Poems (Sewell)/On the Death of Dr. Fordyce

by Mary Young Sewell

ON THE DEATH OF The Rev. Dr. FORDYCE. 1799.

Blest be his memory! whose illumin'd page,
May check the follies of a future age!
When Genius in the cause of Virtue shines,
On adamant are wrought the golden lines;
Nor Time, nor Pow'r, nor Envy can destroy
The noble work, which Angels might enjoy!—
Where Truth's immortal champions war with Vice,
Thy name shall ever shine, oh great Fordyce!
And oh! whilst Justice shall record thy zeal,
For bright Religion—for thy country's weal—
Remembrance mingles, with a soften'd tear,
The glowing virtues of the friend sincere!
The gen'rous welcome, which thy look declar'd,
The cordial smile thy Henrietta shared,
Mem'ry shall trace—while Resignation too,
O'er all thy griefs its gentle shadow threw!—
Firm in affliction—sure thy conscious breast,
Felt the pure Faith thy trembling lips express'd;
And Christian Hope—tho' humble, yet serene,
Cast its soft lustre o'er thy closing scene!