6 How sweet 't will be, at such an hour, 557 1 PART III. 8.7. Benediction, 320. Mourning the loss of a child. HAST thou lost a child most precious? is thy Father brings thee low: 'Mid th' affliction he is gracious, Pitying while he deals the blow. Mourner, lift thine eye above thee; "T is from thence the rod descends: He must chasten if he love thee: Kiss the hand that is a friend's. 2 He would bring the wanderer near him, Quench the fire, and yet refine. 3 Oh, there is no cross, no fetter, While we bear the yoke of love: 558 PART II. 8.7. Felicity, 535. Thy will be done. Matt. xxvi. 42. 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 Fill us now with deep contrition; Take away these hearts of stone; And may all, with true submission, Meekly say, "Thy will be done.' 4 Though to-day we're fill'd with mourning, Mercy still is on the throne; With thy smiles of love returning, We can sing, 'Thy will be done.' 5 By thy hands the boon was given, Thou hast taken but thine own; Lord of earth, and God of heaven, Evermore Thy will be done.' Crushing makes the fragrance sweeter; 559 PART I. Sorrows point to rest above. Drooping mourner, canst thou languish He can give thee joy for anguish : 558 1 1 L. M. Job, 474. The death of the sinner and the suint. FAWCETT. WHAT scenes of horror and of dread Await the sinner's dying bed! Death's terrors all appear in sight, Presages of eternal night. 2 His sins in dreadful order rise, And fill his soul with sad surprise; Mount Sinai's thunder stuns his ears, And not one ray of hope appears. YE mourning saints, whose streaming 3 Tormenting pangs distract his breast; Flow o'er your children dead, Say not, in transports of despair, That all your hopes are fled. 2 While cleaving to that darling dust, In fond distress ye lie, Rise, and with joy and reverence view 3 Though, your young branches torn away, 4 'I'll give the mourner,' saith the Lord, 'In my own house a place: No names of daughters and of sons 5 Transient and vain is every hope In endless honour and delight My children all shall live."' 6 We welcome, Lord, those rising tears, Through which thy face we see, And bless those wounds, which thro' our hearts Prepare a way for thee. Where'er he turns he finds no rest; 4 Not so the heir of heavenly bliss ;- 5 His mind is tranquil and serene; is The Christian is living in Jesus's love, And gladly receiving a kingdom above. 2 All honour and praise are Jesus's due;Supported by grace he fought his way through; Triumphantly glorious, through Jesus's zeal, And more than victorious o'er sin, death, and hell.] 3 Then let us record the conquering name, Our Captain and Lord with shoutings proclaim; Who trust in his passion and follow their Head, To certain salvation shall surely be led. 4 O Jesus! lead on thy militant care, And give us the crown of righteousness there, Where, dazzled with glory, the seraphim gaze, Or prostrate adore thee in silence of praise. 5 Within us display thy love when we die, And bear us away to mansions on high; The kingdom be given of glory divine, And crown us in heaven eternally thine. PART I. S. M. Dunbar, 252. Preparation for death. 561 1 2 3 Matt. xxiv. 45. TOPLADY'S COLL. REPARE me, gracious God, PREPA To stand before thy face; Thy Spirit must the work perform For it is all of grace. In Christ's obedience clothe, And wash me in his blood; So shall I lift my head with joy, Do thou my sins subdue, Thy sovereign love make known, 4 Let me attest thy power, 561 1 PART II. 8.7. Felicity, 535. The dying Christian encouraged. C. WESLEY. HAPPY soul, thy days are ended, thy mourning days below: Go, by angel guards attended, 2 Waiting to receive thy spirit, Lo, the Saviour stands above; Shows the purchase of his merit, Reaches out the crown of love. 3 Struggle through thy latest passion To thy dear Redeemer's breast, To his uttermost salvation, To his everlasting rest. 4 For the joy he sets before thee, 561 1 IN N vain our fancy strives to paint 2 One gentle sigh their fetters breaks: We scarce can say, They 're gone!' Before the willing spirit takes Her mansion near thy throne. 3 Faith strives, but all its efforts fail, 4 Thus much (and this is all) we know, They are completely blest: Have done with sin, and care, and woe. 5 On harps of gold they praise his name, 561 PART IV. 8's. Rosewarne, 49. 1 Death a happy exchange to a b REJOICE for a brother deceased; And freed from its bodily chain; 2 Our brother the haven hath gain'd, 3 There all the ship's company meet, 561 PART V. 7's. Florence, 239. Triumph in death. c. WESLEY. ? Join we then, with one accord, Let the unbelievers mourn; 561 PART VI. 7's. Jubilee, 403. Fear not-die to live! TOPLADY. DEAT, thou native of the skies! EATHLESS principle, arise! Pearl of price, by Jesus bought, To his glorious likeness wrought, Go, to shine before his throneDeck his mediatorial crown; Go, his triumphs to adornMade for God, to God return! 2 Lo, he beckons from on high; Fearless to his presence flyThine the merit of his blood, Thine the righteousness of God! Angels, joyful to attend, Hovering, round thy pillar bend; Wait to catch the signal given, And escort thee quick to heaven! 3 Is thy earthly house distrest, Willing to retain its guest? 'T is not thou, but it, must dieFly, celestial tenant, flyBurst thy shackles-drop thy claySweetly breathe thyself awaySinging, to thy crown removeSwift of wing, and fired with love! 4 Shudder not to pass the stream, Venture all thy care on himHim, whose dying love and power Still'd its tossing, hush'd its roar; Safe is the expanded wave, Gentle as a summer's eve; Not one object of his care Ever suffer'd shipwreck there! 5 See the haven full in view! Love divine shall bear thee through: Saints in glory perfect made See they throng the blissful shore! 561 1' Rev. xiv. 13. MONTGOMERY. leave thine house of clay! Lingering dust, resign thy breath! Dust, be thou dissolved in death!' Prisoner, now with freedom blest! All the regions of the sky! 3 Grave, the guardian of our dust! Grave, the treasury of the skies! Every atom of thy trust Rests in hope again to rise! Hark! the judgment-trumpet calls!Soul, rebuild thy house of clayImmortality thy walls, And eternity thy day! 562 PART I. C. M. Carolina, 13. Departed saints asleep. Mark v. 39. DODDRIDGE. WHY flow these torrents of distress?' (The gentle Saviour cries ;) 'Why are my sleeping saints survey'd With unbelieving eyes? 2 Death's feeble arm shall never boast A friend of Christ is slain, Nor, o'er their meaner part in dust, 3 'I come on wings of love,-I come, My voice shall reach the deepest tomb, And all its bonds shall break. HOU art gone to the grave! but we will not deplore thee, Though sorrows and darkness encompass the tomb: The Saviour has pass'd through its portal before thee, And the lamp of his love is thy guide through the gloom. 2 Thou art gone to the grave! longer behold thee, we no Nor tread the rough path of the world by thy side; But the wide arms of Mercy are spread to enfold thee, And sinners may hope, since the Sinless has died. 3 Thou art gone to the grave! and, its mansion forsaking, Perhaps thy weak spirit in fear linger'd long; But the sunshine of Paradise beam'd on thy waking, And the sound which thou heard'st was the seraphim's song. 4 Thou art gone to the grave! but 't were wrong to deplore thee, For God was thy ransom, thy guardian, and guide: He gave thee, he took thee, and he will And death has no sting since the 562 1 PART III. C. M. Durham, 400. WHY should our tears in sorrow flow, When God recalls his own; And bids them leave a world of woe 2 Is not e'en death a gain to those 3 Their toils are past: their work is done; And they are fully blest : They fought the fight, the victory won, And enter'd into rest. 4 Then let our sorrows cease to flow,God has recall'd his own; But let our hearts, in every woe, The same. 1 Thess. iv. 16. DOANE. 1 LIFT not thou the wailing voice. Weep not, 't is a Christian dieth; Up, where blessed saints rejoice, Ransom'd now, the spirit flieth: High in heaven's own light she dwelleth, Full the song of triumph swelleth: Freed from earth and earthly failing, Lift for her no voice of wailing. 2 Pour not thou the bitter tear: Heaven its book of comfort openeth, Bids thee sorrow not, nor fear, But as one who always hopeth: Humbly here in faith relying, Peacefully in Jesus dying, Heavenly joy her eye is flushing,Why should thine with tears be gushing? 3 They who die in Christ are blest; Ours be, then, no thought of grieving; Sweetly with their God they rest, All their toils and troubles leaving; So be ours the faith that saveth, Hope that every trial braveth, Love that to the end endureth, And, through Christ, the crown secureth. 562 PART V. C. M. Turvey, 538. 1 Rest from sorrow. 1 Thess. iv. 3. THEY suffer not, for whom we weep, The fever'd body's dreamless sleep Is broke by pain no more. 2 The warfare and the woe have ceased, 3 But who the happiness may speak 4 To check our sorrows as they flow, And bid our grief subside. CHR Of all his faithful dead; There's life for all the members In Him the living Head; Their dust he weighs and measures; Their every atom treasures. 2 He, once a victor bleeding, Slew death, destroy'd the grave; To find a Saviour there? 4 Their Saviour shall receive them, PART III. 8.7. Walmgate, 51. 563 2 While in darkness ye are straying, OYE who with the silent tear, And sadden'd steps assemble here, To bear these cold, these loved remains, Where dark and cheerless silence reigns,Your sorrows hush, your griefs dispel, The Saviour lives, and all is well. 2 That eye indeed is rayless now, And pale that cheek, and chill that brow; Yet, could the lifeless form declare 1 G Funeral of a mother. Isa. lxvi. 13. COLLYER. OD of the spirits of all flesh, Behold thy servants here, 2 [Bow'd by affliction to the earth, 3 But thou hast to thy people said- 4 Remember now thy promise, Lord, No word but thine, in such an hour, PART I. L. M. Ulverston, 179. SCOTT 564 Satisfaction in God under the loss of dear friends. 1 THE God of love will sure indulge The flowing tear, the heaving sigh, When righteous persons fall around,When tender friends and kindred dic. 2 Yet not one anxious murmuring thought Should with our mourning passions blend; Nor would our bleeding hearts forget The almighty, ever-living Friend. 3 Beneath a numerous train of ills, Our feeble flesh and heart may fail; Yet shall our hope in thee, O God, O'er every gloomy fear prevail. 4 Parent and husband, guard and guide! Thou art each tender name in one: On thee we cast our every care, And comfort seek from thee alone. 5 Our Father God, to thee we look, Our rock, our portion, and our friend, And on thy covenant love and truth Our sinking souls shall still depend. 564 PART II. L.M. Hamburgh, 340. For a bereaved family, on the death of a father. THOU who art the widow's God, A Father to the fatherless, |