Hymns for Christian Devotion Part 91

549. L. M. Mrs. Mackay.

"Asleep in Christ."

1 Asleep in Jesus! blessed sleep!

From which none ever wakes to weep; A calm and undisturbed repose, Unbroken by the dread of foes.

2 Asleep in Jesus! peaceful rest!

Whose waking is supremely blest; No fear, no woes shall dim that hour, Which manifests the Saviour's power!

3 Asleep in Jesus! time nor s.p.a.ce Debars this precious hiding place; On Indian plains, or Lapland's snows, Believers find the same repose.

4 Asleep in Jesus! far from thee Thy kindred and their graves may be; But thine is still a blessed sleep, From which none ever wakes to weep.

550. C. M. 8l. Anonymous.

The Resurrection.

1 All nature dies and lives again: The flowers that paint the field, The trees that crown the mountain's brow, And boughs and blossoms yield,-- Resign the honors of their form At winter's stormy blast, And leave the naked, leafless plain A desolated waste.

2 Yet, soon reviving, plants and flowers Anew shall deck the plain; The woods shall hear the voice of spring, And flourish green again.

So, to the dreary grave consigned, Man sleeps in death's dark gloom, Until th' eternal morning wake The slumbers of the tomb.

3 O may the grave become to me The bed of peaceful rest, Whence I shall gladly rise at length, And mingle with the blessed!

Cheered by this hope, with patient mind I'll wait Heaven's high decree, Till the appointed period come When death shall set me free.

551. C. M. Sir J. E. Smith.

The Changes of Nature Types of Immortality.

1 As twilight's gradual veil is spread Across the evening sky; So man's bright hours decline in shade, And mortal comforts die.

2 The bloom of spring, the summer rose, In vain pale winter brave; Nor youth, nor age, nor wisdom knows A ransom from the grave.

3 But morning dawns and spring revives, And genial hours return; So man's immortal soul survives, And scorns the mouldering urn.

4 When this vain scene no longer charms, Or swiftly fades away, He sinks into a Father's arms, Nor dreads the coming day.

552. Peculiar M. H. Ware, Jr.

Resurrection of Christ.

1 Lift your glad voices in triumph on high, For Jesus hath risen, and man cannot die: Vain were the terrors that gathered around him, And short the dominion of death and the grave; He burst from the fetters of darkness that bound him Resplendent in glory, to live and to save: Loud was the chorus of angels on high,-- The Saviour hath risen, and man shall not die.

2 Glory to G.o.d in full anthems of joy, The being he gave us death cannot destroy: Sad were the life we must part with to-morrow, If tears were our birthright, and death were our end; But Jesus hath cheered the dark valley of sorrow, And bade us, immortal, to heaven ascend: Lift, then, your voices in triumph on high, For Jesus hath risen, and man shall not die.

553. 7s. M. Cudworth.

The Same.

1 Christ, the Lord, is risen to-day, Sons of men and angels say; Raise your songs of triumph high: Sing, ye heavens, and, earth, reply.

2 Love's redeeming work is done, Fought the fight, the battle won; Lo our Sun's eclipse is o'er; Lo! he sets in blood no more.

3 Vain the stone, the watch, the seal; Christ hath burst the gates of h.e.l.l; Death in vain forbids his rise; Christ hath opened paradise.

4 Soar we now where Christ hath led, Following our exalted Head: Made like him, like him we rise; Ours the cross, the grave, the skies.

554. C. M. Sir J. E. Smith.

Nature Transitory--the Soul Immortal.

1 See lovely nature raise her head, In various graces dressed; Her lucid robe by ocean spread, Her verdant, flowery vest.

2 How glorious are those orbs of light, In all their bright array, That gem the ebon brow of night, Or pour the blaze of day!

3 One gem of purest ray, divine, Alone disclaims her power; Still brighter shall its glories shine, When hers are seen no more.

4 Her pageants pa.s.s, nor leave a trace The soul no change shall fear; The G.o.d of nature and of grace Has stamped his image there.

555. C. M. Watts.

A Prospect of Heaven.