Hymns for Christian Devotion Part 88

532. L. M. J. Taylor.

The Shortness of Life.

1 Like shadows gliding o'er the plain, Or clouds that roll successive on, Man's busy generations pa.s.s, And while we gaze their forms are gone.

2 "He lived,--he died;" behold the sum, The abstract of the historian's page!

Alike, in G.o.d's all-seeing eye, The infant's day, the patriarch's age.

3 O Father! in whose mighty hand The boundless years and ages lie; Teach us thy boon of life to prize, And use the moments as they fly;

4 To crowd the narrow span of life With wise designs and virtuous deeds; And bid us wake from death's dark night, To share the glory that succeeds.

533. C. M. Collyer.

Prayer for Support in Death.

1 When, bending o'er the brink of life, My trembling soul shall stand, And wait to pa.s.s death's awful flood, Great G.o.d, at thy command;--

2 Thou Source of life and joy supreme, Whose arm alone can save, Dispel the darkness that surrounds The entrance to the grave.

3 Lay thy supporting, gentle hand Beneath my sinking head, And let a beam of light divine Illume my dying bed.

534. L. M. Watts.

Christ's Presence makes Death easy.

1 Why should we start and fear to die!

What timorous worms we mortals are!

Death is the gate of endless joy, And yet we dread to enter there.

2 The pains, the groans, and dying strife, Fright our approaching souls away; Still we shrink back again to life, Fond of our prison and our clay.

3 O! if my Lord would come and meet, My soul should stretch her wings in haste, Fly fearless through death's iron gate, Nor feel the terrors as she past.

4 Jesus can make a dying bed Feel soft as downy pillows are, While on his breast I lean my head, And breathe my life out sweetly there.

535. L. M. Anonymous.

Deliverance from the Fear of Death.

1 O G.o.d of love! with cheering ray, Gild our expiring hour of day; Thy love, through each revolving year, Has wiped away affliction's tear.

2 Free us from death's terrific gloom, And all the fear which shrouds the tomb; Heighten our joys, support our head, Before we sink among the dead.

3 May death conclude our toils and tears!

May death destroy our sins and fears!

May death, through Jesus, be our friend!

May death be life, when life shall end!

4 Crown our last moment with thy power-- The latest in our latest hour; Till to the raptured heights we soar, Where fears and death are known no more.

536. L. M. R. Hill.

Prayer for the dying Christian.

1 Gently, my Father, let me down To slumber in the arms of death: I rest my soul on thee alone, E'en till my last expiring breath.

2 Soon will the storms of life be o'er, And I shall enter endless rest: There I shall live to sin no more, And bless thy name forever blest.

3 Bid me possess sweet peace within; Let childlike patience keep my heart; Then shall I feel my heaven begin, Before my spirit hence depart.

537. C. M. Anonymous.

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me." Ps. 23.

1 Thou must go forth alone, my soul!

Thou must go forth alone, To other scenes, to other worlds, That mortal hath not known.

Thou must go forth alone, my soul,-- To tread the narrow vale; But He, whose word is sure, hath said His comforts shall not fail.

2 Thou must go forth alone, my soul, Along the darksome way; Where the bright sun has never shed His warm and gladsome ray.

And yet the Sun of Righteousness Shall rise amidst the gloom, And scatter from thy trembling gaze The shadows of the tomb.

3 Thou must go forth alone, my soul!

To meet thy G.o.d above: But shrink not--He hath said, my soul, He is a G.o.d of love.

His rod and staff shall comfort thee Across the dreary road, Till thou shalt join the blessed ones In heaven's serene abode.