Verse 1
Thanks be to God in Christ, who gives
A dying Worm th’ immortal prize,
As a ripe shook [shock] of corn receives,
And stores our Brother in the skies!
Verse 2
Found in the paths of righteousness,
Our Lord hath crown’d his hoary hairs,
And parting hence in perfect peace
He now the wreath triumphant wears.
Verse 3
The good and faithful Servant, blest
With hope, and patience to the end,
Doth now from all his labours rest,
And sees his everlasting Friend.
Verse 4
His faith was swallow’d up in Sight,
Soon as he laid the body down;
His works pursue the Saint in light,
T’ adjust the measure of his crown.
Verse 5
His crown of life shall soon be ours
Built on the sole Foundation sure,
Who serve our God with all our powers,
And faithful unto death endure;
Verse 6
Who now with humble zeal go on,
Our faith’s integrity to prove,
The race prescrib’d with patience run
And walk in all the works of love.
Verse 7
Then let us steadily pursue
Our comrades in distress and pain,
And fight, like them, our passage thro’
Like them, the purchas’d prize obtain;
Verse 8
Press on to perfect holiness,
Instant in never-ceasing prayer,
By force the heavenly kingdom seize,
And find Salvation finish’d there!