On the Death of his Daughter by: Cotton Mather

The dearest Lord of Heaven gave

Himself an offering once for me:

The dearest thing on earth I have,

Now, Lord, I'll offer unto Thee.

I see my best enjoyments here,

Are loans, and flowers, and vanities;

Ere well enjoy'd they disappear:

Vain smoke, they prick and leave our eyes.

But I believe, O glorious Lord,

That when I seem to lose these toys,

What's lost will fully be restor'd

In glory, with eternal joys.

I do believe, that I and mine,

Shall come to everlasting rest;

Because, blest Jesus, we are Thine,

And with Thy promises are blest.

I do believe the every bird

Of mine, which to the ground shall fall,

Does fall at Thy kind will and word,

Nor I, nor it, is hurt at all.

Now my believing soul does hear

This among the glad angels told; 

I know thou dost thy Maker fear,

From whom thou nothing dost withhold! 

I love this poem so very much. It is just so beautiful! It expresses so well this man's emotions and his total surrender to God's will in his life and trust that everything is in His wonderful plan for the benefit of every beloved creature.