These two sonnets are taken from “Expositions from the Book of Revelation in a Series of Lectures”, Lecture II “Christ Revealed by Names” (1831). They were included just after the Sonnets on Revelation 1 & 2.
TO THE MEMORY OF
The Rev. Samuel Martin, D.D.,
MY VENERABLE GRANDFATHER-IN-LAW,
WHO WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM US IN THE 90TH YEAR OF HIS LIFE,
AND THE 68TH OF HIS MINISTRY.
Farewell on man’s dark journey o’er the deep,
Thou Sire of Sires! whose bow in strength hath stood
These threescore years and ten that thou has wooed
Men’s souls to heaven. In Jesus fallen asleep,
Around thy couch three generations weep,
Rear’d on thy knees with wisdom’s heavenly food,
And by thy counsels taught to choose the good;
Who in thy footsteps press up Zion’s steep,
To reach that temple, which but now did ope
And let their father in. O’er his bier wake
No doleful strain, but high the note of hope
And praise uplift to God, who did him make
A faithful shepherd, of his Church a prop;
And of his seed did faithful shepherds take.
TO THE MEMORY OF MY REVEREND AND BELOVED FRIEND,
The Rev. Edward Thomas Vaughan
And is our Vaughan gone? he who the toil
Of conflict for the truth did fearless bide;
A standard-bearer, who his foot aside
Did never turn to seek ignoble spoil,
But led the way, and taught us how to foil
The serpent’s subtle seed? They could not hide
Their wiles from thee; but in their wounded pride
Hiss’d envious, and ‘gainst thee raised turmoil.
Thou wast a churchman of the ancient seed;
A shepherd, who thy care did ne’er abate;
A watchman, who the nation’s weal did heed;
Which drew upon thee sons of Belial’s hate.
Now thou art ta’en away in time of need,
When darkness thickens round our sinking state!
