Verse 1
Steady, faithful soul, adieu!
Thou the mortal debt hast paid,
Nobly fought thy passage thro’;
By the guardian hosts convey’d,
Go to thy eternal rest,
Go to thy Redeemer’s breast.

Verse 2
Thee with sacred envy mov’d,
Clean escap’d from earth we see,
Challeng’d by thy[1] best belov’d,
Him, who died to purchase thee,
Him, who justly claims his own,
Him, who call[2] thee to his throne.

Verse 3
At the noon of life prepar’d,
In thy strength of years and grace,
Thou hast seiz’d the full reward,
Thou hast won the glorious race,
Found the bliss for saints design’d,
Left thy weeping friends behind.

Verse 4
Sad, disconsolate, alone,
By our old companion left,
We the common loss bemoan,
Of our dearest friend bereft,
Friend to every child of grace,
Friend to all the ransom’d race.

Verse 5
Who shall now the orphan feed,
All the widow’s wants supply?
Who shall help the souls in need,
Who the mourner’s tears shall dry,
Feel the tempted spirit’s load,
Bear them to the throne of God?

Verse 6
Answer thou, who hear’st the prayer,
Thou who did’st our brother lend,
Now thy church’s loss repair,
Now the equal blessing send;
Whom I view caught up to thee,
Let his spirit rest on me.

Verse 7
Meek like him, and just, and pure,
O might I, ev’n I arise!
Prompt to act, and strong t’ endure,
Meanest, least in my own eyes,
Dead to pleasure, wealth, and fame,
All-devoted to the Lamb.

Verse 8
O might I, with calmest zeal
For the faith, like him, contend,
Love the men whose hate I feel,
Bear their burden to the end,
Win them by my parting breath,
Conquer all my foes in death!

[1] Wesley changed “thy” to “the” in 1769.
[2] Wesley changed “call’d” to “call” in 1789.