal banquet knows.

Make no account of music's pleasing sound,
Such pleasures oft are close-pursu'd by pain;
True joys in paradise alone are found -
Such joys as to eternity remain.

For any thing thou now enjoy'st, ne'er care,
But with the utmost application strive,
Thyself, for thy removal, to prepare,
That thou in endless joys with Christ may'st live:

Where more true ease, and pleasures more refin'd,
For thy acceptance are long since prepar'd,
Than can be wish'd by the most craving mind,
Or by the most loquacious tongue declar'd.

Go therefore, and to Christ with pleasure cleave -
To Christ, thy Chief, thy Lord and Master too:
The world, and all its low enjoyments leave,
Thy parents dear - that thou to Christ may'st go.

Instead of the precarious things below,
Which he has only lent thee at the best,
Thou shalt have goods which shall no change e'er know,
To be by thee eternally possest.

Thou shalt, without disorder, health enjoy,
Thou shalt, without anxiety, have ease,
Thou shalt have happiness, without annoy,
Thou shalt, without allay, have perfect peace.

No wound, no woe, no pain, shall vex thee there,
No hunger, thirst, nor trouble, shalt thou know,
No grief, no loud lament, no sigh, no tear,
Shall ever plague thee more - nor any foe:

But thou shalt live with endless pleasure crown'd,
And of eternal happiness possess'd,
With myriads of his angels guarded round,
To praise thy gracious God among the bless'd.

There shalt thou sit upon a splendid seat,
The praises of the blessed Lamb to sing,
And high-voic'd Hallelujahs to repeat,
Unto thy merciful and glorious King.

Who wou'd not now the world and all its woe,
And all its riches, quit - that he might cleave
To his Redeemer, and to heaven go;
Provided that th' Almighty gave him leave?

Thine eyes, may thy Creator open wide,
The kingdom of thy guardian Christ to see,
May God his Spirit give, thy steps to guide,
Prepare thyself for such felicity.