Poems (Edwards)/Thoughts on Immortality

by Matilda Caroline Smiley Edwards

THOUGHTS ON IMMORTALITY.

O! if we had no hopes beyond
 The confines of the grave,
If all our dreams of future life,
 Died with time's parting wave;
How desolate this world would be,
 How joyless would we stand,
Shut out from faith and hope and love,
 In this cold tearful land.

Thrice blessed thought! we have a hope
 Beyond the bounds of death,
Beyond the darkening clouds of earth,
 "Where life is not a breath;"
A hope that, when our toils are done,
 And life's dull cares are o'er,
We shall sit down at God's right hand,
 In bliss for evermore.

Then let us bear without a sigh,
 The gathering ills that rise,
God hears us in our deep distress,
 He counts our tears and sighs;
He bids our troubled hearts be still,
 He bids our sorrows flee;
Come, Lord! and cheer our drooping hearts,
 We wait, we wait for thee.