DEATH
Dark were the world if o'er its gloom
The gospel light had never dawned,
Hopeless our fate if through the tomb
We saw no better world beyond.
The gospel light had never dawned,
Hopeless our fate if through the tomb
We saw no better world beyond.
The smile of earthly gladness fades
Destined to swift and sure decay,
Disease this mortal frame invades
And leaves but cold and lifeless clay.
Destined to swift and sure decay,
Disease this mortal frame invades
And leaves but cold and lifeless clay.
So brief is life—a few short years
Measure this fleeting transient breath,
Sorrow and gladness, smiles and tears
Surrender to the angel,—Death.
Measure this fleeting transient breath,
Sorrow and gladness, smiles and tears
Surrender to the angel,—Death.
"Come unto me," the Saviour said;
No more a weary pilgrim roam;
Swift through the night the chariot sped
That bore the deathless spirit home.
No more a weary pilgrim roam;
Swift through the night the chariot sped
That bore the deathless spirit home.
Veiled are the joyous, sparkling eyes,
No more on earth to smile or weep,
No more to ope in glad surprise
When earthly music breaks their sleep.
No more on earth to smile or weep,
No more to ope in glad surprise
When earthly music breaks their sleep.
Peaceful is now the weary brain
Its tumult stilled, its tempest O'er,
Its once bright prospects slowly wane
As lights upon a distant shore.
Its tumult stilled, its tempest O'er,
Its once bright prospects slowly wane
As lights upon a distant shore.
But oh, true heart, art thou asleep?
Thou who wert faithful to the last
Struggling the flickering flame to keep
When all else sank before the blast?
Thou who wert faithful to the last
Struggling the flickering flame to keep
When all else sank before the blast?
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