Who knows how near my end may be? Time speeds away, and Death comes on; How swiftly, ah! how suddenly, May Death be here, and Life be gone! ||:My God,:|| for Jesu's sake I pray Thy peace may bless my dying day. | The world that smiled when morn was come May change for me ere close of eve; So long as earth is still my home In peril of my death I live; ||:My God,:|| for Jesu's sake I pray Thy peace may bless my dying day. | Teach me to ponder oft my end, And ere the hour of death appears, To cast my soul on Christ her Friend, Nor spare repentant cries and tears; ||:My God,:|| for Jesu's sake I pray Thy peace may bless my dying day. | And let me now so order all, That ever ready I may be To say with joy, whate'er befall, Lord, do Thou as Thou wilt with me; ||:My God,:|| for Jesu's sake I pray Thy peace may bless my dying day. | Let heaven to me be ever sweet, And this world bitter let me find, That I, 'mid all its toil and heat, May keep eternity in mind; ||:My God,:|| for Jesu's sake I pray Thy peace may bless my dying day. | O Father, cover all my sins With Jesu's merits, who alone The pardon that I covet wins, And makes His long-sought rest my own; ||:My God,:|| for Jesu's sake I pray Thy peace may bless my dying day. | His sorrows and His cross I know Make death-beds soft, and light the grave, They comfort in the hour of woe, They give me all I fain would have; ||:My God,:|| for Jesu's sake I pray Thy peace may bless my dying day. | From Him can nought my soul divide, Nor life nor death can part us now; I lay my hand upon His side, And say, My Lord and God art Thou; ||:My God,:|| for Jesu's sake I pray Thy peace may bless my dying day. | In holy baptism long ago, I join'd me to the living Vine, Thou lovest me in Him, I know, In Him Thou dost accept me Thine; ||:My God,:|| for Jesu's sake I pray Thy peace may bless my dying day. | And I have eaten of His flesh And drunk His blood,--nor can I be Forsaken now, nor doubt afresh, I am in Him and He in me; ||:My God,:|| for Jesu's sake I pray Thy peace may bless my dying day. | Then death may come or tarry yet, I know in Christ I perish not, He never will His own forget, He gives me robes without a spot; ||:My God,:|| for Jesu's sake I pray Thy peace may bless my dying day. | And thus I live in God at peace, And die without a thought of fear, Content to take what God decrees, For through His Son my faith is clear, ||:His grace:|| shall be in death my stay, And peace shall bless my dying day. | |