Christian Songs, Song LIII

I've seen the lovely garden flow'rs In all their beauty glow: I've seen the stormy hail-stone show'rs Lay all their glory low.

2 I've seen the youth in beauty's pride And highest health to day, Before to-morrow's even tide, A loathsome lump of clay.

3 Then what's our life? a vapour sure! Away it swiftly flies; The joys of life, how insecure, How trifling such a prize?

4 How oft this lesson we've been taught; Yet still the earthly mind Pursues its earthly hope full fraught, To heav'nly hope still blind:

5 That lesson which we now despise, Presuming on our might, Shall soon be set before our eyes, Clear as the noon-day light.

6 The hast'ning day shall soon arrive, When awful death shall come, And close the scene of this vain life, In darkness and the tomb.

7 O! may the Living Word, the light, Shine forth before our eyes; In that dread hour dispel the night With everlasting rays:

8 When in the dark and dismal road, Which we are doom'd to tread, Our comfort be the word of God, Our rock, our strength, our shade:

9 His word, who dy'd upon the tree, Can fortify the heart, And, ev'n in death, our minds can free, And bid all fear depart;

10 For he's alive, who once was slain, And reigns exalted high; His word can raise us up again, Tho' in the grave we lie.

11 The work he finish'd on the cross, Doth bring salvation sure; And his unspotted righteousness For ever doth endure.