 | The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley |  |
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FUNERAL HYMNS.
“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.”
Rev. xiv. 13.
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HYMN I.
[Ah, sister in Jesus, adieu!]
Ah, sister in Jesus, adieu!
Thy warfare is happily o'er:
Thy spirit has fought its way through,
And pitch'd on the heavenly shore;
Thy course upon earth is all run,
The days of thy mourning are past,
The joys that above thou hast won
For ever and ever shall last.
Thy warfare is happily o'er:
Thy spirit has fought its way through,
And pitch'd on the heavenly shore;
Thy course upon earth is all run,
The days of thy mourning are past,
The joys that above thou hast won
For ever and ever shall last.
O blessed estate of the dead,
The dead that have died in the Lord!
From trouble and misery freed,
And sure of their endless reward:
By sorrow no longer oppress'd,
When join'd to the spirits above,
With Jesus in glory they rest,
They rest in the arms of His love.
The dead that have died in the Lord!
From trouble and misery freed,
And sure of their endless reward:
By sorrow no longer oppress'd,
When join'd to the spirits above,
With Jesus in glory they rest,
They rest in the arms of His love.
O when will the Saviour extend
The arms of His mercy to me?
The days of my pilgrimage end,
My soul from its prison set free?
When will the dear moment arrive,
Which long I have pined for in vain:
And still I would die to revive,
And suffer with Jesus to reign?
The arms of His mercy to me?
The days of my pilgrimage end,
My soul from its prison set free?
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Which long I have pined for in vain:
And still I would die to revive,
And suffer with Jesus to reign?
Ah! give me to bow my faint head,
My sorrowful soul to resign,
From pain everlastingly freed,
To sink on the bosom Divine:
My Saviour, why dost Thou delay
To call a poor wanderer home?
Come quickly, and bear me away;
The bride and the Spirit say, Come!
My sorrowful soul to resign,
From pain everlastingly freed,
To sink on the bosom Divine:
My Saviour, why dost Thou delay
To call a poor wanderer home?
Come quickly, and bear me away;
The bride and the Spirit say, Come!
HYMN II.
[Rejoice for a brother deceased]
Rejoice for a brother deceased,
(Our loss is his infinite gain,)
A soul out of prison released,
And freed from its bodily chain:
With songs let us follow his flight,
And mount with his spirit above,
Escaped to the mansions of light,
And lodged in the Eden of love.
(Our loss is his infinite gain,)
A soul out of prison released,
And freed from its bodily chain:
With songs let us follow his flight,
And mount with his spirit above,
Escaped to the mansions of light,
And lodged in the Eden of love.
Our brother the haven hath gain'd,
Outflying the tempest and wind,
His rest he hath sooner obtain'd,
And left his companions behind;
Still toss'd on a sea of distress,
Hard toiling to make the blest shore,
Where all is assurance and peace,
And sorrow and sin are no more.
Outflying the tempest and wind,
His rest he hath sooner obtain'd,
And left his companions behind;
Still toss'd on a sea of distress,
Hard toiling to make the blest shore,
Where all is assurance and peace,
And sorrow and sin are no more.
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There all the ship's company meet,
Who sail'd with the Saviour beneath;
With shouting each other they greet,
And triumph o'er trouble and death:
The voyage of life's at an end,
The mortal affliction is past,
The age that in heaven they spend
For ever and ever shall last.
Who sail'd with the Saviour beneath;
With shouting each other they greet,
And triumph o'er trouble and death:
The voyage of life's at an end,
The mortal affliction is past,
The age that in heaven they spend
For ever and ever shall last.
HYMN III.
[Hosannah to Jesus on high!]
Hosannah to Jesus on high!
Another has enter'd his rest,
Another is 'scaped to the sky,
And lodged in Immanuel's breast:
The soul of our sister is gone
To heighten the triumph above,
Exalted to Jesus's throne,
And clasp'd in the arms of His love.
Another has enter'd his rest,
Another is 'scaped to the sky,
And lodged in Immanuel's breast:
The soul of our sister is gone
To heighten the triumph above,
Exalted to Jesus's throne,
And clasp'd in the arms of His love.
What fulness of rapture is there,
While Jesus His glory displays,
And purples the heavenly air,
And scatters the odours of grace!
He looks—and His servants in light
The blessing ineffable meet;
He smiles—and they faint at the sight,
And fall overwhelm'd at His feet!
While Jesus His glory displays,
And purples the heavenly air,
And scatters the odours of grace!
He looks—and His servants in light
The blessing ineffable meet;
He smiles—and they faint at the sight,
And fall overwhelm'd at His feet!
How happy the angels that fall,
Transported at Jesus's name!
The saints whom He soonest shall call
To share in the feast of the Lamb!
No longer imprison'd in clay,
Who next from his dungeon shall fly,
Who first shall be summon'd away?
My merciful God—Is it I?
Transported at Jesus's name!
The saints whom He soonest shall call
To share in the feast of the Lamb!
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Who next from his dungeon shall fly,
Who first shall be summon'd away?
My merciful God—Is it I?
O Jesus, if this be Thy will,
That suddenly I should depart,
Thy counsel of mercy reveal,
And whisper the call to my heart:
O give me a signal to know
If soon Thou wouldst have me remove,
And leave the dull body below,
And fly to the regions of love.
That suddenly I should depart,
Thy counsel of mercy reveal,
And whisper the call to my heart:
O give me a signal to know
If soon Thou wouldst have me remove,
And leave the dull body below,
And fly to the regions of love.
Thou know'st in the spirit of prayer
I groan for a speedy release,
And long have I pined to be there
Where sorrow and misery cease:
Where all the temptation is past,
And loss and affliction are o'er,
And anguish is ended at last,
And trouble and death are no more.
I groan for a speedy release,
And long have I pined to be there
Where sorrow and misery cease:
Where all the temptation is past,
And loss and affliction are o'er,
And anguish is ended at last,
And trouble and death are no more.
Come then to my rescue, (I pray
For this, and for nothing beside,)
Make ready, and bear me away,
Thy weary, disconsolate bride:
The days of my mourning and pain
Cut short, and in pity set free,
And give me to rest, and to reign
For ever and ever in Thee.
For this, and for nothing beside,)
Make ready, and bear me away,
Thy weary, disconsolate bride:
The days of my mourning and pain
Cut short, and in pity set free,
And give me to rest, and to reign
For ever and ever in Thee.
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HYMN IV. FOR ONE JUST DEPARTING.
O sister in Jesus, arise,
And joyful His summons obey;
He beckons thee up to the skies,
In mercy He calls thee away:
His pity hath sign'd thy release;
Return to thy native abode,
Make haste to the mansions of bliss,
And fly to the bosom of God.
And joyful His summons obey;
He beckons thee up to the skies,
In mercy He calls thee away:
His pity hath sign'd thy release;
Return to thy native abode,
Make haste to the mansions of bliss,
And fly to the bosom of God.
To waft from the valley of tears,
To bear thee triumphantly home,
The chariot of Israel appears,
The convoy of angels is come!
With envy we let thee depart,
Thy happier spirit resign!
The purchase of Jesus thou art,
And God is eternally thine.
To bear thee triumphantly home,
The chariot of Israel appears,
The convoy of angels is come!
With envy we let thee depart,
Thy happier spirit resign!
The purchase of Jesus thou art,
And God is eternally thine.
Go then to thy glorious estate,
No longer our partner in woe;
No longer oppress'd with our weight,
To Jesus in paradise go:
Redeem'd from a world of distress,
Thou hear'st the acceptable word;
He bids thee depart in His peace,
And die for the sight of thy Lord.
No longer our partner in woe;
No longer oppress'd with our weight,
To Jesus in paradise go:
Redeem'd from a world of distress,
Thou hear'st the acceptable word;
He bids thee depart in His peace,
And die for the sight of thy Lord.
Escape to a country above,
Where only enjoyment is found,
And springs of ecstatical love,
And rivers of pleasure abound:
No dreadful alarums of war,
No famine, or sorrows, or pains,
No sound of the trumpet is there,
But Jesus eternally reigns.
Where only enjoyment is found,
And springs of ecstatical love,
And rivers of pleasure abound:
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No famine, or sorrows, or pains,
No sound of the trumpet is there,
But Jesus eternally reigns.
He reigns in the holiest place,
He dwells in the midst of His own,
And fully discovers His face,
And fills them with raptures unknown;
With bliss inexpressibly great
Their glorified spirits o'erflow—
Go, sister, and share their estate,
To Jesus in paradise go.
He dwells in the midst of His own,
And fully discovers His face,
And fills them with raptures unknown;
With bliss inexpressibly great
Their glorified spirits o'erflow—
Go, sister, and share their estate,
To Jesus in paradise go.
O Saviour, her spirit receive,
Which into Thy hands we resign,
And us from our sorrows retrieve,
And us to our company join:
Our number and glory complete,
With all that are landed before,
With Thee let us joyfully meet,
To part and to suffer no more.
Which into Thy hands we resign,
And us from our sorrows retrieve,
And us to our company join:
Our number and glory complete,
With all that are landed before,
With Thee let us joyfully meet,
To part and to suffer no more.
HYMN V. ON THE SIGHT OF A CORPSE.
Ah lovely appearance of death!
No sight upon earth is so fair!
Not all the gay pageants that breathe,
Can with a dead body compare:
With solemn delight I survey
The corpse when the spirit is fled,
In love with the beautiful clay,
And longing to lie in its stead.
No sight upon earth is so fair!
Not all the gay pageants that breathe,
Can with a dead body compare:
With solemn delight I survey
The corpse when the spirit is fled,
In love with the beautiful clay,
And longing to lie in its stead.
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How bless'd is our brother, bereft
Of all that could burden his mind,
How easy the soul that hath left
This wearisome body behind!
Of evil incapable thou,
Whose relics with envy I see,
No longer in misery now,
No longer a sinner like me.
Of all that could burden his mind,
How easy the soul that hath left
This wearisome body behind!
Of evil incapable thou,
Whose relics with envy I see,
No longer in misery now,
No longer a sinner like me.
This earth is affected no more
With sickness, or shaken with pain;
The war in the members is o'er,
And never shall vex him again:
No anger henceforward, or shame,
Shall redden this innocent clay,
Extinct is the animal flame,
And passion is vanish'd away.
With sickness, or shaken with pain;
The war in the members is o'er,
And never shall vex him again:
No anger henceforward, or shame,
Shall redden this innocent clay,
Extinct is the animal flame,
And passion is vanish'd away.
The languishing head is at rest,
Its thinking and aching are o'er;
The quiet immovable breast
Is heaved by affliction no more:
The heart is no longer the seat
Of trouble and torturing pain,
It ceases to flutter and beat,
It never shall flutter again.
Its thinking and aching are o'er;
The quiet immovable breast
Is heaved by affliction no more:
The heart is no longer the seat
Of trouble and torturing pain,
It ceases to flutter and beat,
It never shall flutter again.
The lids he so seldom could close,
By sorrow forbidden to sleep,
Seal'd up in eternal repose,
Have strangely forgotten to weep:
The fountains can yield no supplies,
These hollows from water are free;
The tears are all wiped from these eyes,
And evil they never shall see.
By sorrow forbidden to sleep,
Seal'd up in eternal repose,
Have strangely forgotten to weep:
The fountains can yield no supplies,
These hollows from water are free;
The tears are all wiped from these eyes,
And evil they never shall see.
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To mourn, and to suffer, is mine,
While bound in a prison I breathe,
And still for deliverance pine,
And press to the issues of death:
What now with my tears I bedew,
O might I this moment become,
My spirit created anew,
My flesh be consign'd to the tomb.
While bound in a prison I breathe,
And still for deliverance pine,
And press to the issues of death:
What now with my tears I bedew,
O might I this moment become,
My spirit created anew,
My flesh be consign'd to the tomb.
HYMN VI.
['Tis finish'd! 'tis done! The spirit is fled]
'Tis finish'd! 'tis done! The spirit is fled,
The prisoner is gone, The Christian is dead!
The Christian is living In Jesus's love,
And gladly receiving A kingdom above.
The prisoner is gone, The Christian is dead!
The Christian is living In Jesus's love,
And gladly receiving A kingdom above.
All honour and praise Are Jesus's due,
Supported by grace, He fought his way through;
Triumphantly glorious Through Jesus's zeal,
And more than victorious O'er sin, death, and hell.
Supported by grace, He fought his way through;
Triumphantly glorious Through Jesus's zeal,
And more than victorious O'er sin, death, and hell.
Then let us record The conquering Name,
Our Captain and Lord With shoutings proclaim:
Who trust in His passion And follow our Head,
To certain salvation We all shall be led.
Our Captain and Lord With shoutings proclaim:
Who trust in His passion And follow our Head,
To certain salvation We all shall be led.
O Jesus, lead on Thy militant care,
And give us the crown Of righteousness there;
Where dazzled with glory The seraphin gaze,
Or prostrate adore Thee In silence of praise.
And give us the crown Of righteousness there;
Where dazzled with glory The seraphin gaze,
Or prostrate adore Thee In silence of praise.
Come, Lord, and display Thy sign in the sky,
And bear us away To mansions on high:
The kingdom be given, The purchase Divine,
And crown us in heaven Eternally Thine.
And bear us away To mansions on high:
The kingdom be given, The purchase Divine,
And crown us in heaven Eternally Thine.
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HYMN VII.
[O when shall we sweetly remove!]
O when shall we sweetly remove!
O when shall we enter our rest!
Return to the Sion above,
The mother of spirits distress'd!
That city of God, the great King,
Where sorrow and death are no more;
But saints our Immanuel sing,
And cherub and seraph adore.
O when shall we enter our rest!
Return to the Sion above,
The mother of spirits distress'd!
That city of God, the great King,
Where sorrow and death are no more;
But saints our Immanuel sing,
And cherub and seraph adore.
Not all the archangels can tell
The joys of that holiest place,
When Jesus is pleased to reveal
The light of His heavenly face;
Where caught in the rapturous flame
The sight beatific they prove,
And walk in the light of the Lamb,
And bask in the beams of His love.
The joys of that holiest place,
When Jesus is pleased to reveal
The light of His heavenly face;
Where caught in the rapturous flame
The sight beatific they prove,
And walk in the light of the Lamb,
And bask in the beams of His love.
Who then upon earth can conceive
The bliss that in heaven they share?
Who then the dark world would not leave,
And cheerfully die to be there?
O Saviour, regard our complaints,
Array'd in Thy majesty come,
Fulfil the desires of Thy saints,
And suddenly gather us home.
The bliss that in heaven they share?
Who then the dark world would not leave,
And cheerfully die to be there?
O Saviour, regard our complaints,
Array'd in Thy majesty come,
Fulfil the desires of Thy saints,
And suddenly gather us home.
Thou know'st in the spirit of prayer
We groan Thy appearing to see,
Resign'd to the burden we bear,
But longing to triumph with Thee:
'Tis good at Thy word to be here,
'Tis better in Thee to be gone,
And see Thee in glory appear,
And rise to a share of Thy throne.
We groan Thy appearing to see,
Resign'd to the burden we bear,
But longing to triumph with Thee:
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'Tis better in Thee to be gone,
And see Thee in glory appear,
And rise to a share of Thy throne.
To mourn for Thy coming is sweet;
To weep at Thy longer delay:
But Thou whom we hasten to meet,
Shalt chase all our sorrows away:
The tears shall be wiped from our eyes,
When Thee we behold in the cloud,
And echo the joys of the skies,
And shout to the trumpet of God.
To weep at Thy longer delay:
But Thou whom we hasten to meet,
Shalt chase all our sorrows away:
The tears shall be wiped from our eyes,
When Thee we behold in the cloud,
And echo the joys of the skies,
And shout to the trumpet of God.
Come then to Thy languishing bride,
Who went'st to prepare us a place,
Receive us with Thee to abide,
And rest in Thy mercy's embrace.
Our heaven of heavens be this
Thy fulness of mercy to prove,
Implunged in the glorious abyss,
And lost in the ocean of love.
Who went'st to prepare us a place,
Receive us with Thee to abide,
And rest in Thy mercy's embrace.
Our heaven of heavens be this
Thy fulness of mercy to prove,
Implunged in the glorious abyss,
And lost in the ocean of love.
HYMN VIII.
[Away with our sorrow and fear!]
Away with our sorrow and fear!
We soon shall recover our home;
The city of saints shall appear,
The day of eternity come:
From earth we shall quickly remove,
And mount to our native abode,
The house of our Father above,
The palace of angels and God.
We soon shall recover our home;
The city of saints shall appear,
The day of eternity come:
From earth we shall quickly remove,
And mount to our native abode,
The house of our Father above,
The palace of angels and God.
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Our mourning is all at an end,
When raised by the life-giving word,
We see the new city descend,
Adorn'd as a bride for her lord:
The city so holy and clean,
No sorrow can breathe in the air,
No gloom of affliction or sin,
No shadow of evil is there.
When raised by the life-giving word,
We see the new city descend,
Adorn'd as a bride for her lord:
The city so holy and clean,
No sorrow can breathe in the air,
No gloom of affliction or sin,
No shadow of evil is there.
By faith we already behold
That lovely Jerusalem here!
Her walls are of jasper and gold,
As crystal her buildings are clear:
Immovably founded in grace
She stands as she ever hath stood,
And brightly her Builder displays,
And flames with the glory of God.
That lovely Jerusalem here!
Her walls are of jasper and gold,
As crystal her buildings are clear:
Immovably founded in grace
She stands as she ever hath stood,
And brightly her Builder displays,
And flames with the glory of God.
No need of the sun in that day
Which never is follow'd by night,
Where Jesus's beauties display
A pure and a permanent light;
The Lamb is their light and their sun,
And, lo! by reflection they shine,
With Jesus ineffably one,
And bright in effulgence Divine.
Which never is follow'd by night,
Where Jesus's beauties display
A pure and a permanent light;
The Lamb is their light and their sun,
And, lo! by reflection they shine,
With Jesus ineffably one,
And bright in effulgence Divine.
The saints in His presence receive
Their great and eternal reward,
In Jesus, in heaven they live,
They reign in the smile of their Lord:
The flame of angelical love
Is kindled at Jesus's face,
And all the enjoyment above
Consists in the rapturous gaze.
Their great and eternal reward,
In Jesus, in heaven they live,
They reign in the smile of their Lord:
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Is kindled at Jesus's face,
And all the enjoyment above
Consists in the rapturous gaze.
HYMN IX.
[Thanks be to God, whose faithful love]
Thanks be to God, whose faithful love
Hath call'd another to His breast,
Translated him to joys above,
To mansions of eternal rest.
Hath call'd another to His breast,
Translated him to joys above,
To mansions of eternal rest.
Ripe for the glorious harvest made,
He first was saved from inbred sin;
The angel then his charge obey'd,
And thrust the mortal sickle in.
He first was saved from inbred sin;
The angel then his charge obey'd,
And thrust the mortal sickle in.
He the good fight of faith hath won,
He heard with joy the welcome word:
“Hither come up, (thy work is done,)
And reign for ever with thy Lord.”
He heard with joy the welcome word:
“Hither come up, (thy work is done,)
And reign for ever with thy Lord.”
By ministerial spirits convey'd,
Lodged in the garner of the sky,
He rests, in Abraham's bosom laid,
He lives with God, no more to die.
Lodged in the garner of the sky,
He rests, in Abraham's bosom laid,
He lives with God, no more to die.
Thanks be to God, through Christ alone,
Who gave our friend the victory;
O Master, say to me, “Well done!”
May I rejoice to die in Thee.
Who gave our friend the victory;
O Master, say to me, “Well done!”
May I rejoice to die in Thee.
Thus may we all our warfare end,
In struggling to the upper skies,
Our last triumphant moments spend,
And grasp in death the' immortal prize.
In struggling to the upper skies,
Our last triumphant moments spend,
And grasp in death the' immortal prize.
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O that we all may thus break through,
The crown with holy violence seize,
The starry crown to conquest due,
The crown of life and righteousness.
The crown with holy violence seize,
The starry crown to conquest due,
The crown of life and righteousness.
Will not the righteous Judge bestow
The prize on all who seek Him here,
And long, while sojourning below,
To see their much-loved Lord appear?
The prize on all who seek Him here,
And long, while sojourning below,
To see their much-loved Lord appear?
He will, (our hearts cry out,) He will
Those eager wishes more than meet,
These infinite desires fulfil,
And make our happiness complete.
Those eager wishes more than meet,
These infinite desires fulfil,
And make our happiness complete.
We all shall see our life appear,
(Our hidden life in Jesus found,)
Our dust the' archangel's voice shall hear,
And kindle at the trumpet's sound.
(Our hidden life in Jesus found,)
Our dust the' archangel's voice shall hear,
And kindle at the trumpet's sound.
O what a soul o'erpowering thought,
'Tis ecstasy too great to bear:
We all at once shall be upcaught,
And meet our Jesus in the air.
'Tis ecstasy too great to bear:
We all at once shall be upcaught,
And meet our Jesus in the air.
Eternity stands forth in sight!
We plunge us in that boundless sea,
Expatiate in those plains of light,
The regions of eternity!
We plunge us in that boundless sea,
Expatiate in those plains of light,
The regions of eternity!
Even now we taste the heavenly powers,
The glorious joys of angels prove,
A whole eternity is ours,
A whole eternity of love!
The glorious joys of angels prove,
A whole eternity is ours,
A whole eternity of love!
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HYMN X. ON THE DEATH OF MRS. A. C.
And is the struggle past?
And hath she groan'd her last?
Rise, my soul, and take thy flight,
Haste, the' ascending triumph share,
Trace her to the plains of light,
Grasp her happy spirit there!
And hath she groan'd her last?
Rise, my soul, and take thy flight,
Haste, the' ascending triumph share,
Trace her to the plains of light,
Grasp her happy spirit there!
I know her now possess'd
Of everlasting rest!
Now I find her lodged above,
Now her heavenly joy I feel,
Ecstasy of joy and love;
Glorious and unspeakable!
Of everlasting rest!
Now I find her lodged above,
Now her heavenly joy I feel,
Ecstasy of joy and love;
Glorious and unspeakable!
I triumph in her bliss!
The proof, the token this!
This my dying friend's bequest,
This the answer of her prayer,
Speaks her enter'd into rest,
Tells me I shall meet her there.
The proof, the token this!
This my dying friend's bequest,
This the answer of her prayer,
Speaks her enter'd into rest,
Tells me I shall meet her there.
Lord, I accept the sign,
And bless Thy love Divine:
Thou hast through the mortal vale
Led her to the realms above,
Caught her from the toils of hell,
Placed her on a throne of love.
And bless Thy love Divine:
Thou hast through the mortal vale
Led her to the realms above,
Caught her from the toils of hell,
Placed her on a throne of love.
I, I shall conquer too,
Like her shall all break through!
To my heavenly friends convey'd,
I shall share the marriage feast:
Pants my soul on earth delay'd,
Gasps for her eternal rest.
Like her shall all break through!
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I shall share the marriage feast:
Pants my soul on earth delay'd,
Gasps for her eternal rest.
Come, O my Saviour, come,
Receive Thy servant home!
Now recall Thy banish'd one,
Draw me from the tent of clay:
Hear'st Thou not Thy Spirit's groan?
Come, my Saviour, come away!
Receive Thy servant home!
Now recall Thy banish'd one,
Draw me from the tent of clay:
Hear'st Thou not Thy Spirit's groan?
Come, my Saviour, come away!
O come! Thy Spirit cries;
O come! the bride replies;
Thee I call with every breath;
Let me die to see Thy day,
Snatch me from this life of death:
Come, my Saviour, come away!
O come! the bride replies;
Thee I call with every breath;
Let me die to see Thy day,
Snatch me from this life of death:
Come, my Saviour, come away!
HYMN XI. ON THE DEATH OF E. B., OF KINGSWOOD.
Rejoice, ye sons of light,
Over a saint deceased!
The happy soul hath took its flight,
And enter'd into rest.
Toss'd to and fro no more
On life's tempestuous sea,
The happy soul hath reach'd the shore
Of calm eternity.
Over a saint deceased!
The happy soul hath took its flight,
And enter'd into rest.
Toss'd to and fro no more
On life's tempestuous sea,
The happy soul hath reach'd the shore
Of calm eternity.
She at the welcome word
Is out of prison fled,
Released from her oppressive lord,
And free among the dead:
The bloody husband's power
Did with her breath expire,
And, lo! she lives to die no more
Amidst yon angel choir.
Is out of prison fled,
Released from her oppressive lord,
And free among the dead:
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Did with her breath expire,
And, lo! she lives to die no more
Amidst yon angel choir.
The spirits of the just
Made perfect here in love,
With these, and all the heavenly host,
She finds her place above;
One with the saints in light,
The witnesses of God,
She wash'd her robes and made them white
In the Redeemer's blood.
Made perfect here in love,
With these, and all the heavenly host,
She finds her place above;
One with the saints in light,
The witnesses of God,
She wash'd her robes and made them white
In the Redeemer's blood.
Her soul was cleansed below,
And saved from sin's remains,
Whiter on earth than Salmon's snow,
She now with Jesus reigns;
Long in the furnace tried,
Long in the vale distress'd,
The Lamb at last hath call'd His bride
Up to the marriage feast.
And saved from sin's remains,
Whiter on earth than Salmon's snow,
She now with Jesus reigns;
Long in the furnace tried,
Long in the vale distress'd,
The Lamb at last hath call'd His bride
Up to the marriage feast.
With steadfast faith and hope
Let us her steps pursue,
Cheerful, like her, the cross take up,
Like her the world break through;
Like her our faith approve,
And patiently endure,
And make, by all the works of love,
Our heavenly calling sure.
Let us her steps pursue,
Cheerful, like her, the cross take up,
Like her the world break through;
Like her our faith approve,
And patiently endure,
And make, by all the works of love,
Our heavenly calling sure.
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HYMN XII. ON THE DEATH OF MRS. F. C.
Thanks be to God alone,
Through Jesus Christ His Son!
He who hath for all obtain'd,
Gives our friend the victory:
Sister, thou the prize hast gain'd,
Died for Him who died for thee.
Through Jesus Christ His Son!
He who hath for all obtain'd,
Gives our friend the victory:
Sister, thou the prize hast gain'd,
Died for Him who died for thee.
The mortal hour is past,
Thou hast o'ercome at last,
Freed from pain, for ever freed,
Ended is thy glorious strife,
Death, the latest foe, is dead,
Death is swallow'd up of life.
Thou hast o'ercome at last,
Freed from pain, for ever freed,
Ended is thy glorious strife,
Death, the latest foe, is dead,
Death is swallow'd up of life.
The lamb-like innocence
Is soon departed hence;
From the world of sin and pain
Thou art clean escaped away,
Saved from sin's infectious stain,
Taken from the evil day.
Is soon departed hence;
From the world of sin and pain
Thou art clean escaped away,
Saved from sin's infectious stain,
Taken from the evil day.
Stranger to guilty fears,
Thou lived'st thy twenty years,
From the great transgression free;
Never did the poison spread;
Jesus, ere it rose in thee,
Jesus crush'd the serpent's head.
Thou lived'st thy twenty years,
From the great transgression free;
Never did the poison spread;
Jesus, ere it rose in thee,
Jesus crush'd the serpent's head.
His Spirit's gentlest art
Open'd thy simple heart;
The eternal gospel word
Lydia-like thou didst receive,
Fall before thy bleeding Lord,
Own Him, and with ease believe.
Open'd thy simple heart;
The eternal gospel word
Lydia-like thou didst receive,
Fall before thy bleeding Lord,
Own Him, and with ease believe.
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Soon as thy heart did feel
The pardon-stamping seal,
Heard thy soul the warning cry,
“Here thou hast not long to stay,
Rise, My love, make haste to die,
Rise, My love, and come away!”
The pardon-stamping seal,
Heard thy soul the warning cry,
“Here thou hast not long to stay,
Rise, My love, make haste to die,
Rise, My love, and come away!”
Thy cheerful soul obey'd,
Through suffering perfect made,
Perfect made in a short space,
Thy resign'd and Christlike soul
Started forth and won the race,
Reach'd at once the glorious goal.
Through suffering perfect made,
Perfect made in a short space,
Thy resign'd and Christlike soul
Started forth and won the race,
Reach'd at once the glorious goal.
Aloft the spirit flies
And gains her native skies;
Kindred souls salute her there,
Springing from the azure throne,
All in shouts their joy declare,
All their new-born sister own.
And gains her native skies;
Kindred souls salute her there,
Springing from the azure throne,
All in shouts their joy declare,
All their new-born sister own.
The' angelic army sings,
And clap their golden wings!
Harping with their harps they praise
Him, through whom she all o'ercame,
Sharer of His richest grace,
Closest follower of the Lamb.
And clap their golden wings!
Harping with their harps they praise
Him, through whom she all o'ercame,
Sharer of His richest grace,
Closest follower of the Lamb.
From love's soft witchcraft free,
Her spotless purity
Lived to only Christ below;
Higher now she reigns above,
Mightier joys advanced to know,
Honour'd with His choicest love.
Her spotless purity
Lived to only Christ below;
Higher now she reigns above,
Mightier joys advanced to know,
Honour'd with His choicest love.
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Among the morning-stars
A brighter crown she wears,
With peculiar glories graced,
Seated on a loftier throne,
To superior raptures raised,
Nearest God's eternal Son.
A brighter crown she wears,
With peculiar glories graced,
Seated on a loftier throne,
To superior raptures raised,
Nearest God's eternal Son.
Mix'd with the virgin train
She charms the' ethereal plain,
With the Lamb for ever found;
Angels listen while she sings,
Catch the' inimitable sound,
Music for the King of kings!
She charms the' ethereal plain,
With the Lamb for ever found;
Angels listen while she sings,
Catch the' inimitable sound,
Music for the King of kings!
O happy, happy soul,
Thy heavenly joy is full!
Thee the Lamb hath made His bride,
Call'd thee to His feast above;
Thee He now hath glorified,
Taught thee the new song of love.
Thy heavenly joy is full!
Thee the Lamb hath made His bride,
Call'd thee to His feast above;
Thee He now hath glorified,
Taught thee the new song of love.
O that at last even I,
Like thee, might sweetly die:
Die, and leave the world of woe,
Die out of the reach of sin,
Die the joys of heaven to know:
Open, Lord, and take me in!
Like thee, might sweetly die:
Die, and leave the world of woe,
Die out of the reach of sin,
Die the joys of heaven to know:
Open, Lord, and take me in!
Give me Thy bliss to share,
The meanest spirit there,
Only let me see Thy face,
See with Thee my happier friend,
At an awful distance gaze,
Taste the joys that never end.
The meanest spirit there,
Only let me see Thy face,
See with Thee my happier friend,
At an awful distance gaze,
Taste the joys that never end.
207
Thou wilt cut short my years,
And wipe away my tears;
Lo! I wait Thy leisure still,
Humbly at Thy footstool lie,
Calm to suffer all Thy will,
Glad in Thee to live and die.
And wipe away my tears;
Lo! I wait Thy leisure still,
Humbly at Thy footstool lie,
Calm to suffer all Thy will,
Glad in Thee to live and die.
HYMN XIII.
[We know, by faith we know]
We know, by faith we know,
If this vile house of clay,
This tabernacle sink below
In ruinous decay:
We have a house above
Not made with mortal hands,
And firm as our Redeemer's love
That heavenly fabric stands.
If this vile house of clay,
This tabernacle sink below
In ruinous decay:
We have a house above
Not made with mortal hands,
And firm as our Redeemer's love
That heavenly fabric stands.
It stands securely high,
Indissolubly sure,
Our glorious mansion in the sky
Shall evermore endure.
O were we enter'd there,
To perfect heaven restored,
O were we all caught up to share
The triumph of our Lord!
Indissolubly sure,
Our glorious mansion in the sky
Shall evermore endure.
O were we enter'd there,
To perfect heaven restored,
O were we all caught up to share
The triumph of our Lord!
Beneath our earthly load
We labour now and groan,
And hasten toward that house of God,
And struggle to be gone:
We would not, Lord, desire
An end of misery,
But Thee our earnest souls require,
We long to die for Thee.
We labour now and groan,
And hasten toward that house of God,
And struggle to be gone:
We would not, Lord, desire
An end of misery,
But Thee our earnest souls require,
We long to die for Thee.
208
For this in faith we call,
For this we weep and pray;
O might the tabernacle fall,
O might we 'scape away!
Full of immortal hope,
We urge the restless strife,
And hasten to be swallow'd up
Of everlasting life.
For this we weep and pray;
O might the tabernacle fall,
O might we 'scape away!
Full of immortal hope,
We urge the restless strife,
And hasten to be swallow'd up
Of everlasting life.
Absent, alas! from God,
We in the body mourn,
And pine to quit this mean abode,
And languish to return:
Jesus, regard our vows,
And change our faith to sight,
And clothe us with our nobler house
Of empyrean light.
We in the body mourn,
And pine to quit this mean abode,
And languish to return:
Jesus, regard our vows,
And change our faith to sight,
And clothe us with our nobler house
Of empyrean light.
O let us put on Thee
In perfect holiness,
And rise prepared Thy face to see,
Thy bright unclouded face;
Thy grace with glory crown
Who hast the earnest given,
And now triumphantly come down
And take our souls to heaven.
In perfect holiness,
And rise prepared Thy face to see,
Thy bright unclouded face;
Thy grace with glory crown
Who hast the earnest given,
And now triumphantly come down
And take our souls to heaven.
HYMN XIV.
[Jesus, come! our utmost Jesus]
Jesus, come! our utmost Jesus,
Save us from the world beneath,
From a life of pain release us,
From a life of daily death;
Listen to the ceaseless moaning
Of Thy plaintive turtle-dove:
Answer, Lord, Thy Spirit's groaning,
Take us to our church above.
Save us from the world beneath,
From a life of pain release us,
From a life of daily death;
209
Of Thy plaintive turtle-dove:
Answer, Lord, Thy Spirit's groaning,
Take us to our church above.
Many a soul is lodged before us,
In the garner of the grave:
Jesus, come! to life restore us,
Us from all our troubles save.
Us in infinite compassion
To our happier friends unite,
Raise us to our highest station,
Rank us with Thy saints in light.
In the garner of the grave:
Jesus, come! to life restore us,
Us from all our troubles save.
Us in infinite compassion
To our happier friends unite,
Raise us to our highest station,
Rank us with Thy saints in light.
Still we bear about Thy dying
In our feeble bodies here,
Languishing for Thee, and crying,
“Light of life, in us appear,
Take us to Thy kind embraces,
To Thy heavenly banquet lead;
Wipe the sorrow from our faces,
Set the crown upon our head.”
In our feeble bodies here,
Languishing for Thee, and crying,
“Light of life, in us appear,
Take us to Thy kind embraces,
To Thy heavenly banquet lead;
Wipe the sorrow from our faces,
Set the crown upon our head.”
HYMN XV.
[Hosannah to God]
Hosannah to God
In His highest abode
All heaven be join'd,
To' extol the Redeemer and Friend of mankind!
He claims all our praise,
Who in infinite grace
Again hath stoop'd down,
And caught up a worm to inherit a crown.
In His highest abode
All heaven be join'd,
To' extol the Redeemer and Friend of mankind!
He claims all our praise,
Who in infinite grace
Again hath stoop'd down,
And caught up a worm to inherit a crown.
210
Our partner below,
Our brother in woe,
From his sorrow and pain
He hath call'd to the pleasures that always remain:
He hath snatch'd him away
From a cottage of clay
To a kingdom above,
A kingdom of glory, and gladness, and love.
Our brother in woe,
From his sorrow and pain
He hath call'd to the pleasures that always remain:
He hath snatch'd him away
From a cottage of clay
To a kingdom above,
A kingdom of glory, and gladness, and love.
Our friend is restored,
To the joy of his Lord
With triumph departs,
But speaks by his death to our echoing hearts:
Follow after, he cries,
As he mounts to the skies,
Follow after your friend,
To the blissful enjoyments that never shall end.
To the joy of his Lord
With triumph departs,
But speaks by his death to our echoing hearts:
Follow after, he cries,
As he mounts to the skies,
Follow after your friend,
To the blissful enjoyments that never shall end.
And shall we not press
To that harbour of peace,
That heavenly shore,
Where sorrow, and parting, and death are no more:
Our brother pursue,
And fight our way through,
In the strength of our Lord
Follow on, till we seize the eternal reward?
To that harbour of peace,
That heavenly shore,
Where sorrow, and parting, and death are no more:
Our brother pursue,
And fight our way through,
In the strength of our Lord
Follow on, till we seize the eternal reward?
Through Jesus's name
Our comrade o'ercame,
And Jesus is ours,
And arms us with all His invincible powers:
He looks from the skies,
He shows us the prize,
And gives us a sign
That we shall o'ercome by the mercy Divine.
Our comrade o'ercame,
And Jesus is ours,
And arms us with all His invincible powers:
He looks from the skies,
He shows us the prize,
And gives us a sign
That we shall o'ercome by the mercy Divine.
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The Saviour of all
For us He shall call—
Shall shortly appear;
Our day of eternal salvation is near.
We too shall remove
To our city above,
On mortals look down,
Triumphant assessors of Jesus's throne.
For us He shall call—
Shall shortly appear;
Our day of eternal salvation is near.
We too shall remove
To our city above,
On mortals look down,
Triumphant assessors of Jesus's throne.
For us is prepared
The angelical guard,
The convoy attends,
A ministering host of invisible friends;
Ready wing'd for their flight
To the regions of light,
The horses are come,
The chariots of Israel to carry us home.
The angelical guard,
The convoy attends,
A ministering host of invisible friends;
Ready wing'd for their flight
To the regions of light,
The horses are come,
The chariots of Israel to carry us home.
They soon shall convey
Our spirits away,
Our spirits that groan,
And cry for redemption, and long to be gone.
By the cross we endure
We shall make the crown sure,
By a moment of pain
We all shall a joyful eternity gain.
Our spirits away,
Our spirits that groan,
And cry for redemption, and long to be gone.
By the cross we endure
We shall make the crown sure,
By a moment of pain
We all shall a joyful eternity gain.
HYMN XVI.
[Happy who in Jesus live]
Happy who in Jesus live,
But happier still are they
Who to God their spirits give,
And 'scape from earth away:
Lord, Thou read'st the panting heart,
Lord, Thou hear'st the praying sigh,
O 'tis better to depart,
'Tis better far to die!
But happier still are they
Who to God their spirits give,
And 'scape from earth away:
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Lord, Thou hear'st the praying sigh,
O 'tis better to depart,
'Tis better far to die!
Yet if so Thy will ordain,
For our companions' good,
Let us in the flesh remain,
And meekly bear the load:
When we have our grief fill'd up,
When we all our work have done,
Late partakers of our hope,
And sharers of Thy throne.
For our companions' good,
Let us in the flesh remain,
And meekly bear the load:
When we have our grief fill'd up,
When we all our work have done,
Late partakers of our hope,
And sharers of Thy throne.
To Thy wise and gracious will
We quietly submit,
Waiting for redemption still,
But waiting at Thy feet;
When Thou wilt the blessing give,
Call us up Thy face to see,
Only let Thy servants live,
And let us die to Thee.
We quietly submit,
Waiting for redemption still,
But waiting at Thy feet;
When Thou wilt the blessing give,
Call us up Thy face to see,
Only let Thy servants live,
And let us die to Thee.
| The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley | |