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575. Sorrow at the death of a believer mitigated by the assurance of his sleeping in Jesus and rising again. C.M. Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead but sleepeth.-MARK. v. 39.

WHY flow these torrents of distress?
Whence are those mournful cries?
Why are the sleeping saints survey'd
With unbelieving eyes?

2 O'er Jesu's members death shall boast His victory in vain ;

Nor o'er their meaner part in dust
A lasting power retain.

3 Jesus on wings of love shall come
Their sleeping dust to wake;

His voice shall reach the deepest tomb,
And all its bonds shall break.

4 Touch'd by his hand, at once they rise, They rise, to sleep no more;

But rob'd with light and crown'd with
To endless day they soar.

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5. Jesus! our faith receives thy word; And, tho' fond nature weep, Grace learns to hail the pious dead, And emulate their sleep.

6 Our willing souls thy summons wait, With them to rest and praise;

So let thy much-lov'd presence cheer
These separating days.

576. Death a blessing to those who are united to Jesus. C.M.

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him-1 THESS. iv. 13, 14.

WHY do we mourn departing friends,
Or shake at death's alarms?

"Tis but the voice that Jesus sends
To call them to his arms.

2 Are we not tending upward too,
As fast as time can move?
And can we wish the hours more slow,
That lead to joys above?

3 Why should we tremble to convey
Their bodies to the tomb?

There the dear flesh of Jesus lay,
And left a long perfume.

4 The graves of all his saints he bless'd, And hallow'd every bed:

Where should the dying members rest,
But with the dying Head?

5 Thence he arose, ascending high,
And show'd our feet the way:
Up to the Lord our flesh shall fly
At the great rising-day.

6 Then let the last loud trumpet sound,
And bid our kindred rise!
Awake, ye nations under ground;
Ye saints, ascend the skies!

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577. The indwelling of the Spirit of Christ an assurance of the resurrection of all his people. C.M.

If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.-ROм. viii. 11.

WHY should our mourning thoughts delight

To grovel in the dust?

Or why should streams of tears unite
Around the expiring just?

2 Did not the Lord our Saviour die,
And triumph o'er the grave?
Did not our Lord ascend on high,
And prove his power to save?

3 Doth not the sacred Spirit come,
And dwell in all the saints?
And should the temples of his grace
Resound with long complaints?

4 Awake, my soul, and like the sun, Burst through each sable cloud; And thou, my voice, though broke with sighs,

Tune forth thy songs aloud.

5 The Spirit rais'd my Saviour up
When number'd with the dead;
And, spite of death and hell, shall raise
All for whose sins he bled.

6 Awake, ye saints, that dwell in dust,
Your hymns of vict'ry sing;
And let his dying servants trust
Their ever living king.

578. The sympathy of Christ with his people an encouragement to them to come to the throne of grace. C.M.

For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. HEB. iv. 15, 16.

WITH joy we meditate the grace
Of our High Priest above:
His heart is made of tenderness,
His bowels melt with love.

2 Touch'd with a sympathy within,
He knows our feeble frame;
He knows what sore temptations mean,
For he has felt the same.

3. But spotless, innocent, and pure,
The great Redeemer stood;
While Satan's fiery darts he bore,
And did resist to blood.

4 He in the days of feeble flesh
Pour'd out his cries and tears;
And in his measure feels afresh
What every member bears.

5 He'll never quench the smoking flax, But raise it to a flame;

The bruised reed he never breaks,
Nor scorns the meanest name.-

6 Then let our humble faith address
His mercy and his

power; We shall obtain deliv'ring grace In the distressing hour.

579. The midnight cry. 148th.

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins which took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom......The wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps......And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him ......And they that were ready went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut.-Mat. xxv. 1, 4, 6, 10.YE virgin souls, arise! With all the dead awake; Unto salvation wise,

Oil in your vessels take; Upstarting at the midnight cry, Behold your heav'nly Bridegroom nigh. 2 He comes, he comes, to call: The nations to his bar;

And take to glory all

Who meet for glory are.

Make ready for your free reward;
Go forth with joy to meet your Lord-

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