Classic Poem

W EEP not, Christian, weep not,
Wipe all thy tears away!
Those who leave thee, sleep not
Under the cold, dull clay!
Weep not for the Babe! Thy plighted word
Hath planted in the Garden of the Lord
A bud, that by the stream of Life shall bloom,
Nor waste on earth its heavenly perfume.
Mother! let songs of triumph dry thy tears!
For, while thou lingerest on some few dark years,
Thy blessed offspring to his glorious place
Hath gone before,
And sees the brightness of his F ATHER'S face
For evermore!

Weep not, Christian, weep not,
Wipe all thy tears away!
Those who leave thee, sleep not
Under the cold, dull clay!
Weep not for the strong and full-grown Man,
Who valiantly the fight of life began,
Girt with the sword that pierces from afar,
With helm and shield, and panoply of war.
Hath he been taken ere his work was done?
Wafted aloft with all his armor on?
Warriors, when summoned from their earthly posts
To yonder shore,
Stand in the armies of the Lord of Hosts
For evermore!

Weep not, Christian, weep not,
Wipe all thy tears away!
Those who leave thee, sleep not
Under the cold, dull clay!
Weep not when the old and hoary head
Sinks to repose among the peaceful dead.
Who weeps for sorrow when the ripened corn,
In golden sheaves, is to the garner borne? —
When the slow laden wains all homeward come,
And joyous reapers sing their harvest-home?
So, when the life-long troubles of the blest
At length are o'er,
The Angels gather them into their rest,
For evermore!

Weep not, Christian, weep not,
Wipe all thy tears away!
Those who leave thee, sleep not
Under the cold, dull clay!
Weep not for the Dead, although they sleep;
And we, alone, our weary way shall keep.
They are asleep in J ESUS ! Their repose
Beckons us upward through this world of woes.
The day of our deliverance is at hand!
With thoughts fixed high in Heaven, on Earth we stand;
With patience wait till Angels from above
Shall ope the door,
Nor death shall part our souls from those we love,
For evermore!