IT IS NOT DEATH TO DIE.

I

GEORGE W. BETHUNE.

T is not death to die—

To leave this weary road,

And, 'mid the brotherhood on high,

To be at home with God.

It is not death to close

The eye long dimmed by tears, And wake, in glorious repose

To spend eternal years.

It is not death to bear

The wrench that sets us free

From dungeon chain, to breathe the air Of boundless liberty.

It is not death to fling

Aside this sinful dust,

And rise, on strong exulting wing,

To live among the just.

Jesus, Thou Prince of life!

Thy chosen cannot die;

Like Thee, they conquer in the strife,

To reign with Thee on high.

THY WAY, NOT MINE.

HORATIUS BONAR.

THY

HY way, not mine, O Lord,
However dark it be!

Lead me by Thine own hand,
Choose out the path for me.

Smooth let it be or rough,
It will be still the best;

Winding or straight, it matters not,
It leads me to Thy rest.

I dare not choose my lot:
I would not, if I might;
Choose Thou for me, my God,
So shall I walk aright.

The kingdom that I seek

Is Thine: so let the way That leads to it be Thine,

Else I must surely stray.

Take Thou my cup, and it
With joy or sorrow fill,
As best to Thee may seem;

Choose Thou my good and ill.

Choose Thou for me my friends,
My sickness or my health,
Choose Thou my cares for me,
My poverty or wealth.

Not mine, not mine the choice,
In things or great or small;
Be Thou my guide, my strength,
My wisdom, and my all.

JESUS, STILL LEAD ON.

From the German of COUNT ZINZENDORF

JESUS, still lead on,

our rest be won;

And, although the way be cheerless, We will follow, calm and fearless; Guide us by Thy hand

To our fatherland.

If the way be drear,

If the foe be near,

Let not faithless fears o'ertake us,

Let not faith and hope forsake us ;
For through many a foe
To our home we go.

When we seek relief

From a long-felt grief,

When temptations come alluring,
Make us patient and enduring;
Show us that bright shore
Where we weep no more.

Jesus, still lead on,

Till our rest be won;
Heavenly Leader, still direct us,
Still support, console, protect us,
Till we safely stand

In our fatherland.

THROUGH NIGHT TO LIGHT.

From the German of Kosegarten.

HROUGH night to light. And though to mortal

THE

eyes

Creation's face a pall of horror wear,

Good cheer, good cheer! The gloom of midnight flies;
Then shall a sunrise follow, mild and fair.

Through storm to calm. And though his thunder-car
The rumbling tempest drive through earth and sky,
Good cheer, good cheer! The elemental war
Tells that a blessed healing hour is nigh.

Through frost to spring. And though the biting blast
Of Eurus stiffen nature's juicy veins,

Good cheer, Good cheer! When winter's wrath is past,

Soft murmuring spring breathes sweetly o'er the plains.

Through strife to peace. And though with bristling front

A thousand frightful depths encompass thee,

Good cheer, good cheer! Brave thou the battle's brunt,

For the peace march and song of victory.

Through sweat to sleep. And though the sultry noon,
With heavy, drooping wing, oppress thee now,
Good cheer, good cheer! The cool of evening soon
Shall lull to sweet repose thy weary brow.

Through cross to crown. And though thy spirit's life Trials untold assail with giant strength,

Good cheer, good cheer! Soon ends the bitter strife, And thou shalt reign in peace with Christ at length.

Through woe to joy. And though at morn thou weep And though the midnight find thee weeping still, Good cheer, good cheer! The Shepherd loves His sheep;

Resign thee to the watchful Father's will.

Through death to life. And through this vale of tears,
And through this thistle-field of life, ascend

To the great supper in that world whose years
Of bliss unfading, cloudless, know no end!