2 In early days their hearts secure From worldly snares, we pray; And let them to the end endure In every righteous way.
3 Grant us before them, Lord, to live In holy faith and fear; And then to heaven our souls receive And bring our children there.
484 Thanatopsis. S.M.
_Dying, not Death._ (1088)
It is not death to die,-- To leave this weary road, And, midst the brotherhood on high, To be at home with G.o.d.
2 It is not death to close The eye long dimmed by tears, And wake, in glorious repose To spend eternal years.
3 It is not death to fling Aside this sinful dust, And rise, on strong exulting wing, To live among the just.
4 Jesus, thou Prince of life!
Thy chosen cannot die; Like thee, they conquer in the strife, To reign with thee on high.
George W. Bethune, 1847.
485 Thanatopsis. S.M.
_The Crowning Hour._ (1086)
Servant of G.o.d, well done!
Thy glorious warfare"s past; The battle"s fought, the race is won, And thou art crowned at last;--
2 Of all thy heart"s desire Triumphantly possessed; Lodged by the ministerial choir In thy Redeemer"s breast.
3 In condescending love, Thy ceaseless prayer he heard, And bade thee suddenly remove To thy complete reward.
4 With saints enthroned on high, Thou dost thy Lord proclaim, And still to G.o.d salvation cry,-- Salvation to the Lamb!
Charles Wesley.
486 Thanatopsis. S.M.
_A Little While._ (1089)
A few more years shall roll, A few more seasons come, And we shall be with those that rest Asleep within the tomb.
2 A few more suns shall set O"er these dark hills of time, And we shall be where suns are not, A far serener clime.
3 A few more storms shall beat On this wild rocky sh.o.r.e, And we shall be where tempests cease, And surges swell no more.
4 A few more struggles here, A few more partings o"er, A few more toils, a few more tears, And we shall weep no more.
5 "Tis but a little while And he shall come again, Who died that we might live, who lives That we with him may reign.
6 Then, O my Lord, prepare My soul for that great day; Oh, wash me in thy precious blood, And take my sins away.
Horatius Bonar, 1856.
487 St. Sylvester. 8s & 7s.
_Death Inevitable._
Days and moments quickly flying Blend the living with the dead; Soon shall we who sing be lying, Each within our narrow bed.
2 Soon our souls to G.o.d who gave them Will have sped their rapid flight; Able now by grace to save them, Oh, that while we can we might.
3 Jesus, infinite Redeemer, Maker of this mighty frame, Teach, oh, teach us to remember What we are, and whence we came:--
4 Whence we came, and whither wending Soon we must through darkness go, To inherit bliss unending, Or eternity of woe.
Rev. Edward Caswell, 1849.
As the tree falls so must it lie; As the man lives so will he die; As the man dies, such must he be All through the days of eternity.
Amen.
488 St. Sylvester. 8s & 7s.
_Matthew 6:10._ (1097)
Jesus, while our hearts are bleeding O"er the spoils that death has won, We would at this solemn meeting, Calmly say,--thy will be done.
2 Though cast down, we"re not forsaken; Though afflicted, not alone; Thou didst give, and thou hast taken; Blessed Lord,--thy will be done.
3 Though to-day we"re filled with mourning, Mercy still is on the throne; With thy smiles of love returning, We can sing--thy will be done.
4 By thy hands the boon was given, Thou hast taken but thine own: Lord of earth, and G.o.d of heaven, Evermore,--thy will be done!
Thomas Hastings.
489 Rest. L.M.
_Sleeping in Jesus._ (1077)
Asleep in Jesus! blessed sleep, From which none ever wakes to weep; A calm and undisturbed repose, Unbroken by the dread of foes.
2 Asleep in Jesus! peaceful rest, Whose waking is supremely blest; No fear, no woes, shall dim the hour, Which manifests the Savior"s power.
3 Asleep in Jesus! oh, for me May such a blissful refuge be; Securely shall my ashes lie, And wait the summons from on high.