Death & Dying

1 Samuel 15:32: Surely the bitterness of death is past

by Charles Wesley 1707–1788

From Short Hymns on Select Passages of the Holy Scriptures (1762) · Osborn ed., vol. 9 (1870)

Death & Dying

Sinner, alarm'd by judgment near,
Who fold'st thine arms for sleep again,
As far from death's superfluous fear
And hell's imaginary pain.
No more with harden'd heart presume,
But tremble at thine instant doom.

In pride and delicacy bred,
Secure of a long length of days.
Justice Divine will strike thee dead;
And when thou goest to thy own place,
That bitterness is never o'er,
That death shall last for evermore.

But all who Jesus' spirit breathe,
By faith on Jesus' passion cast.
With them the bitterness of death,
The bitterness of life, is pass'd;
And O! for ever happy, I,
With these indulged to live and die.

MLA

Wesley, Charles. “1 Samuel 15:32: Surely the bitterness of death is past.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/wesley_c/2849/.

Chicago

Wesley, Charles. “1 Samuel 15:32: Surely the bitterness of death is past.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/wesley_c/2849/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Charles Wesley