Classic Poem

I.

When death appears before my sighs
In all his dire array,
Unequal to the dreadful fight,
My courage dies away.

II.

How shall I meet this potent foe,
Whose frown my soul alarms?
Dark horror sits upon his brow,
And victory waits his arms.

III.

But see my glorious Leader nigh!
My Lord, my Saviour lives;
Before him death's pale terrors fly,
And my faint heart revives.

IV.

Jesus, be thou my sure defence,
My guard for ever near;
And faith shall triumph over sense,
And never yield to fear.

V.

O may I meet the dreadful hour,
With sortitude divine;
Sustain'd by thy almighty power,
The conquest must be mine.

VI.

What though subdu'd this body lies,
Slain in the mortal strife,
My spirit shall unconquer'd rise,
To a diviner life.

VII.

Lord, I commit my soul to thee,
Accept the sacred trust,
Receive this nobler part of me,
And watch my sleeping dust:

VIII.

Till that illustrious morning come,
When all thy saints shall rise,
And cloath'd in full, immortal bloom,
Attend thee to the skies.

IX.

When thy triumphant armies sing
The honours of thy name,
And heaven's eternal arches ring,
With glory to the Lamb:

X.

O let me join the raptur'd lays,
And with the blissful throng,
Resound salvation, power and praise,
In everlasting song.