COMMINATION
But he is gone where the redeem'd are
keeping
A festival above.
The mourners throng the way, and from the steeple
The funeral bell tolls slow;
But on the golden streets the holy people
Are passing to and fro; And saying, as they meet, Rejoice!
another,
Long waited for, is come: The Saviour's heart is glad: a younger
brother
Hath reach'd the Father's home.
BURIAL OF A CHILD.
485 GENTLE Shepherd, thou hast
still'd
Now thy little lamb's long weeping: Ah, how peaceful, pale, and mild, In its narrow bed' tis sleeping; And no sign of anguish sore Heaves that little bosom more.
In this world of care and pain, Lord, thou wouldst no longer leave it; To the sunny heavenly plain Dost thou now with joy receive it: Clothed in robes of spotless white, Now it dwells with thee in light.
Ah, Lord Jesu, grant that we Where it lives may soon be living, And the lovely pastures see That i heavenly food are giving; Then the gain of death we prove, Though thou take what most we love. 486 SAFE home, safe home in port: Rent cordage, shatter'd deck, Torn sails, provision short,
And only not a wreck:But oh, the joy upon the shore To tell our voyage- perils o'er! The prize, the prize secure: The wrestler nearly fell; Bare all he could endure,
And bare not always well:But he may smile at troubles gone Who sets the victor- garland on. No more the foe can harm:
No more of leaguer'd camp, And cry of night alarm,
And need of ready lamp:And yet how nearly had he fail'dHow nearly had that foe prevail'd! The lamb is in the fold,
In perfect safety penn'd: The lion once had hold,
And thought to make an end:But One came by with wounded side, And for the sheep the Shepherd died. The exile is at home:
SERVICE.
O happy, happy bride,
Thy widow'd hours are past; The Bridegroom at thy side, Thou all his own at last; The sorrows of thy former cup In full fruition swallow'd up.( w)
O nights and days of tears, O longings not to roam,
O sins and doubts and fears! What matters now grief's darkest day, Then God has wiped all tears away?
487 Rest from thy loved employ;
" SERVANT of God, well done;
The battle fought, the victory won,
Enter thy Master's joy." The voice at midnight came; A mortal arrow pierced his frame: He started up to hear;
He fell, but felt no fear.
At midnight came the cry,
To meet thy God prepare:
He woke, and caught his Captain's eye Then, strong in faith and prayer,-- His spirit with a bound
Burst its encumbering clay:
His tent, at sunrise, on the ground A darken'd ruin lay.
The pairs of death are past, Labour and sorrow cease;
And, life's long warfare closed at last His soul is found in peace. Soldier of Christ, well done: Praise be thy new employ; And, while eternal ages run, Rest in thy Saviour's joy.( f)
Commination Service. 488 LORD, in this thy mercy's day Ere the time shall pass away, On our knees we fall and pray. Holy Jesu, grant us tears, Fill us with heart- searching fears, Ere the hour of doom appears.
Lord, on us thy Spirit pour, Kneeling lowly at thy door, Ere it close for evermore. By thy night of agony, By thy supplicating cry, By thy willingness to die, By thy tears of bitter woe, For Jerusalem below,
Let us not thy love forego.
Judge and Saviour of our race, When we see thee face to face, Grant us' neath thy wings a place.
On thy love we rest alone, And that love will then be known By the pardon'd round thy throne. 489 THOU who didst on Calvary
bleed,
Thou who dost for sinners plea Help me in my time of need; Jesu, hear my cry.
In my darkness and my grief, With my heart of unbelief, I, who am of sinners chief, Lift to thee mine eye.
Foes without and fears within, With no plea thy grace to win