THE ORDER FOR THE BURIAL OF THE DEAD, Simply do I now draw near, Thy blessing to receive: Full of sin, alas! I am, But to thy wounds for refuge flee: Friend of sinners, spotless Lamb,

Thy blood was shed for me. Standing now as newly slain,

To thee I lift mine eye; Balm of all my grief and pain, Thy grace is always nigh; Now, as yesterday, the same Thou art, and wilt for ever be; Friend of sinners, spotless Lamb, Thy blood was shed for me. Nothing have I, Lord, to pay, Nor can thy grace procure; Empty send me not away,

For I, thou know'st, am poor; Dust and ashes is my name, My all sin and misery:

Friend of sinners, spotless Lamb, Thy blood was shed for me. No good word, or work, or thought, Bring I to gain thy grace; Pardon I accept unbought,

Thy proffer 1 embrace: Coming, as at first I came,

To take, and not bestow on thee; Friend of sinners, spotless Lamb, Thy blood was shed for me.

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476 W would see Jesus; for the shadows lengthen

Across this little landscape of our life;

We would see Jesus, our weak faith to

strengthen

For the last weariness, the final strife. We would see Jesus; for life's hand hath rested

With its dark touch upon both heart and brow;

And though our souls have many a billow breasted,

Others are rising in the distance now. We would see Jesus, the great rock foundation

Whereon our feet were set by sovereign grace,

Nor life nor death, with all their agi­tation,

Can thence remove us if we see his face. We would see Jesus: other lights are paling,

Which for long years we have rejoiced

to see;

The blessings of our pilgrimage are failing,

We would not mourn them, for we go to thee.

We would see Jesus; yet the spirit lingers

Round the dear objects it has loved so

long,

And earth from earth can scarce unclasp 479 THOU art gone to the glor

we will deplors

Our love to thee makes not this love less strong.

We would see Jesus: sense is all too blinding,

And heaven appears too dim, too far

away:

We would see thee, thyself our hearts reminding

What thou hast suffer'd our great debt

to pay.

We would see Jesus: this is all we're needing;

Strength, joy, and willingness come with the sight;

We would see Jesus, dying, risen, pleading;

Then welcome day, and farewell mortal

night.

477 0 SAVIOUR, I have nought to

plead,

In earth beneath or heaven above, But just my own exceeding need And thy exceeding love. The need will soon be past and gone, Exceeding great but quickly o'er: The love unbought is all thine own And lasts for evermore.(*)

The Order for the Burial of the Dead.

Communion of the Sick. 478 GOD of my salvation, hear,

And help me to believe:

thee,

Though sorrows and darkness encom­pass the tomb;

Thy Saviour has pass'd through its portal before thee,

And the lamp of his love is thy guide through the gloom.

Thou art gone to the grave: we no longer behold thee,

Nor tread the rough path of the world by thy side;

But the wide arms of mercy are spread to enfold thee,

And sinners may die, for the Sinless has died.

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

Perchance thy weak spirit in fear linger'd long;

But the mild rays of Paradise beam'd on thy waking,

And the sound which thou heardst was the seraphim's song.

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

Whose God was thy ransom, thy guardian, and guide;

He gave thee, he took thee, and he wil restore thee;

And death has no sting, for the Saviour has died.