4 Now to the God of victory Immortal thanks be paid, Who makes us conquerors while we die, Through Christ our living Head.
1064 C. M. Remember them, etc. Heb. 13:7.
What though the arm of conquering death Does God’s own house invade; What though our teacher and our friend Is numbered with the dead;—
2 Though earthly shepherds dwell in dust, The agéd and the young; The watchful eye in darkness closed, And dumb the instructive tongue?
3 The eternal Shepherd still survives, His teachings to impart: Lord, be our Leader and our Guide, And rule and keep our heart.
4 Yes, while the dear Redeemer lives, We have a boundless store, And shall be fed with what he gives, Who lives for evermore.
1065 S. M. Sighing for rest.
O where shall rest be found— Rest for the weary soul? ’Twere vain the ocean-depths to sound, Or pierce to either pole.
2 The world can never give The bliss for which we sigh: ’Tis not the whole of life to live, Nor all of death to die.
3 Beyond this vale of tears There is a life above, Unmeasured by the flight of years; And all that life is love.
4 There is a death whose pang Outlasts the fleeting breath: O what eternal horrors hang Around the second death!
5 Lord God of truth and grace, Teach us that death to shun, Lest we be banished from thy face, And evermore undone.
1066 S. M. Whoso believeth in me shall never die. John 11:26.
It is not death to die— To leave this weary road, And, ’mid the brotherhood on high, To be at home with God.
2 It is not death to close The eye long dimmed by tears, And wake, in glorious repose, To spend eternal years.
3 It is not death to bear The wrench that sets us free From dungeon chain—to breathe the air Of boundless liberty.
4 It is not death to fling Aside this sinful dust, And rise, on strong, exulting wing, To live among the just.
5 Jesus, thou Prince of life! Thy chosen can not die; Like thee, they conquer in the strife, To reign with thee on high.
1067 S. M. Your fathers, where are they? Zech. 1:5.
Our fathers! where are they, With all they called their own? Their joys and griefs, their hopes and cares, Their wealth and honor, gone!
2 But joy or grief succeeds, Beyond our mortal thought, While still the remnant of their dust Lies in the grave forgot.
3 God of our fathers, hear, Thou everlasting Friend, While we, as on life’s utmost verge, Our souls to thee commend.
1068 S. M. Far from my heavenly home.
Far from my heavenly home, Far from my Father’s breast, Fainting, I cry, Blest Saviour! come, And speed me to my rest.
2 My spirit homeward turns, And fain would thither flee; My heart, O Zion! droops and yearns, When I remember thee.
3 To thee, to thee, I press, A dark and toilsome road; When shall I pass the wilderness And reach the saints’ abode.
4 God of my life! be near; On thee my hopes I cast; O guide me through the desert here, And bring me home at last!
1069 S. M. Go to thy rest, fair child.
Go to thy rest, fair child! Go to thy dreamless bed, While yet so gentle, undefiled, With blessings on thy head.
2 Fresh roses in thy hand, Buds on thy pillow laid, Haste from this dark and fearful land, Where flowers so quickly fade.
3 Before thy heart had learned In waywardness to stray; Before thy feet had ever turned The dark and downward way;
4 Ere sin had seared the breast, Or sorrow woke the tear; Rise to thy throne of changeless rest, In yon celestial sphere!
5 Because thy smile was fair, Thy lip and eye so bright, Because thy loving cradle care Was such a dear delight;
6 Shall love, with weak embrace, Thy upward wing detain? No! gentle angel, seek thy place Amid the cherub train.
1070 S. M. At midnight there was a cry made. Matt. 25:6.
Servant of God, well done! Rest from thy loved employ; The battle fought, the victory won, Enter thy Master’s joy.
2 The voice at midnight came; He started up to hear; A mortal arrow pierced his frame, He fell, but felt no fear.
3 Tranquil amid alarms, It found him on the field, A veteran slumbering on his arms, Beneath his red-cross shield.
4 At midnight came the cry, “To meet thy God, prepare!” He woke—and caught his Captain’s eye; Then, strong in faith and prayer,
5 His spirit, with a bound, Left its encumbering clay; His tent, at sunrise, on the ground, A darkened ruin lay.
6 The pains of death are past, Labor and sorrow cease; And life’s long warfare, closed at last, His soul is found in peace.
1071 7s, double. The valley of the shadow of death. Psalm 23:4.