A Funeral Hymn

( Used first for Mrs. Elizabeth Hooper.)

COME, to the house of mourning come,
The house of serious, solemn joy;
Let us, till all are taken home,
Our lives in songs of praise employ.

Accomplish'd is our sister's strife,
Her happier soul is gone before,
Her struggle for eternal life,
Her glorious agony, is o'er.

The captive exile is released,
Is with her Lord in paradise,
Of perfect paradise possest,
And waiting for the heavenly prize.

In her no spot of sin remain'd,
To shake her confidence in God;
The victory here she more than gain'd,
Triumphant through her Saviour's blood.

She now the fight of faith hath fought,
Finish'd and won the Christian race;
She found on earth the Lord she sought,
And now beholds Him face to face.

She died in sure and steadfast hope,
By Jesus wholly sanctified;
Her perfect spirit she gave up,
And sunk into His arms, and died.

Thus may we all our parting breath
Into the Saviour's hands resign:
O Jesu, let me die her death,
And let her latter end be mine!