486 Thanatopsis. S.M.
(1089) A Little While.
A few more years shall roll,
A few more seasons come,
And we shall be with those that rest
Asleep within the tomb.
2 A few more suns shall set
O'er these dark hills of time,
And we shall be where suns are not,
A far serener clime.
3 A few more storms shall beat
On this wild rocky shore,
And we shall be where tempests cease,
And surges swell no more.
4 A few more struggles here,
A few more partings o'er,
A few more toils, a few more tears,
And we shall weep no more.
5 'Tis but a little while
And he shall come again,
Who died that we might live, who lives
That we with him may reign.
6 Then, O my Lord, prepare
My soul for that great day;
Oh, wash me in thy precious blood,
And take my sins away.
Horatius Bonar, 1856.
487 St. Sylvester. 8s & 7s.
Death Inevitable.
Days and moments quickly flying
Blend the living with the dead;
Soon shall we who sing be lying,
Each within our narrow bed.
2 Soon our souls to God who gave them
Will have sped their rapid flight;
Able now by grace to save them,
Oh, that while we can we might.
3 Jesus, infinite Redeemer,
Maker of this mighty frame,
Teach, oh, teach us to remember
What we are, and whence we came:--
4 Whence we came, and whither wending
Soon we must through darkness go,
To inherit bliss unending,
Or eternity of woe.
Rev. Edward Caswell, 1849.
As the tree falls so must it lie;
As the man lives so will he die;
As the man dies, such must he be
All through the days of eternity.
Amen.
488 St. Sylvester. 8s & 7s.
(1097) Matthew 6:10.
Jesus, while our hearts are bleeding
O'er the spoils that death has won,
We would at this solemn meeting,
Calmly say,--thy will be done.
2 Though cast down, we're not forsaken;
Though afflicted, not alone;
Thou didst give, and thou hast taken;
Blessed Lord,--thy will be done.
3 Though to-day we're filled with mourning,
Mercy still is on the throne;
With thy smiles of love returning,
We can sing--thy will be done.
4 By thy hands the boon was given,
Thou hast taken but thine own:
Lord of earth, and God of heaven,
Evermore,--thy will be done!
Thomas Hastings.