Hymns for Christian Devotion Part 97

1 In the broad fields of heaven,-- In the immortal bowers, By life's clear river dwelling, Amid undying flowers,-- There hosts of beauteous spirits, Fair children of the earth, Linked in bright bands celestial, Sing of their human birth.

2 They sing of earth and heaven,-- Divinest voices rise To G.o.d, their gracious Father, Who called them to the skies: They all are there,--in heaven,-- Safe, safe, and sweetly blest; No cloud of sin can shadow Their bright and holy rest.

586. S. M. Wilson.

Death of a Young Girl.

1 What though the stream be dead, Its banks all still and dry!

It murmurs o'er a lovelier bed, In air-groves of the sky.

2 What though our bird of light Lie mute with plumage dim; In heaven I see her glancing bright, I hear her angel hymn.

3 True that our beauteous doe Hath left her still retreat, But purer now in heavenly snow, She lies at Jesus' feet.

4 O star! untimely set!

Why should we weep for thee!

Thy bright and dewy coronet Is rising o'er the sea.

587. 7s. M. Anonymous.

Dirge for an Infant.

1 Lay her gently in the dust; Grievous task, but oh! ye must!

Hear the sentence, "earth to earth, Spirit to immortal birth;"

Youthful, gentle, undefiled, Angels nurture now the child!

2 Upward soaring, like the dove, Bearing with her chains of love; Not to draw her spirit back, But to smooth her upward track: Her, the youngest of thy fold, Angels watch with love untold!

3 With the Rock of Ages trust, That which was enshrined in dust; Robed in ever-spotless white, In an atmosphere of light, By the never-failing springs Rests she now her weary wings.

588. C. M. H. Bacon.

Death of a Child.

1 Thou gavest, and we yield to thee, G.o.d of the human heart!

For bitter though grief's cup may be, Thou givest but our part.

2 O, thou canst bid our grief be stilled, Yet not rebuke our tears; How large a place his presence filled!

How vacant it appears!

3 We mourn the suns.h.i.+ne of his smile, The tendrils of his love; Oh, was he loved too well the while Ere he was called above?

4 Our chastened spirits bow in prayer, And blend all prayers in one,-- Give us the hope to meet him there, When life's full task is done.

589. C. M. Mrs. Hemans.

Death of the Young.

1 Calm on the bosom of thy G.o.d, Young spirit, rest thee now!

E'en while with us thy footsteps trod His seal was on thy brow.

2 Dust, to its narrow house beneath!

Soul, to its place on high!

They that have seen thy look in death, No more may fear to die.

3 Lone are the paths, and sad the bowers, Whence thy meek smile is gone; But O, a brighter home than ours, In heaven is now thine own.

590. 8s. & 7s. M. S. F. Smith.

Death of a Young Girl.

1 Sister, thou wast mild and lovely, Gentle as the summer breeze, Pleasant as the air of evening, 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 G.o.d 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.

591. 8s. & 7s. M. Bap. Memorial.

Burial of a Christian Brother.

1 Brother, rest from sin and sorrow; Death is o'er and life is won; On thy slumber dawns no morrow: Rest; thine earthly race is run.