154 8,8,8,8
FUNERAL HYMN.
"Then shall the dust return to the Earth as it was; and the Spirit shall return to God Who gave it."--Eccles. 12:7.
"Lebwohl! die Erde wartet dein."
F. Sachse.
transl., Jane Borthwick, 1858
Beloved and honored, fare thee well! Go in thy last long home to dwell; Softly our loving hands prepare Thy narrow bed--sleep softly there! | Love looks below, with weeping eyes, Where her long-cherished treasure lies Our sweet companionship is o'er, Our pilgrim friend returns no more! | Earth takes her own--this mortal frame; Eternity her part shall claim; And so we say, in humble trust, The soul to God--the dust to dust. | Then, looking up tbroigh sorrow's night, We trace the spirit's homeward flight; The Prince of Life has marked that road, Through the dark valley, home to God. | Where once the Master lowly lay, Let the tired servant rest to-day, And in the Father's house above Forever share his Master's love. | 155 Thanks for thy joy, all danger past! Thanks for our own good hope at last! Weeping endureth for a night, Joy cometh with the morning light. | Lord, will that morning soon appear? May our own summons now be near? Shall sorrow soon be past and gone? Thy will be done! Thy will be done! | Only prepare us, all Thy will Gladly to suffer, or fulfill; Then call us to Thy heavenly rest, With thee, and with our brother blest. | |