I will not quail, but think of Thee;
Thy death, Thy sorrow, borne for me,
Thy sufferings shall uphold me.

3 I have been grafted in the Vine,
And hence my comfort borrow,
For Thou wilt surely keep me Thine

Through fear, and pain, and sorrow;
Yea, though I die, I die to Thee,

Who through Thy death hast won for me
The right to life eternal.

4 Since Thou from death didst rise again,
In death Thou wilt not leave me;
Lord, Thy ascension soothes my pain,
No fear of death shall grieve me;
For Thou wilt have me where Thou art,
Ard so with joy I can depart

To be with Thee forever.

5 And so I stretch mine arms to Thee,
And gladly hence betake me:

Peaceful and calm my sleep shall be,
No human voice can wake me.

But Christ is with me through the strife,
And He will bear me into life,
And open heaven before me.

529

FOR me to live is Jesus,

To die is gain for me,

To Him I gladly yield me,
And die right cheerfully.

2 From hence I go with gladness
To Christ my Brother's side,
That I may soon be with Him,
And e'er with Him abide.

7,6,7,6

3 I have o'ercome life's crosses;

Grief, pain, and sorrow cease;
Through His five wounds most holy
With God I am at peace.

4 When all my powers are breaking,
My breath comes heavily,
Nor word more I can utter,
Lord, hear my sighs to Thee!

5 When reason, sense, and thinking,
Fail like a flickering light,
That to and fro doth waver
Ere 'tis extinguished quite:

6 Then let me softly, gently,

Lord, fall asleep in Thee,
When by Thy will and counsel
My last hour comes to me.

7 As to the oak the ivy,

So let me cleave to Thee,
And live in heavenly glory
With Thee eternally.

8 Amen! This wilt Thou, Jesus,
Grant graciously to me:
Endow me with Thy Spirit,
That I die happily.

530

8,7,8,7,8,8,7,7

HARK! a voice saith, All are mortal.
Yea, all flesh must fade as grass,
Only through death's gloomy portal
To a better land we pass;

This frail body here must perish
Ere the heavenly joys it cherish,
Ere it gain the free reward
For the ransomed of the Lord.

2 Therefore, when my God doth choose it,
Willingly I'll yield my life,
Nor will grieve that I should lose it,
For with sorrows it was rife;
In my dear Redeemer's merit
Peace hath found my troubled spirit,
And in death my comfort is

Jesus' death-sweet comfort this!

3 For my sake He went before me,
And His death is now my gain;
Peace and hope He conquered for me;
So without regret or pain,

Yea, with joy I'll quit earth's sadness
For the beauteous heaven of gladness,
Where I shall eternally

See the holy Trinity.

4 There is joy beyond our telling,

Where so many saints have gone; Thousands, thousands there are dwelling, Worshipping before the throne, There the Seraphim are shining, Evermore in chorus joining:

"Holy, holy, holy, Lord!

Triune God, for aye adored!"

5 There great men, of sacred story, Prophets, Patriarchs, are met; There Apostles too in glory

Fill twelve thrones by Jesus set; All the saints that have ascended Age on age, through time extended, There in blissful concert sing Hallelujahs to their King.

6 O Jerusalem, how glorious

Dost thou shine, thou city fair! Lo! I hear the tones victorious

Ever sweetly sounding there! O the bliss that there surprises! Lo! the sun of morn now rises, And the breaking day I see That shall never end for me!

7 Yea, I see what here was told me,
See that wondrous glory shine;
Feel the spotless robes enfold me,
Know a golden crown is mine,
Thus before the throne so glorious
Now I stand, a soul victorious,
Gazing on that joy for aye
That shall never pass away.

531

ONE sweetly solemn thought
Comes to me o'er and o'er,-
Nearer my home, to-day, am I
Than e'er I've been before.

2 Nearer my Father's house,

Where many mansions be;

8. M.

Nearer to-day the great white throne, Nearer the crystal sea.

3 Nearer the bound of life

Where burdens are laid down; Nearer to leave the heavy cross; Nearer to gain the crown.

4 But, lying dark between,

Winding down through the night, There rolls the silent, unknown stream That leads at last to light.

5 E'en now, perchance, my feet
Are slipping on the brink,
And I, to-day, am nearer home,-
Nearer than now I think.

6 Father, perfect my trust;
Strengthen my spirit's faith;
Nor let me stand, at last alone
Upon the shore of death.

532

7,6 81

FAREWELL! I say with gladness,
False, evil world, farewell!
Thy life is sin and sadness,
With thee I would not dwell;
In heaven are better pleasures,
I long for that bright sphere
Where God grants endless treasures
To those that served Him here.

2 Do with me as it pleases

Thy heart, O Son of God! When anguish on me seizes, Help me to bear my load; Nor then my sorrows lengthen, But take me hence on high; My fearful spirit strengthen, And let me calmly die.

3 When all around is darkling,

Thy name and cross, still bright, Deep in my heart are sparkling Like stars in blackest night. Appear Thou in Thy sorrow,

For Thine was woe indeed, And from Thy cross I borrow All comfort heart can need.