While the unlearned and those of low estate,

With faith's clear eye behold the living gate,

Whose portals open on the shoreless sea

Where time's strong ocean meets eternity.

[Pg 32]

Across the gulf that stretches far beneath

Lies the dark valley of the shade of death—

A land of deep forgetfulness,—a shore

Which all must traverse, but return no more

To this sad earth, to dissipate our dread,

And tell the mighty secrets of the dead.

Enough for us that those drear realms were trod

By heavenly footsteps, that the Son of God

Passed the dark bourne and vanquished Death, to save

The weary wanderers of life's stormy wave.

Why then should man thus cleave to things of earth?

Daily experience proves their little worth—

Or waste those noble qualities of mind,

For wise and better purposes designed,

In the pursuit of trifles, which confer

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