VII.-DEATH AND RESURRECTION.

237

8, 7; 7, 7.

'Blessed are the dead which die
in the Lord.'

1 HARK! a voice! it cries from heaven,
'Happy in the Lord who die;'
Happy they to whom 'tis given
From a world of grief to fly;
They indeed are truly blest;
From their labours then they rest.

2 All their toils and conflicts over,
Lo! they dwell with Christ above;
Oh, what glories they discover

In the Saviour whom they love!
Now they see Him face to face,
Him who saved them by His grace.

3 'Tis enough, enough for ever;

'Tis His people's bright reward;
They are blest indeed, who never
Shall be absent from the Lord:
Oh that we may die like those,.
Who in Jesus then repose!

238

S. M.

'He that believeth in Me, though he

were dead, yet shall he live.

1

It is not death to die,

2

3

4

To leave this weary road,

And, 'midst the brotherhood on high,
To be at home with God.

It is not death to close

The eye long dimmed by tears,

And wake in glorious repose,

To spend eternal years.

It is not death to bear

The wrench that sets us free

From dungeon chain, to breathe the air
Of boundless liberty.

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 cannot die;

Like Thee, they conquer in the strife,
To reign with Thee on high.

239

C. M.

'Looking for that blessed hope.'

1 'Tis sweet to think of those at rest,
Who sleep in Christ the Lord;
Whose spirits now with Him are blest,
According to His word.

2 They once were pilgrims here with us,
In Jesus now they sleep;

And we for them, while resting thus,
As hopeless cannot weep.

3 The Lord who died, in triumph rose
Victorious o'er the tomb;

E'en so we know that with Him those
Who sleep in Him will come.

4 How bright the resurrection morn
On all the saints will break!
The Lord Himself will then return
His ransomed church to take.

5 The raised and living saints will meet,
All grief and care removed;
What joy 'twill be to us to greet
Each saint whom here we loved!

6 Our Lord Himself we then shall see,
Whose blood for us was shed;
With Him for ever we shall be,
Made like our glorious Head.

240

L. M.

'That ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.'

1 SAY, why should friendship grieve for those Who safe arrive on Canaan's shore? Released from all their hurtful foes,

They are not lost, but gone before.

2 Dear is the spot where Christians sleep,
And sweet the strain which angels pour;
Oh, why should we in anguish weep
They are not lost, but gone before.

3 Secure from every mortal care,
By sin and sorrow vexed no more,
Eternal happiness they share,

Who are not lost, but gone before.

4 To Zion's peaceful courts above,

In faith triumphant, may we soar, Embracing in the arms of love

?

The friends not lost, but gone before.

5 On Jordan's banks whene'er we come, And hear the swelling waters roar,

Jesus, convey us safely home

To saints not lost, but gone before.

241

L. M.

'Them also which sleep in Jesus will
God bring with Him.'

1 ASLEEP in Jesus! blessèd 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 hath lost its venomed sting!

3 Asleep in Jesus! peaceful rest,
Whose waking is supremely blest;
No fear, no woe shall dim that hour
That manifests the Saviour's power.

4 Asleep in Jesus! Oh for me
May such a blissful refuge be!
Securely shall my ashes lie,

Waiting the summons from on high.

5 Asleep in Jesus! time nor space
Debars this precious hiding-place;
On Indian plains, or Lapland snows,
Believers find the same repose.

6 Asleep in Jesus! far from thee
Thy kindred and their graves may be;
But thine is still a blessèd sleep,

From which none ever wakes to weep.