Part 28
5. Where the saints of all ages in harmony meet, Their Savior and brethren transported to greet, While the anthems of rapture unceasingly roll And the smile of the Lord is the feast of the soul?
W. A. Muehlenberg, 1826.
536
7s
Hark! a voice divides the sky: Happy are the faithful dead, In the Lord who sweetly die; They from all their toils are freed.
2. Them the Spirit hath declared Blest, unutterably blest; Jesus is their great Reward, Jesus is their endless Rest.
3. Followed by their works, they go Where their Head had gone before; Reconciled by grace below, Grace hath opened mercy’s door.
4. Justified through faith alone, Here they knew their sins forgiven; Here they laid their burden down, Hallowed and made meet for heaven.
5. When from flesh the spirit freed, Hastens homeward to return, Mortals cry, “A man is dead!” Angels sing, “A child is born!”
Charles Wesley, 1742.
537
7, 8, 7, 8, 7, 7
Gentle Shepherd, Thou hast stilled Now Thy little lamb’s brief weeping; Ah! how peaceful, pale, and mild, In its narrow bed ’tis sleeping, And no sigh of anguish sore Heaves that little bosom more.
2. In this world of care and pain, Lord, Thou wouldst no longer leave it; To the sunny, heavenly plain Dost Thou now with joy receive it; Clothed in robes of spotless white, Now it dwells with Thee in light.
3. Ah, Lord Jesus, grant that we Where it lives may soon be living, And the lovely pastures see That its heavenly food are giving; Then the gain of death we prove Though Thou take what most we love.
J. W. Meinhold, 1835; C. Winkworth, tr., 1853.
538
L. M.
Now lay we calmly in the grave This form, whereof no doubt we have That it shall rise again that day In glorious triumph o’er decay.
2. And so to earth again we trust What came from dust and turns to dust And from the dust shall surely rise When the last trumpet fills the skies.
3. His soul forever lives in God, Whose grace his pardon hath bestowed, Who through His Son redeemed him here From bondage unto sin and fear.
4. His trials and his griefs are past; A blessed end is his at last; He bore Christ’s yoke and did His will; And though he died, he liveth still.
5. He lives where none do mourn and weep, And calmly shall his body sleep. ’Tis God shall death Himself destroy And raise it into glorious joy.
6. He suffered pain and grief below, Christ heals him now from all his woe. For him hath endless joy begun; He shines in glory like the sun.
7. Then let us leave him to his rest And homeward turn, for he is blest; And we must well our souls prepare, For death may seize us everywhere.
8. So help us, Christ, our Hope in loss; Thou hast redeemed us by Thy cross From endless death and misery; We praise, we bless, we worship Thee.
M. Weiss, 1531; Stanza 8, Martin Luther; C. Winkworth, tr., a.
539
L. M.
Now hush your cries and shed no tear, On such death none should look with fear; He died a faithful Christian man, And with his death true life began.
2. Coffin and grave we deck with care, His body reverently bear; It is not dead, but rests in God And softly sleeps beneath the sod.
3. It seems as all were over now,— The heavy limbs, the soulless brow,— Yet through these rigid limbs once more A noble life ere long shall pour.
4. These bones, now dead, again shall feel New warmth and vigor through them steal, And reunited they shall soar On high to live forevermore.
5. This body, lying stiff and stark, Shall soon rise upward from the dark And swiftly mount up to the skies, E’en as the spirit heavenward flies.
6. The buried grain of wheat must die, Withered and worthless long must lie, Yet springs to light all sweet and fair And proper fruits shall rightly bear.
7. E’en so this body, made of dust, To earth we once again entrust, Where it shall slumber free from pain Till from the dead it rise again.
8. God breathed into this house of clay The spirit that hath passed away; The righteous mind, the noble heart, The living faith, did Christ impart.
9. Now earth has hid it from our eyes Till God shall bid it wake and rise, Who ne’er the creature will forget, On whom His image He hath set.
10. Ah, would that promised day were here When Christ will once again appear And bring them to their heavenly home Who have been buried in the tomb!
“Deus, ignee fons animarum.” Tr. from the German, C. Winkworth, 1856.
540
L. M.
Asleep in Jesus! Blessed sleep, From which none ever wakes to weep; A calm and undisturbed repose, Unbroken by the last of foes.
2. Asleep in Jesus! Oh, how sweet To be for such a slumber meet, With holy confidence to sing That death has lost his venomed sting.
3. Asleep in Jesus! Peaceful rest, Whose waking is supremely blest; No fear, no woe, shall dim that hour That manifests the Savior’s power.
4. Asleep in Jesus! Oh, for me May such a blissful refuge be! Securely shall my ashes lie And wait the summons from on high.
Margaret Mackay, 1832, abr.
541
S. M.
Jesus, I live to Thee, The Loveliest and Best; My life in Thee, Thy life in me, In Thy blest love I rest.
2. Jesus, I die to Thee Whenever death shall come; To die in Thee is life to me In my eternal home.
3. Whether to live or die, I know not which is best; To live in Thee is bliss to me, To die is endless rest.
4. Living or dying, Lord; I ask but to be Thine; My life in Thee, Thy life in me, Make heaven forever mine!
H. Harbaugh, 1850.
542
C. M.
Why do we mourn departing friends Or shake at death’s alarms? ’Tis but the voice that Jesus sends To call them to His arms.
2. Are we not tending upward, too, As fast as time can move? Nor would we wish the hours more slow To keep us from our love.
3. Why should we tremble to convey Their bodies to the tomb? There the dear flesh of Jesus lay And scattered all the gloom.
4. The graves of all the saints He blessed And softened every bed; Where should the dying members rest But with their dying Head?
5. Thence He arose, ascending high, And showed our feet the way. Up to the Lord we, too, shall fly At the great rising-day.
6. Then let the last loud trumpet sound And bid our kindred rise; Awake, ye nations under ground! Ye saints, ascend the skies!
Isaac Watts, 1709.
543
L. M. 6 l
O Lord, my God, I cry to Thee, In my distress Thou helpest me. My soul and body I commend Into Thy hands; Thine angel send To guide me home and cheer my heart Since Thou dost call me to depart.
2. O Jesus Christ, Thou Lamb of God, Once slain to take away our load, Now let Thy cross, Thine agony, Avail to save and solace me; Thy death to open heaven and there Bid me the joy of angels share.
3. O Holy Spirit, at the end, Sweet Comforter, be Thou my Friend, When death and hell assail me sore, Leave me, O leave me nevermore, But bear me safely through the strife, As Thou hast promised, into life.
N. Selnecker, † 1592; C. Winkworth, tr., a.
544
8s 6 l
Who knows how near my end may be? Time speeds away, and death comes on; How swiftly, ah, how suddenly, May death be here and life be gone! My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray Thy peace may bless my dying day.
2. The world that smiled when morn was come May change for me ere close of eve; So long as earth is still my home, In peril of my death I live. My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray Thy peace may bless my dying day.
3. Teach me to ponder oft my end, And ere the hour of death appears, To cast my soul on Christ, her Friend, Nor spare repentant cries and tears. My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray Thy peace may bless my dying day.
4. And let me now so order all That ever ready I may be To say with joy, Whate’er befall, Lord, do Thou as Thou wilt with me. My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray Thy peace may bless my dying day.
5. Let heaven to me be ever sweet, And this world bitter let me find, That I, mid all its toil and heat, May keep eternity in mind. My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray Thy peace may bless my dying day.
6. O Father, cover all my sins With Jesus’ merits, who alone The pardon that I covet wins And makes His long-sought rest my own. My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray Thy peace may bless my dying day.
7. His sorrows and His cross I know Make deathbeds soft and light the grave; They comfort in the hour of woe, They give me all I fain would have. My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray Thy peace may bless my dying day.
8. From Him can naught my soul divide, Nor life nor death can part us now; I thrust my hand into His side And say, My Lord and God art Thou! My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray Thy peace may bless my dying day.
9. In Holy Baptism long ago I joined me to the living Vine; Thou lovest me in Him, I know, In Him Thou dost accept me Thine. My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray Thy peace may bless my dying day.
10. And I have eaten His own flesh And drunk His blood,—nor can I be Forsaken now nor doubt afresh I am in Him and He in me. My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray Thy peace may bless my dying day.
11. Then death may come or tarry yet, I know in Christ I perish not; He never will His own forget, He gives me robes without a spot. My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray Thy peace may bless my dying day.
12. And thus I live in God at peace And die without a thought of fear, Content to take what God decrees, For through His Son my faith is clear. His grace shall be in death my stay, And peace shall bless my dying day.
Countess Emilie Juliane, 1686; C. Winkworth, tr., 1858, a.
545
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I fall asleep in Jesus’ wounds, There pardon for my sins abounds; Yea, Jesus’ blood and righteousness My jewels are, my glorious dress, Wherein before my God I’ll stand When I shall reach the heavenly land.
2. With peace and joy I now depart, God’s child I am with all my heart; I thank thee, Death, thou leadest me To that true life where I would be. So cleansed by Christ, I fear not death. Lord Jesus, strengthen Thou my faith!
Probably Paul Eber, † 1569; C. Winkworth, 1869, tr., a.
546
7, 7, 7, 5
When the day of toil is done, When the race of life is run, Father, grant Thy wearied one Rest forevermore.
2. When the strife of sin is stilled, When the foe within is killed, Be Thy gracious word fulfilled, “Peace forevermore.”
3. When the darkness melts away At the breaking of the day, Bid us hail the cheering ray, Light forevermore.
4. When the heart, by sorrow tried, Feels at length its throbs subside, Bring us where all tears are dried, Joy forevermore.
5. When for vanished days we yearn, Days that never can return, Teach us in Thy love to learn Love forevermore.
6. When the breath of life is flown, When the grave must claim its own, Lord of life, be ours Thy crown,— Life forevermore.
J. Ellerton, 1871.
547
10, 10, 5, 10
O how blest are ye whose toils are ended! Who through death have unto God ascended! Ye have arisen From the cares which keep us still in prison.
2. We are still as in a dungeon living, Still oppressed with sorrow and misgiving; Our undertakings Are but toils and troubles and heartbreakings.
3. Ye, meanwhile, are in your chambers sleeping, Quiet, and set free from all our weeping; No cross or sadness There can hinder your untroubled gladness.
4. Christ has wiped away your tears forever; Ye have that for which we still endeavor; To you are chanted Songs that ne’er to mortal ears were granted.
5. Ah! who would, then, not depart with gladness To inherit heaven for earthly sadness? Who here would languish Longer in bewailing and in anguish?
6. Come, O Christ, and loose the chains that bind us! Lead us forth and cast this world behind us! With Thee, th’ Anointed, Finds the soul its joy and rest appointed.
S. Dach, 1635; H. W. Longfellow, tr., a.
JUDGMENT.
548
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O’er the distant mountains breaking Comes the redd’ning dawn of day; Rise, my soul, from sleep awaking, Rise, and sing, and watch, and pray; |: ’Tis thy Savior, :| On His bright returning way.
2. O Thou long-expected, weary Waits my anxious soul for Thee; Life is dark, and earth is dreary, Where Thy light I do not see; |: O my Savior, :| When wilt Thou return to me?
3. Nearer is my soul’s salvation, Spent the night, the day at hand; Keep me in my lowly station, Watching for Thee, till I stand, |: O my Savior, :| In Thy bright, Thy promised land.
4. With my lamp well trimmed and burning, Swift to hear and loath to roam, Watching for Thy glad returning To restore me to my home. |: Come, my Savior, :| Thou hast promised: quickly come.
J. S. B. Monsell, 1863, a.
549
8, 9, 8, 6, 6, 4, 8, 8
Wake, awake, for night is flying, The watchmen on the heights are crying: Awake, Jerusalem, arise! Midnight hears the welcome voices, And at the thrilling cry rejoices; O where are ye, ye virgins wise? The Bridegroom comes, awake! Your lamps with gladness take! Hallelujah! With bridal care Yourselves prepare To meet the Bridegroom, who is near!
2. Zion hears the watchmen singing, And all her heart with joy is springing, She wakes, she rises from her gloom; For her Lord comes down all glorious, The strong in grace, in truth victorious, Her Star is risen, her Light is come! Now come, Thou Blessed One, Lord Jesus, God’s own Son, Hail! Hosanna! The joyful call We answer all, And follow to the nuptial hall.
3. Glory unto Thee be given, By men and by the host of heaven, With harp and cymbal’s clearest tone; Of one pearl each shining portal, Where we are with the choir immortal Of angels round Thy dazzling throne. Nor eye hath seen, nor ear Hath yet attained to hear Such great glory; Therefore will we Eternally Sing hymns of joy and praise to Thee.
Ph. Nicolai, 1599; Comp. tr.
550
L. M.
Let thoughtless thousands choose the road That leads the soul away from God; This happiness, dear Lord, be mine, To live and die entirely Thine.
2. On Christ, by faith, I fain would live, From Him my life, my all, receive, To Him devote my fleeting hours, Serve Him alone with all my powers.
3. Christ is my everlasting All; To Him I look, on Him I call; He will my every want supply In time and through eternity.
4. Soon will the Lord, my Life, appear; Soon shall I end my trials here, Leave sin and sorrow, death and pain; To live is Christ, to die is gain.
5. Soon will the saints in glory meet, Soon walk through every golden street, And sing on every blissful plain,— To live is Christ, to die is gain.
J. Haskins, 1789.
551
L. M.
That day of wrath, that dreadful day, When heaven and earth shall pass away! What power shall be the sinner’s stay? How shall he meet that dreadful day?
2. When, shriveling like a parchèd scroll, The flaming heavens together roll; When louder yet, and yet more dread, Swells the high trump that wakes the dead:
3. Lord, on that day, that wrathful day, When man to Judgment wakes from clay, Be Thou the trembling sinner’s stay, Though heaven and earth shall pass away.
Thomas of Celano, 13th cent.; Walter Scott, 1805, a.
552
8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7
The day is surely drawing near When God’s Son, the Anointed, Shall with great majesty appear As Judge of all appointed. All mirth and laughter then shall cease, When flames on flames will still increase, As the Apostle teacheth.
2. A trumpet loud shall then resound, And all the earth be shaken; Then all who in their graves are found Shall from their sleep awaken; But all that live shall in that hour By the Almighty’s boundless power Be changed at His commanding.
3. A book is opened then to all, A record truly telling What each hath done, both great and small, When he on earth was dwelling; And every heart be clearly seen, And all be known as they have been, In thoughts and words and actions.
4. Then woe to those who scorned the Lord And sought but carnal pleasures, Who here despised His precious Word And loved their earthly treasures! With shame and trembling they will stand And at the Judge’s stern command To Satan be delivered.
5. O Jesus, who my debt didst pay And for my sin wast smitten, Within the book of life, O may My name be also written! I will not doubt; I trust in Thee, From Satan Thou hast made me free And from all condemnation.
6. Therefore my Intercessor be, And for Thy bloody merit Declare my name from judgment free, With all who life inherit; That I may see Thee face to face With all Thy saints in that blest place Which Thou for us hast purchased.
7. O Jesus Christ, do not delay, But hasten our salvation! We often tremble on our way In fear and tribulation. Then hear us when we cry to Thee; Come, mighty Judge, and make us free From every evil! Amen.
B. Ringwaldt, † 1599; P. A. Peter, 1880, tr., a.
553
8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7
Great God, what do I see and hear? The end of things created; The Judge of mankind doth appear On clouds of glory seated; The trumpet sounds; the graves restore The dead which they contained before: Prepare, my soul, to meet Him.
2. The dead in Christ shall first arise At the last trumpet’s sounding, Caught up to meet Him in the skies; With joy their Lord surrounding; No gloomy fears their souls dismay; His presence sheds eternal day On those prepared to meet Him.
3. But sinners, filled with guilty fears, Behold His wrath prevailing, For they shall rise and find their tears And sighs are unavailing; The day of grace is past and gone; Trembling they stand before the throne, All unprepared to meet Him.
4. O Christ, who diedst and yet dost live, To me impart Thy merit; My pardon seal, my sins forgive, And cleanse me by Thy Spirit. Beneath Thy cross I view the day When heaven and earth shall pass away, And thus prepare to meet Thee.
W. B. Collyer, 1812.
554
S. M.
And will the Judge descend? And must the dead arise And not a single soul escape His all-discerning eyes?
2. And from His righteous lips Shall this dread sentence sound; And, through the numerous guilty throng, Spread black despair around?
3. “Depart from Me, accursed, To everlasting flame, For rebel angels first prepared, Where mercy never came.”
4. How will my heart endure The terrors of that day, When earth and heaven before His face Astonished shrink away?
5. But ere that trumpet shakes The mansions of the dead, Hark, from the Gospel’s cheering sound What joyful tidings spread!
6. Ye sinners, seek His grace Whose wrath ye cannot bear; Fly to the shelter of His cross And find salvation there.
Philip Doddridge, † 1751.
555
8s 3 l
Day of wrath, that day of mourning! See fulfilled the Prophet’s warning, Heaven and earth in ashes burning!
2. O what fear man’s bosom rendeth When from heaven the Judge descendeth On whose sentence all dependeth!
3. Wondrous sound the trumpet flingeth, Through earth’s sepulchers it ringeth, All before the throne it bringeth.
4. Death is struck and nature quaking; All creation is awaking, To its Judge an answer making.
5. Lo, the book, exactly worded, Wherein all hath been recorded; Thence shall judgment be awarded.
6. When the Judge His seat attaineth, And each hidden deed arraigneth, Nothing unavenged remaineth.
7. What shall I, frail man, be pleading? Who for me be interceding, When the just are mercy needing?
8. King of majesty tremendous, Who dost free salvation send us, Fount of pity, then befriend us!
9. Think, kind Jesus! my salvation Caused Thy wondrous incarnation; Leave me not to reprobation!
10. Faint and weary Thou hast sought me, On the cross of suffering bought me; Shall such grace in vain be brought me?
11. Righteous Judge of retribution, Grant Thy gift of absolution Ere that day’s dread execution.
12. Guilty, now I pour my moaning, All my shame with anguish owning: Spare, O God, Thy suppliant groaning!
13. Thou the women gav’st remission, Heard’st the dying thief’s petition; Hopeless else were my condition.
14. Worthless are my prayers and sighing, Yet, good Lord, in grace complying, Rescue me from fires undying!
15. With Thy favored sheep, O place me! Nor amid the goats abase me; But to Thy right hand upraise me.
16. While the wicked are confounded, Doomed to flames of woe unbounded, Call me, with Thy saints surrounded.
17. Bows my heart in meek submission, Strewn with ashes of contrition. Succor Thou my lost condition!
18. Day of sorrow, day of weeping, When, in dust no longer sleeping, Man awakes in Thy dread keeping!
19. To the rest Thou didst prepare me, On Thy cross, O Christ, upbear me! Spare, O God, in mercy spare me!
Thomas of Celano, c. 1250; W. J. Irons, tr., 1848, a.
HEAVEN.
556
7, 6, 8 l
Jerusalem the golden, With milk and honey blest! Beneath thy contemplation Sink heart and voice opprest. I know not, O I know not What joys await us there, What radiancy of glory, What bliss beyond compare!
2. There is the throne of David; And there, from care released, The songs of them that triumph, The shout of them that feast; And they who, with their Leader, Have conquered in the fight, Forever and forever, Are clad in robes of white!
3. Exult, O dust and ashes! The Lord shall be thy Part; His only, His forever, Thou shalt be and thou art! Jesus, in mercy bring us Soon to that land of rest; Who art, with God the Father And Spirit, ever blest!
Bernard of Cluny, 12th cent.; J. M. Neale, tr., 1851.
557
7, 6, 8 l
Brief life is here our portion; Brief sorrow, short-lived care; The life that knows no ending, The tearless life, is there. O happy retribution! Short toil, eternal rest; For mortals and for sinners A mansion with the blest!