As long as life its term extends

Verse 1

As long as life its term extends, hope’s blest dominion never ends; for while the lamp holds on to burn, the greatest sinner may return.

Verse 2

Life is the season God hath giv’n to fly from hell, and rise to heav’n; that day of grace fleets fast away, and none its rapid course can stay.

Verse 3

The living know that they must die; but all the dead forgotten lie: their mem’ry and their name is gone, alike unknowing and unknown.

Verse 4

Their hatred and their love is lost, their envy bury'd in the dust; they have no share in all that’s done beneath the circuit of the sun.

Verse 5

Then what thy thoughts design to do, still let thy bands with might pursue; since no device nor work is found. Nor wisdom underneath the ground.

Verse 6

In the cold grave, to which we haste, there are no acts of pardon past: but fix'd the doom of all remains, and everlasting silence reigns.