This yield to death! the soul, the mind,
That measures heaven, and mounts the wind,
That knows at once itself and God!
Great cause of all, above, below,—
Who knows Thee, must for ever know
Thou art immortal and divine!
Thine image on my soul imprest,
Of endless being is the test,
And bids eternity be mine!
Transporting thought! but am I sure
That endless life will joy secure?-
Joys only to the just decreed !-
The guilty wretch, expiring goes
Where vengeance endless life bestows,
That endless misery may succeed!
Rock of ages, rent for me!
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy riven side which flow'd, Be of sin the double cure,
Cleanse me from its guilt and
Not the labour of my hands
Can fulfil Thy law's demands; Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears for ever flow, All for sin could not atone:
Thou must save, and Thou alone!
Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling: Naked, come to Thee for dress ;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Vile, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Saviour, or I die.
While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyelids close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of ages, rent for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee!
Inspirer and hearer of prayer,
Thou feeder and guardian of thine,
My all to thy covenant care
I sleeping and waking resign;
If thou art my shield and my sun,
The night is no darkness to me,
And fast as my moments roll on,
They bring me but nearer to thee.
Thy minist'ring spirits descend
To watch while thy saints are asleep,
By day and by night they attend,
The heirs of salvation to keep;
Bright seraphs dispatch'd from the throne,
Repair to the stations assign'd,
And angels elect are sent down,
To guard the elect of mankind.
Thy worship no interval knows,
Their fervour is still on the wing:
And while they protect my repose,
They chant to the praise of my King:
I too, at the season ordain'd,
Their chorus for ever shall join,
And love, and adore, without end,
Their faithful Creator, and mine.
Deathless principle, arise!
Soar, thou native of the skies!
Pearl of price by Jesus bought,
To his glorious likeness wrought,
Go, to shine before his throne,
Deck his mediatorial crown;
Go, his triumphs to adorn,
Made for God, to God return.
Lo, he beckons from on high!
Fearless to his presence fly;
Thine the merit of his blood,
Thine the righteousness of God!
Angels, joyful to attend,
Hovering round thy pillow bend;
Wait to catch the signal given,
And escort thee quick to heaven!
Is thy earthly house distrest?
Willing to retain its guest?
'Tis not thou, but it, must die-
Fly, celestial tenant, fly!
Burst thy shackles, drop thy clay,
Sweetly breathe thyself away.
Singing, to thy crown remove,
Swift of wing, and fired with love.
Shudder not to pass the stream,
Venture all thy care on him,
Him, whose dying love and power
Still'd its tossing, hush'd its war:
Safe is the expanded wave,
Gentle as a summer's eve;
Not one object of his care
Ever suffer'd shipwreck there!
See the haven full in view,
Love divine shall bear thee through;
Trust to that propitious gale,
Weigh thy anchor, spread thy sail!
Saints in glory perfect made,
Wait thy passage through the shade :
Ardent for thy coming o'er,
See they throng the blissful shore!
Mount, their transports to improve,
Join the longing choir above,
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