And if the world treats evilly Him who to Thee is cleaving, Thou sayest, "Come to me, my son! Come, from me be receiving Love, pleasure, joy, That never cloy, That I for aye am giving." And angel hosts then joyfully Descend, and round us hover, And tend the soul so carefully; And when life's course is over To God on high It peacefully Goes with them 'neath their cover. The Lord His bride meets joyfully And saith, "Now welcome ever, I have espousèd thee to me, To all mine own come hither! Whom I 'fore thee Have brought to me, From yon world did deliver. "Thou true and faithful wast in heart, Wast ne'er asham'd to own me, And now receivest thou thy part, With crown of joy I crown thee. Thy part am I, Eternally Beside me I enthrone thee. "Of thine eyes now I dry the flood, Thy bitter tears am stilling; Here turn'd is to thy highest good, The grief thou once wert feeling; Of thy grief's sea No one shall be Here save with rapture telling. "All my belov'd ones clothe I here In pure white linen ever, With joy in heaven they appear, Here envy felt is never. Here is no death, No cross nor scath, Good friends at all can sever." O God! why should the thought of death With terror make me shiver? 'Tis he who'll from the yoke beneath Of mis'ry me deliver. From torture He Will set me free, I can regret it never. For death is the Red Sea to me, Through which on dry land ever Thine Israel, so dear to Thee, Pass to the land of favour, Where milk and wine Flow ever in Full streams that cease shall never. It is heav'n's golden door to me, The fiery car God sendeth, Wherein my spirit speedily To th' angel choir ascendeth, When God shall say "Thy working day Of life below now endeth." O sweetest joy, O blessèd rest! To all true-hearted given, Come, let mine eyes by Thee be press'd, In peace take me to heaven. May I roam there 'Mong pastures fair Where day ne'er knoweth even. What fails us here, there will He give, Full measure to us bringing, Our grateful songs shall He receive, From loving hearts up-springing. And there shall I Too, willingly Song after song be singing. JOYFUL RESIGNATION TO A HAPPY DEPARTURE FROM THIS WEARY WORLD. Be glad, my heart! now fear no more, Let nothing ever grieve thee; Christ lives, who lov'd thee long before Thy being He did give thee, And ere He made thy wondrous frame; His love remaineth still the same, It ne'er can change to hatred.