Book of Hymns for Public and Private Devotion Part 68

1 Another hand is beckoning us, Another call is given; And glows once more with angel steps The path that leads to heaven.

2 O, half we deemed she needed not The changing of her sphere, To give to heaven a s.h.i.+ning one, Who walked an angel here.

3 Unto our Father's will alone One thought hath reconciled; That He whose love exceedeth ours Hath taken home his child.

4 Fold her, O Father, in thine arms, And let her henceforth be A messenger of love between Our human hearts and Thee.

5 Still let her mild rebukings stand Between us and the wrong, And her dear memory serve to make Our faith in goodness strong.

405. 7s. M. J. H. Bancroft.

The Christian's Burial.

1 Brother, though from yonder sky Cometh neither voice nor cry, Yet we know for thee to-day Every pain hath pa.s.sed away.

2 Not for thee shall tears be given, Child of G.o.d, and heir of heaven; For he gave thee sweet release; Thine the Christian's death of peace.

3 Well we know thy living faith Had the power to conquer death; As a living rose may bloom By the border of the tomb.

4 Brother, in that solemn trust, We commend thy dust to dust; In that faith we wait, till, risen, Thou shalt meet us all in heaven.

5 While we weep as Jesus wept, Thou shalt sleep as Jesus slept; Then with Jesus thou shalt rest, Crowned, and glorified, and blest.

406. 7s. M. Anonymous.

Funeral Hymn.

1 Clay to clay, and dust to dust!

Let them mingle,--for they must!

Give to earth the earthly clod, For the spirit's fled to G.o.d.

2 Never more shall midnight's damp Darken round this mortal lamp; Never more shall noonday's glance Search this mortal countenance.

3 Look aloft! The spirit's risen; Death cannot the soul imprison: 'Tis in heaven that spirits dwell, Glorious, though invisible.

4 Thither let us turn our view; Peace is there, and comfort too; There shall those we love be found, Tracing life's eternal round.

407. C. M. Dale.

"Weep Not."

1 Dear as thou wast, and justly dear, We would not weep for thee; One thought shall check the starting tear,-- It is--that thou art free.

2 And thus shall faith's consoling power The tears of love restrain; O, who that saw thy parting hour Could wish thee here again?

3 Gently the pa.s.sing spirit fled, Sustained by grace divine; O, may such grace on us be shed, And make our end like thine!

408. 10s. M. Montgomery.

Death in Manhood.

1 Go to the grave in all thy glorious prime, In full activity of zeal and power: A Christian cannot die before his time; The Lord's appointment is the servant's hour.

2 Go to the grave; at noon from labor cease; Rest on thy sheaves, thy harvest work is done; Come from the heat of battle, and in peace, Soldier, go home; with thee the field is won.

3 Go to the grave, for there thy Saviour lay, In death's embraces, ere he rose on high; And all the ransomed, by that narrow way, Pa.s.s to eternal life beyond the sky.

4 Go to the grave,--no, to thy home above; Be thy pure spirit present with the Lord, Where thou for faith and hope hast perfect love, And open vision for the written word.

409. 12 & 11s. M. Heber.

The Resurrection and the Life.

1 Thou art gone to the grave;--but we will not deplore thee, Though sorrows and darkness encompa.s.s the tomb; The Saviour has pa.s.sed through its portals before thee, And the lamp of his love is thy guide through the gloom.

2 Thou art gone to the grave: we no longer behold thee, Nor tread the rough paths of the world by thy side; But the wide arms of mercy are spread to enfold thee, And sinners may hope, since the Sinless hath died.

3 Thou art gone to the grave; and, its mansion forsaking, Perchance thy tried spirit in doubt lingered long; But the suns.h.i.+ne of heaven beamed bright on thy waking, And the song that thou heard'st was the seraphim's song.

4 Thou art gone to the grave; but we will not deplore thee, Since G.o.d was thy refuge, thy guardian, thy guide; He gave thee, He took thee, and He will restore thee; And death has no sting, since the Saviour hath died.

410. C. M. Mrs. Hemans.

Death of the Young.