The Death and Burial of a Saint

Verse 1

Why do we mourn departing friends Or shake at death’s alarms? ’Tis but the voice that Jesus sends To call them to His arms.

Verse 2

Are we not tending upward, too, As fast as time can move? Nor would we wish the hours more slow To keep us from our Love.

Verse 3

Why should we tremble to convey Their bodies to the tomb? There the dear flesh of Jesus lay And scattered all the gloom.

Verse 4

The graves of all His saints He blest And softened ev'ry bed. Where should the dying members rest But with the dying Head?

Verse 5

Thence He arose, ascending high, And showed our feet the way. Up to the Lord, we, too, shall fly, At the great rising-day.

Verse 6

Then let the last loud trumpet sound And bid our kindred rise: Awake, ye nations under ground! Ye saints, ascend the skies! Amen.