Thou, who my Joy art ever, And of my life the Light, When death life's thread doth sever, Bring'st me to heav'n so bright, To mansions everlasting, Where I shall ever shine, E'en as the sun, while tasting Of pleasures all divine. There I'll be ever living Not merely as a guest, With those who crowns receiving From Thee are ever bless'd; I'll celebrate in glory Thine ev'ry mighty deed, My portion have before Thee, From every evil freed. CHRISTIAN JOY IN DEATH. My face, why should'st thou troubled be When thou of death art hearing? Know it, it cannot injure thee, Contemplate it, ne'er fearing. When thou dost know Death, all its woe Will soon be disappearing. From the old serpent's face first tear The mask he is assuming, And lo! no poison more is there, 'Tis harmless through the coming Of Christ to save, Who to the grave Went down, death thus o'ercoming. Thou, Lord, didst break our foe's great pow'r, His sting thus from him taking, The butt of scorn he's evermore, No mischief can be making. Thy precious blood Damps his hot mood, His ardour's him forsaking. 'Twas sin that was the sting of death, And on to dying drove us, For ever done away sin hath Our Saviour, who did love us. Its pow'r and might Is broken quite, Though it to grief may move us. Now sin is dead, God's anger's turn'd, He's reconcil'd; the Saviour Hath borne the curse our debts had earn'd, Restor'd us to God's favour. Who was our foe Our friend is now, Is full of grace for ever. It cannot be, if Thou'rt my friend, That Thou would'st kill me ever; Thy Father's heart can ne'er intend To death me to deliver, And who is e'er Thy child and heir By ill is injur'd never. But Thou, O Father! doest well When trials sore are grieving, When misery the life doth fill, The waves around us heaving, That us Thy hand To Fatherland Brings, from the floods relieving. When from the angry skies storms break, And mountains quake before them, The thunder of Thy wrath doth shake The hills, and pealeth o'er them, Then dost Thou come And takest home Thine own, Thou carest for them. When rage around our enemies, Our injury are seeking, When lions, wolves, and bears arise, Their vengeance on us wreaking, Thou tak'st Thy sheep, Dost safely keep Them near Thee, comfort speaking.