A City Of Refuge

The following POEM was written by Robert Murray M'Cheyne, after the death of a young Christian friend.
 

ON J.T., A BELIEVING BOY (Who died Feb. 1842.)

I LITTLE thought, when last we met,
Thy sun on earth was nearly set -
I said what I can ne'er forget,
        "Dear boy, we'll meet again."

Though thou wert tossed upon thy bed,
And sometimes criedst, "My head, my head;"
Yet still the smile came back - I said,
        "Fair boy, we'll meet again."

No hope thy weeping mother had.
Thy sister's face was pale and sad,
But thine was always bright and glad -
         Dear boy, we'll meet again.

"'Twas kind," thou saidst, "in God to die
For worms like me.  Once I would fly
A darkened room - now Christ is nigh" -
         Fair boy, we'll meet again.

"I love you well, my mother dear -
"I love you all, yet shed no tear -
I'd rather be with Christ than here -
         Farewell, we'll meet again.

"I fain would live to preach to men;
But, if my God should spare till then,
I would be loth to die again" -
         Dear boy, we'll meet again.

The Sabbath-sun rose bright and clear
When thine was setting on us here,
To shine more bright in yonder sphere -
         Farewell we'll meet again.

I stood beside thy silent bed,
Thy marble brow was cold and dead,
Thy gentle soul was fled - was fled -
         Dear boy, we'll meet again.

I saw thee in thy narrow rest,
The clods upon thy coffin pressed,
The clouds dropped tears, yet in my breast
         God said, "We'll meet again."

Yes, parents, smile through all your tears,
A crown of life your darling wears,
The grave a shady porch appears,
         To where we'll meet again.

The precious dust beneath that lies,
Shall at the call of Jesus rise,
To meet the Bridegroom in the skies,
         That day we'll meet again.