Part 28

Who knows how near my end may be? Time speeds away, and death comes on; How swiftly, ah, how suddenly, May death be here and life be gone! My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray Thy peace may bless my dying day.

2. The world that smiled when morn was come May change for me ere close of eve; So long as earth is still my home, In peril of my death I live. My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray Thy peace may bless my dying day.

3. Teach me to ponder oft my end, And ere the hour of death appears, To cast my soul on Christ, her Friend, Nor spare repentant cries and tears. My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray Thy peace may bless my dying day.

4. And let me now so order all That ever ready I may be To say with joy, Whate’er befall, Lord, do Thou as Thou wilt with me. My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray Thy peace may bless my dying day.

5. Let heaven to me be ever sweet, And this world bitter let me find, That I, mid all its toil and heat, May keep eternity in mind. My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray Thy peace may bless my dying day.

6. O Father, cover all my sins With Jesus’ merits, who alone The pardon that I covet wins And makes His long-sought rest my own. My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray Thy peace may bless my dying day.

7. His sorrows and His cross I know Make deathbeds soft and light the grave; They comfort in the hour of woe, They give me all I fain would have. My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray Thy peace may bless my dying day.

8. From Him can naught my soul divide, Nor life nor death can part us now; I thrust my hand into His side And say, My Lord and God art Thou! My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray Thy peace may bless my dying day.

9. In Holy Baptism long ago I joined me to the living Vine; Thou lovest me in Him, I know, In Him Thou dost accept me Thine. My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray Thy peace may bless my dying day.

10. And I have eaten His own flesh And drunk His blood,—nor can I be Forsaken now nor doubt afresh I am in Him and He in me. My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray Thy peace may bless my dying day.

11. Then death may come or tarry yet, I know in Christ I perish not; He never will His own forget, He gives me robes without a spot. My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray Thy peace may bless my dying day.

12. And thus I live in God at peace And die without a thought of fear, Content to take what God decrees, For through His Son my faith is clear. His grace shall be in death my stay, And peace shall bless my dying day.

Countess Emilie Juliane, 1686; C. Winkworth, tr., 1858, a.

545

L. M. 6 l

I fall asleep in Jesus’ wounds, There pardon for my sins abounds; Yea, Jesus’ blood and righteousness My jewels are, my glorious dress, Wherein before my God I’ll stand When I shall reach the heavenly land.

2. With peace and joy I now depart, God’s child I am with all my heart; I thank thee, Death, thou leadest me To that true life where I would be. So cleansed by Christ, I fear not death. Lord Jesus, strengthen Thou my faith!

Probably Paul Eber, † 1569; C. Winkworth, 1869, tr., a.

546

7, 7, 7, 5

When the day of toil is done, When the race of life is run, Father, grant Thy wearied one Rest forevermore.

2. When the strife of sin is stilled, When the foe within is killed, Be Thy gracious word fulfilled, “Peace forevermore.”

3. When the darkness melts away At the breaking of the day, Bid us hail the cheering ray, Light forevermore.

4. When the heart, by sorrow tried, Feels at length its throbs subside, Bring us where all tears are dried, Joy forevermore.

5. When for vanished days we yearn, Days that never can return, Teach us in Thy love to learn Love forevermore.

6. When the breath of life is flown, When the grave must claim its own, Lord of life, be ours Thy crown,— Life forevermore.

J. Ellerton, 1871.

547

10, 10, 5, 10

O how blest are ye whose toils are ended! Who through death have unto God ascended! Ye have arisen From the cares which keep us still in prison.

2. We are still as in a dungeon living, Still oppressed with sorrow and misgiving; Our undertakings Are but toils and troubles and heartbreakings.

3. Ye, meanwhile, are in your chambers sleeping, Quiet, and set free from all our weeping; No cross or sadness There can hinder your untroubled gladness.

4. Christ has wiped away your tears forever; Ye have that for which we still endeavor; To you are chanted Songs that ne’er to mortal ears were granted.

5. Ah! who would, then, not depart with gladness To inherit heaven for earthly sadness? Who here would languish Longer in bewailing and in anguish?

6. Come, O Christ, and loose the chains that bind us! Lead us forth and cast this world behind us! With Thee, th’ Anointed, Finds the soul its joy and rest appointed.

S. Dach, 1635; H. W. Longfellow, tr., a.

JUDGMENT.

548

8, 7, 6 l

O’er the distant mountains breaking Comes the redd’ning dawn of day; Rise, my soul, from sleep awaking, Rise, and sing, and watch, and pray; |: ’Tis thy Savior, :| On His bright returning way.

2. O Thou long-expected, weary Waits my anxious soul for Thee; Life is dark, and earth is dreary, Where Thy light I do not see; |: O my Savior, :| When wilt Thou return to me?

3. Nearer is my soul’s salvation, Spent the night, the day at hand; Keep me in my lowly station, Watching for Thee, till I stand, |: O my Savior, :| In Thy bright, Thy promised land.

4. With my lamp well trimmed and burning, Swift to hear and loath to roam, Watching for Thy glad returning To restore me to my home. |: Come, my Savior, :| Thou hast promised: quickly come.

J. S. B. Monsell, 1863, a.

549

8, 9, 8, 6, 6, 4, 8, 8

Wake, awake, for night is flying, The watchmen on the heights are crying: Awake, Jerusalem, arise! Midnight hears the welcome voices, And at the thrilling cry rejoices; O where are ye, ye virgins wise? The Bridegroom comes, awake! Your lamps with gladness take! Hallelujah! With bridal care Yourselves prepare To meet the Bridegroom, who is near!

2. Zion hears the watchmen singing, And all her heart with joy is springing, She wakes, she rises from her gloom; For her Lord comes down all glorious, The strong in grace, in truth victorious, Her Star is risen, her Light is come! Now come, Thou Blessed One, Lord Jesus, God’s own Son, Hail! Hosanna! The joyful call We answer all, And follow to the nuptial hall.

3. Glory unto Thee be given, By men and by the host of heaven, With harp and cymbal’s clearest tone; Of one pearl each shining portal, Where we are with the choir immortal Of angels round Thy dazzling throne. Nor eye hath seen, nor ear Hath yet attained to hear Such great glory; Therefore will we Eternally Sing hymns of joy and praise to Thee.

Ph. Nicolai, 1599; Comp. tr.

550

L. M.

Let thoughtless thousands choose the road That leads the soul away from God; This happiness, dear Lord, be mine, To live and die entirely Thine.

2. On Christ, by faith, I fain would live, From Him my life, my all, receive, To Him devote my fleeting hours, Serve Him alone with all my powers.

3. Christ is my everlasting All; To Him I look, on Him I call; He will my every want supply In time and through eternity.

4. Soon will the Lord, my Life, appear; Soon shall I end my trials here, Leave sin and sorrow, death and pain; To live is Christ, to die is gain.

5. Soon will the saints in glory meet, Soon walk through every golden street, And sing on every blissful plain,— To live is Christ, to die is gain.

J. Haskins, 1789.

551

L. M.

That day of wrath, that dreadful day, When heaven and earth shall pass away! What power shall be the sinner’s stay? How shall he meet that dreadful day?

2. When, shriveling like a parchèd scroll, The flaming heavens together roll; When louder yet, and yet more dread, Swells the high trump that wakes the dead:

3. Lord, on that day, that wrathful day, When man to Judgment wakes from clay, Be Thou the trembling sinner’s stay, Though heaven and earth shall pass away.

Thomas of Celano, 13th cent.; Walter Scott, 1805, a.

552

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

The day is surely drawing near When God’s Son, the Anointed, Shall with great majesty appear As Judge of all appointed. All mirth and laughter then shall cease, When flames on flames will still increase, As the Apostle teacheth.

2. A trumpet loud shall then resound, And all the earth be shaken; Then all who in their graves are found Shall from their sleep awaken; But all that live shall in that hour By the Almighty’s boundless power Be changed at His commanding.

3. A book is opened then to all, A record truly telling What each hath done, both great and small, When he on earth was dwelling; And every heart be clearly seen, And all be known as they have been, In thoughts and words and actions.

4. Then woe to those who scorned the Lord And sought but carnal pleasures, Who here despised His precious Word And loved their earthly treasures! With shame and trembling they will stand And at the Judge’s stern command To Satan be delivered.

5. O Jesus, who my debt didst pay And for my sin wast smitten, Within the book of life, O may My name be also written! I will not doubt; I trust in Thee, From Satan Thou hast made me free And from all condemnation.

6. Therefore my Intercessor be, And for Thy bloody merit Declare my name from judgment free, With all who life inherit; That I may see Thee face to face With all Thy saints in that blest place Which Thou for us hast purchased.

7. O Jesus Christ, do not delay, But hasten our salvation! We often tremble on our way In fear and tribulation. Then hear us when we cry to Thee; Come, mighty Judge, and make us free From every evil! Amen.

B. Ringwaldt, † 1599; P. A. Peter, 1880, tr., a.

553

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

Great God, what do I see and hear? The end of things created; The Judge of mankind doth appear On clouds of glory seated; The trumpet sounds; the graves restore The dead which they contained before: Prepare, my soul, to meet Him.

2. The dead in Christ shall first arise At the last trumpet’s sounding, Caught up to meet Him in the skies; With joy their Lord surrounding; No gloomy fears their souls dismay; His presence sheds eternal day On those prepared to meet Him.

3. But sinners, filled with guilty fears, Behold His wrath prevailing, For they shall rise and find their tears And sighs are unavailing; The day of grace is past and gone; Trembling they stand before the throne, All unprepared to meet Him.

4. O Christ, who diedst and yet dost live, To me impart Thy merit; My pardon seal, my sins forgive, And cleanse me by Thy Spirit. Beneath Thy cross I view the day When heaven and earth shall pass away, And thus prepare to meet Thee.

W. B. Collyer, 1812.

554

S. M.

And will the Judge descend? And must the dead arise And not a single soul escape His all-discerning eyes?

2. And from His righteous lips Shall this dread sentence sound; And, through the numerous guilty throng, Spread black despair around?

3. “Depart from Me, accursed, To everlasting flame, For rebel angels first prepared, Where mercy never came.”

4. How will my heart endure The terrors of that day, When earth and heaven before His face Astonished shrink away?

5. But ere that trumpet shakes The mansions of the dead, Hark, from the Gospel’s cheering sound What joyful tidings spread!

6. Ye sinners, seek His grace Whose wrath ye cannot bear; Fly to the shelter of His cross And find salvation there.

Philip Doddridge, † 1751.

555

8s 3 l

Day of wrath, that day of mourning! See fulfilled the Prophet’s warning, Heaven and earth in ashes burning!

2. O what fear man’s bosom rendeth When from heaven the Judge descendeth On whose sentence all dependeth!

3. Wondrous sound the trumpet flingeth, Through earth’s sepulchers it ringeth, All before the throne it bringeth.

4. Death is struck and nature quaking; All creation is awaking, To its Judge an answer making.

5. Lo, the book, exactly worded, Wherein all hath been recorded; Thence shall judgment be awarded.

6. When the Judge His seat attaineth, And each hidden deed arraigneth, Nothing unavenged remaineth.

7. What shall I, frail man, be pleading? Who for me be interceding, When the just are mercy needing?

8. King of majesty tremendous, Who dost free salvation send us, Fount of pity, then befriend us!

9. Think, kind Jesus! my salvation Caused Thy wondrous incarnation; Leave me not to reprobation!

10. Faint and weary Thou hast sought me, On the cross of suffering bought me; Shall such grace in vain be brought me?

11. Righteous Judge of retribution, Grant Thy gift of absolution Ere that day’s dread execution.

12. Guilty, now I pour my moaning, All my shame with anguish owning: Spare, O God, Thy suppliant groaning!

13. Thou the women gav’st remission, Heard’st the dying thief’s petition; Hopeless else were my condition.

14. Worthless are my prayers and sighing, Yet, good Lord, in grace complying, Rescue me from fires undying!

15. With Thy favored sheep, O place me! Nor amid the goats abase me; But to Thy right hand upraise me.

16. While the wicked are confounded, Doomed to flames of woe unbounded, Call me, with Thy saints surrounded.

17. Bows my heart in meek submission, Strewn with ashes of contrition. Succor Thou my lost condition!

18. Day of sorrow, day of weeping, When, in dust no longer sleeping, Man awakes in Thy dread keeping!

19. To the rest Thou didst prepare me, On Thy cross, O Christ, upbear me! Spare, O God, in mercy spare me!

Thomas of Celano, c. 1250; W. J. Irons, tr., 1848, a.

HEAVEN.

556

7, 6, 8 l

Jerusalem the golden, With milk and honey blest! Beneath thy contemplation Sink heart and voice opprest. I know not, O I know not What joys await us there, What radiancy of glory, What bliss beyond compare!

2. There is the throne of David; And there, from care released, The songs of them that triumph, The shout of them that feast; And they who, with their Leader, Have conquered in the fight, Forever and forever, Are clad in robes of white!

3. Exult, O dust and ashes! The Lord shall be thy Part; His only, His forever, Thou shalt be and thou art! Jesus, in mercy bring us Soon to that land of rest; Who art, with God the Father And Spirit, ever blest!

Bernard of Cluny, 12th cent.; J. M. Neale, tr., 1851.

557

7, 6, 8 l

Brief life is here our portion; Brief sorrow, short-lived care; The life that knows no ending, The tearless life, is there. O happy retribution! Short toil, eternal rest; For mortals and for sinners A mansion with the blest!

2. And now we fight the battle, But then shall wear the crown Of full and everlasting And passionless renown; And now we watch and struggle, And now we live in hope, And Zion in her anguish With Babylon must cope.

3. But He whom now we trust in Shall then be seen and known; And they that know and see Him Shall have Him for their own. And there is David’s fountain And life in fullest glow; And there the light is golden, And milk and honey flow.

4. The morning shall awaken, And shadows shall decay, And each true-hearted servant Shall shine as doth the day; Yes! God, my King and Portion, In fulness of His grace, We then shall see forever And worship face to face.

5. O sweet and blessed country, The home of God’s elect! O sweet and blessed country That eager hearts expect! Jesus, in mercy bring us To that dear land of rest; Who art, with God the Father And Spirit, ever blest.

Bernard of Cluny, 12th cent.; J. M. Neale, tr., 1851.

558

C. M.

Jerusalem, my happy home, Name ever dear to me, When shall my labors have an end In joy and peace and thee?

2. When shall these eyes thy heaven-built walls And pearly gates behold; Thy bulwarks with salvation strong And streets of shining gold?

3. O when, thou city of my God, Shall I thy courts ascend, Where evermore the angels sing, Where sabbaths have no end?

4. There happier bowers than Eden’s bloom, Nor sin nor sorrow know; Blest seats! through rude and stormy scenes I onward press to you.

5. Why should I shrink from pain and woe Or feel at death dismay? I’ve Canaan’s goodly land in view And realms of endless day.

6. Apostles, martyrs, prophets, there Around my Savior stand; And soon my friends in Christ below Will join the glorious band.

From an ancient hymn, anon., 1801.

559

10, 6, 10, 6, 7, 6, 7, 6

Jerusalem, thou city fair and high, Would God I were in thee! My longing heart fain, fain to thee would fly, It will not stay with me; Far over vale and mountain, Far over field and plain, It hastes to seek its Fountain And quit this world of pain.

2. O happy day, and yet far happier hour, When wilt thou come at last, When fearless to my Father’s love and power, Whose promise standeth fast, My soul I gladly render? For surely will His hand Lead her, with guidance tender, To heaven, her fatherland.

3. A moment’s space, and gently, wondrously, Released from earthly ties, Elijah’s chariot bears her up to thee, Through all these lower skies To yonder shining regions, While down to meet her come The blessed angel legions And bid her welcome home.

4. O Zion, hail! Bright city, now unfold The gates of grace to me! How many a time I longed for thee of old, Ere yet I was set free From yon dark life of sadness, Yon world of shadowy naught, And God had given the gladness, The heritage I sought.

5. O what the tribe, or what the glorious host, Comes sweeping swiftly down? The chosen ones on earth who wrought the most, The Church’s brightest crown, Our Lord hath sent to meet me, As in the far-off years Their words oft came to greet me In yonder land of tears.

6. The patriarchs’ and prophets’ noble train, With all Christ’s followers true, Who bore the cross and could the worst disdain That tyrants dared to do, I see them shine forever, All glorious as the sun, Mid light that fadeth never, Their perfect freedom won.

7. And when within that lovely paradise At last I safely dwell, From out my soul what songs of bliss shall rise, What joy my lips shall tell, While holy saints are singing Hosannas o’er and o’er, Pure hallelujahs ringing Around me evermore!

8. Innumerous choirs before the shining throne Their joyful anthems raise, Till heaven’s glad halls are echoing with the tone Of that great hymn of praise, And all its host rejoices, And all its blessed throng Unite their myriad voices In one eternal song.

J. M. Meyfart, 1626; C. Winkworth, tr., a.

560

C. M.

There is a land of pure delight, Where saints immortal reign; Eternal day excludes the night, And pleasures banish pain.

2. There everlasting spring abides, And never-withering flowers; Death, like a narrow sea, divides This heavenly land from ours.

3. Sweet fields, beyond the swelling flood, Stand dressed in living green; So to the Jews old Canaan stood, While Jordan rolled between.

4. But timorous mortals start and shrink To cross this narrow sea, And linger, shivering, on the brink And fear to launch away.

5. O could we make our doubts remove, Those gloomy doubts that rise, And view the Canaan that we love, With unbeclouded eyes:

6. Could we but climb where Moses stood And view the landscape o’er, Not Jordan’s stream nor death’s cold flood Should fright us from the shore.

Isaac Watts, 1707.

561

8, 6, 8, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6

O Paradise, O Paradise, Who doth not crave for rest? Who would not seek the happy land Where they that loved are blest; Where loyal hearts, and true, Stand ever in the light, All rapture through and through, In God’s most holy sight?

2. O Paradise, O Paradise, The world is growing old; Who would not be at rest and free Where love is never cold; Where loyal hearts, and true, Stand ever in the light, All rapture through and through, In God’s most holy sight?

3. O Paradise, O Paradise, I greatly long to see The special place my dearest Lord In love prepares for me; Where loyal hearts, and true, Stand ever in the light, All rapture through and through, In God’s most holy sight.

4. Lord Jesus, King of Paradise, Oh, keep me in Thy love And guide me to that happy land Of perfect rest above, Where loyal hearts, and true, Stand ever in the light, All rapture through and through, In God’s most holy sight.

F. W. Faber, 1862.

562

7, 6, 8 l

The Homeland! O the Homeland! The land of souls free born! No gloomy night is known there, But aye the fadeless morn. I’m sighing for that country, My heart is aching here; There is no pain in the Homeland, To which I’m drawing near.

2. My Lord is in the Homeland, With angels bright and fair; No sinful thing nor evil, Can ever enter there. The music of the ransomed Is ringing in my ears; And when I think of the Homeland, My eyes are wet with tears.

3. For loved ones in the Homeland Are waiting me to come Where neither death nor sorrow Invades their holy home. O dear, dear native country! O rest and peace above! Christ bring us all to the Homeland Of His eternal love.

H. R. Haweis, 1855.

563

6, 4, 6, 4, 6, 6, 6, 4

I’m but a stranger here, Heav’n is my home; Earth is a desert drear, Heav’n is my home; Danger and sorrow stand Round me on every hand; Heav’n is my fatherland, Heav’n is my home.

2. What though the tempest rage, Heav’n is my home; Short is my pilgrimage, Heav’n is my home; And time’s wild wintry blast Soon shall be overpast; I shall reach home at last,— Heav’n is my home.

3. There at my Savior’s side— Heav’n is my home— I shall be glorified,— Heav’n is my home. There are the good and blest, Those I love most and best; And there I, too, shall rest,— Heav’n is my home.