980*

1 THIS

The value of the sacred writings.

L. M.

1 THIS world that we so highly prize, And seek so eagerly its smile—

What is it?-vanity and lies

A broken cistern all the while.

2 Pleasure with her delightful song,

That charms th' unwary to beguile-
What is it?-the deceiver's tongue-
A broken cistern all the while.

3 Riches, that so absorb the mind

In anxious care and ceaseless toil-
What are they?-faithless as the wind—
A broken cistern all the while.

4 Yes-all are broken cisterns, Lord!
To those that wander far from thee:
The living stream is in thy word,
Thou Fount of immortality.

981 (939)

1 T

DEATH.

Death of the righteous.

HIS place is holy ground;
World, with thy cares away;
Silence and darkness reign around,
But soon the break of day-
The resurrection dawn appears,
To shine upon this scene of tears.

2 Behold the bed of death,

This pale and lovely clay?

Heard ye the sob of parting breath?
Mark'd ye the eye's last ray?
No! life so sweetly ceas'd to be,
It laps'd in immortality.

3 Could tears revive the dead,
Rivers would swell our eyes;

P. M.

Could sighs recall the spirit fled,
We would not quench our sighs
Till love illum'd this altered mien,
And all th' embodied soul were seen.

4 Bury the dead, and weep

In stillness o'er the lost;

Bury the dead; in Christ they sleep,
Who bore on earth his cross.

Soon from the grave the dust shall rise
In his own image to the skies.

982+

1

Hope in death.

9s & Ss. P. M.

THO knows how near my life's expended?
Time flies, and death is hasting on:

How soon, my term of trial ended,

May heave my last expiring groan!
For Jesus' sake, when flesh shall fail,
With me, O God, may all be well!

2 My many sins!-O veil them over
With merits of thy dying Son!
I here thy richest grace discover,-
Here find I peace, and here alone:
And, for his sake, when flesh shall fail,
With me, O God, may it be well!

3 His bleeding wounds give me assurance
That thy free mercy will abide;
Here strength I find for death's endurance,
And hope for all I need beside:
For Jesus' sake, when flesh shall fail,
With me, O God, may it be well!

4 Nothing from Christ my soul shall sever,
Nor life, nor death;-things high, nor low:
I take him as my Lord for ever,

My future trust, as he is now:

And for his sake, when flesh shall fail,
With me, O God, may it be well.

983*

1

SOON, in the grave my flesh shall rest,
My soul from earth remove,

And, in the Savior's glory dress'd,
Shall reach the home I love;-

2 My friends-the whole celestial choir;
My ev'ry feeling-joy;

To honor God-my one desire;
His praise my one employ.

3 Nor would I wait till angel-host
Shall teach their song to raise:
To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
I'll here begin my praise.

4 Now to our God, the Father, Son,
And Holy Spirit, sing!

With praise to God, the three in one,
Let all creation ring!

984+ Interment of a pious young female. 8s & 7s.

1 ISTER, thou wast mild and lovely,
Gentle as the summer breeze,

Pleasant as the air of ev'ning,
When it floats among the trees.

2 Peaceful be thy silent slumber-
Peaceful in the grave so low:
Thou no more wilt join our number;
Thou no more our songs shalt know.
3 Dearest sister, thou hast left us;
Here thy loss we deeply feel;
But 'tis God that hath bereft us:
He can all our sorrows heal.

4 Yet again we hope to meet thee,
When the day of life is fled,

Then in heaven with joy to greet thee,
Where no farewell tear is shed.

985*

For the death of an infant.

1 GO to thy rest, my child,

Go to thy dreamless bed,
Gentle and undefil'd,

With blessings on thy head.
2 Fresh roses in thy hand,
Buds on thy pillow laid;
Haste from this fearful land,
Where flowers so quickly fade.
3 Before thy heart had learn'd
In waywardness to stray;
Before thy feet had turn'd

The dark and downward way;
4 Ere sin had seared the breast,
Or sorrow woke the tear;
Rise to thy home of rest,
In yon celestial sphere.
5 Because thy smile was fair,
Thy lip and eye so bright,
Because thy cradle-care

Was such a fond delight,-
6 Shall love, with weak embrace,
Thy heavenward wing detain?
No!-angel, seek thy place
Amid heaven's cherub train.

986*

1

Blessedness of the righteous in death.

P. M. 6s.

L. M.

1 How ke a weary soul to rest! OW blest the righteous when he dies! How mildly beam the closing eyes!

How gently heaves th' expiring breast! 2 So fades a summer cloud away;

So sinks the gale when storms are o'er; So gently shuts the eye of day; So dies a wave along the shore.

3 A holy quiet reigns around,

A calm which life nor death destroys; And naught disturbs that peace profound Which his unfetter'd soul enjoys.

4 Farewell, conflicting hopes and fears,

Where lights and shades alternate dwell; How bright th' unchanging morn appears! Farewell, inconstant world, farewell.

5 Life's labor done, as sinks the clay, Light from its load the spirit flies, While heav'n and earth combine to say, "How blest the righteous when he dies!" 987* Farewell to a departed friend.

1

THOU art gone to the grave; not deplore thee,

12s & 11s.

but we will

Though sorrows and darkness encompass the tomb;

The Savior has passed 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 Savior hath died.

3 Thou art gone to the grave; and, its mansion forsaking,

Perchance thy weak spirit in doubt linger'd long;

But the sunshine of heaven beam'd bright on thy waking,

And the sound thou didst hear was the seraphim's song.

4 Thou art gone to the grave; but we will not deplore thee,

Since God was thy Ransom, thy Guardian, thy Guide;

He gave thee, he took thee, and he will re

store thee;

And death has no sting, since the Savior hath died.