2 Thou art gone to the grave; we no longer behold thee, Nor tread the rough paths of the world by thy side; But the wide arms of mercy are spread to enfold thee, And sinners may hope, since the Saviour has died.
3 Thou art gone to the grave; and its mansion forsaking, Perchance thy weak spirit in doubt lingered long; But the sunshine of heaven beamed bright on thy waking, And the sound thou didst hear was the seraphim’s song.
4 Thou art gone to the grave; but we will not deplore thee; Since God was thy Ransom, thy Guardian, thy Guide; He gave thee, he took thee, and he will restore thee; And death has no sting, since the Saviour has died.
1097 11s, peculiar. Heavenly prospect.
Christian, the vision before thee is glorious, The earth shall allure thy tried spirit no more: Thou wast in the day of thy trial victorious, Secure now at last, thy temptations are o’er.
2 Hard was the strife, but the strong one in battle, Has been thy defender, and vanquished thy foes; And heaven stood by thee to help thee in trouble, And joyed when the sound of thy triumph arose.
3 High was the anthem those raptures revealing, Ten thousand celestials the chorus prolong; But louder the strains of the ransomed are pealing, And glory is swelling the conqueror’s song.
1098 11s & 12s. Vanity of vanities. Eccl. 12:8.
Far, far o’er hill and dale, on the winds stealing, List to the tolling bell, mournfully pealing, Hark, hark, it seems to say, as melt those sounds away, So earthly joys decay, while new their feeling!
2 Now through the charméd air, on the winds stealing, List to the mourner’s prayer, solemnly bending: Hark, hark, it seems to say, turn from those joys away, To those which ne’er decay, for life is ending.
3 So when our mortal ties death shall dissever, Lord, may we reach the skies where care comes never, And in eternal day, joining the angels’ lay, To our Creator pay homage for ever.