202 3 Shall see Him wear that very flesh 4 Soon too my slumbering dust shall hear 5 If such the views which grace unfolds, What raptures must the Church above LL, all is vanity below; An airy dream, an empty What sinners value, I resign: Lord, 'tis enough that I am Thine. 2 All, all is vanity below! But the bright world to which I go Hath joys substantial and sincereWhen shall I wake, and find Thee there? 3 O glorious hour! O blest abode ! I shall be near and like my God; And flesh and sin no more control The sacred passions of the soul. 4 My flesh shall slumber in the ground, Till the last trumpet's solemn sound; Then burst the chains with glad surprise, And in my Saviour's image rise. 203 TH HOU art gone to the grave! but we will not deplore thee, Though sorrows and darkness encompass the tomb: Thy Saviour has passed through its portal before thee, And the lamp of His love is thy guide through the gloom! 2 Thou art gone to the grave! we no longer behold thee, 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 die, for the Sinless has died! 3 Thou art gone to the grave! and, its mansion forsaking, Perchance thy weak spirit in fear lingered long; But the mild rays of Paradise beamed on thy waking, And the sound which thou heard'st was the Seraphim's song! 4 Thou art gone to the grave! but we will not deplore thee, Whose God was thy ransom, thy guardian and guide: He gave thee, He took thee, and He will restore thee; And death has no sting, for the Saviour has died! 204 TH HE feeble pulse, the gasping breath, The clenched teeth, the glazed eye, Are these thy sting, thou dreadful death? O grave, are these thy victory? 2 The mourners by our parting bed, 3 But from the much-loved world to part, 4 To dream through life a gaudy dream 5 To meet o'er-soon our angry King, 6 O Searcher of the secret heart, Who deigned for sinful man to die! 205 D EATHLESS principle, arise! 3 206 Hovering round thy pillow bend ; Shudder not to pass the stream; L ET reason vainly boast her power To teach her children how to die : The sinner in a dying hour Needs more than reason can supply : A view of Christ, the sinner's Friend, Alone can cheer him in his end. 2 When nature sinks beneath disease, And every earthly hope is fled; What then can give the sinner ease, And make him love a dying bed? Jesus, Thy smile his heart can cheer; He's blest even then, if Thou art near. 3 O let me die the death of those 207 Whom Jesus washes in His blood; And know that He indeed is God! H APPY soul! thy days are ended, Lo, the Saviour stands above, 2 Struggle through thy latest passion Suffer, with thy Lord to reign! M |