The Minstrel of Zion ‎#176

176. "Tell my brethren that I died at my post"*

1 Away from his home and the friends of his youth,
He hasted, the herald of mercy and truth;
For the love of his Lord, and to seek for the lost;
Soon, alas! was his fall--but he died at his post.

2 The stranger's eye wept, that, in life's brightest bloom,
One gifted so highly should sink to the tomb;
For in ardour he led in the van of the host,
And he fell like a soldier--he died at his post.

3 He wept not himself that his warfare was done:
The battle was fought, and the victory won:
But he whisper'd of those whom his heart clung to most,
"Tell my brethren for me that I died at my post."

4 He ask'd not a stone to be sculptured with verse;
He ask'd not that fame should his merits rehearse;
But he ask'd as a boon, when he gave up the ghost,
That his brethren might know that he died at his post.

5 Victorious his fall--for he rose as he fell,
With Jesus, his Master, in glory to dwell;
He has pass'd o'er the stream, and has reach'd the bright coast,
For he fell like a martyr--he died at his post.

6 And can we the words of his exit forget?
Oh, no! they are fresh in our memory yet:
And example so brilliant shall never be lost,
We will fall in the work--we will die at our post.

Text Information

• First Line: Away from his home and the friends of his youth
• Title: "Tell my brethren that I died at my post"*
• Publication Date: 1845

Tune Information

• Name: "TELL MY BRETHREN THAT I DIED AT MY POST"*
• Composer: S. W.
• Meter: P. M.
• Key: A Major
• Notes: *Dying words of the Rev. Thomas Drummond.