The Dying Christian to his Soul

VITAL spark of heav'nly flame!	 
 Quit, O quit this mortal frame:	 
 Trembling, hoping, ling'ring, flying,	 
 O the pain, the bliss of dying!	 
Cease, fond Nature, cease thy strife,	 
And let me languish into life.	 
 
 Hark! they whisper; angels say,	 
 Sister Spirit, come away!	 
 What is this absorbs me quite?	 
 Steals my senses, shuts my sight,	 
Drowns my spirits, draws my breath?	 
Tell me, my soul, can this be death?	 
 
The world recedes; it disappears!	 
Heav'n opens on my eyes! my ears	 
 With sounds seraphic ring!	 
Lend, lend your wings! I mount! I fly!	 
O Grave! where is thy victory?	 
 O Death! where is thy sting?
Category:Christianity
Category:Poems
Category:Early modern poetry
Category:18th century works