2 While sorrow prompts the rising sigh, With awful power impress'd,
May this dread truth-I too must die- Sink deep in every breast.
3 Let this vain world allure no more; Behold the opening tomb! It bids us use the present hour: To-morrow death may come.
4 The voice of this awak'ning scene May every heart obey; Nor be the faithful warning vain, Which calls to watch and pray.
5 Oh! let us fly, to Jesus fly,
Whose arm alone can save;
Then shall our hopes ascend on high, And triumph o'er the grave.
Christ our hope in death.
1 LET reason vainly boast her pow'r To teach her children how to die; The sinner in his closing 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 e'en then, if Thou art near. 3 The gospel does salvation bring, And Jesus is the gospel theme: In death redeemed sinners sing, And triumph in the Saviour's name: O death, where is thy sting?-they cry- O grave, where is thy victory? 4[Then let me die the death of those, Whom Jesus washes in his blood, Who on his faithfulness repose, And know that He indeed is God: Around his throne we hope to meet, And cast our crowns beneath his feet.]
Sorrow lightened by the prospect of glory.
2 Cor. iv, 17, 18; v, 1-4.
1 AND let these feeble bodies fail, And droop, and sink, and die, Our souls shall quit the mournful vale, And soar to worlds on high.
2 Then shall we join the ransom'd throng, And find our wish'd-for rest;
That only joy for which we long- To be with Jesus blest.
3 In hope of that immortal state, We now the cross sustain;、 And gladly bear our ills, though great, And smile at toil and pain.
4 We suffer on our anxious years, Till our Redeemer come To wipe away his servants' tears, And take his exiles home.
5 Oh! what are all our trials here, If, Lord! Thou count us meet, With angel-hosts, in yon blest sphere, To worship at thy feet!
The world where parting is unknown. Dan. xii, 3. Matt. xiii, 48.
FRIEND after friend departs; Who hath not lost a friend? There is no union here of hearts, That finds not here an end: Were this frail world our final rest, Living or dying, none were blest.
2 There is a world above,
Where parting is unknown- A long eternity of love,
Form'd for the saints alone: And faith beholds the dying here Translated to that glorious sphere.
3 Thus star by star declines, Till all are pass'd away;
As morning high and higher shines To pure and perfect day:
Nor sink those stars in empty night, But hide themselves in heaven's own light.
Prayer for ministers.
Matt. xxv, 21. 2 Thess. iii, 1.
1 LORD of the church! we humbly pray For those, who guide us in thy way, And speak thy holy word;
With love divine their hearts inspire, And touch their lips with hallow'd fire, And needful grace afford.
2 Help them to preach the truth of God; Redemption through the Saviour's blood: Nor let the Spirit cease
On all the church his gifts to shower- To them, a Messenger of power; To us, of life and peace.
3 So may they live to Thee alone; Then hear the welcome word-Well done! And take their crown above;
Enter into their Master's joy, And all eternity employ
In peace, and bliss, and love.
Pleading for those who plead for God.
1 FATHER of mercies! bow thine ear,
Attentive to our earnest prayer;
We plead for those who plead for Thee; Successful pleaders may they be!
2 How great their work! how vast their charge! Do Thou their anxious souls enlarge; To them thy sacred truth reveal, Suppress their fear, inflame their zeal,
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