THE ORDER FOR THE BURIAL OF THE DEAD.

Oh beatific sight!

No darkling veil between, They see the Light of Light, Whom here they loved unseen. For them the wild is past

With all its toil and care; Its withering midnight blast, Its fiery noonday glare. Them the Good Shepherd leads, Where storms are never rife, In tranquil dewy meads

Beside the Fount of Life.

Ours only are the tears, Who weep around their tomb The light of bygone years

And shadowing years to come. Their voice, their touch, their smile ,­Those love- springs flowing o'er ,­Earth for its little while

Shall never know them more.

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,[ has died. And sinners may die, for the Sinless Thou art gone to the grave; and, its mansions forsaking, Perchance thy weak spirit in fear linger'd long;[ on thy waking, But the mild rays of Paradise beam'd 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 will restore thee;

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

540 Gop of the living, in whose

eyes

Unveil'd Thy whole creation lies; All souls are Thine; we must not say That those are dead who pass away; From this our world of flesh set free, We know them living unto Thee. Released from earthly toil and strife, With Thee is hidden still their life; Thine are their thoughts, their works, their powers,

All Thine, and yet most truly ours; For well we know, where'er they be, Our dead are living unto Thee. Not spilt like water on the ground, Not wrapp'd in dreamless sleep pro­found,

Not wandering in unknown despair Beyond Thy voice, Thine arm, Thy Not left to lie like fallen tree;[ care; Not dead, but living unto Thee. Thy word is true, Thy will is just; To Thee we leave them, Lord, in trust; And bless Thee for the love which gave Thy Son to fill a human grave, That none might fear that world to Where all are living unto Thee,[ see, O Breather into man of breath, O Holder of the keys of death, 0 Giver of the life within,

Bave us from death, the death of sin; That body, soul, and spirit be For ever living unto Thee. Amen. 541 Husa! blessèd are the dead

In Jesus' arms who rest, And lean their weary head For ever on IIis breast. 130

O tender hearts and true, Our long last vigil kept, We weep and mourn for you; Nor blame us: Jesus wept. But soon at break of day

His calm Almighty voice, Stronger than death, shall say, Awake,-arise,-rejoice. Amen.

542 BROTHER, thou art gone be

fore us,

And thy saintly soul is flown Where tears are wiped from every And sorrow is unknown. Leye, From the burden of the flesh,

And from care and fears released, Where the wicked cease from trou­And the weary are at rest.[ bling, The toilsome way thou'st travell'd o'er, And borne the heavy load; But Christ hath taught thy languid To reach His blest abode; [ feet Thou art sleeping now like Lazarus Upon his Father's breast, Where the wicked cease from trou­And the weary are at rest.[ bling,

Sin can never taint thee now, Nor doubt thy faith assail; Nor thy meek trust in Jesus Christ And the Holy Spirit fail. [ good And there thou'rt sure to meet the Whom on earth thou lovedst best, Where the wicked cease from trou And the weary are at rest.[ bling, " Earth to earth," and" dust to dust, The solemn priest hath said; So we lay the turf above thee now, And we seal thy narrow bed; But thy spirit, brother, soars away Among the faithful blest, Where the wicked cease from trou And the weary are at rest.[ bling,