The Death and Burial of a Saint

1 Why do we mourn departing friends
Or shake at death’s alarms?
’Tis but the voice that Jesus sends
To call them to His arms.

2 Are we not tending upward, too,
As fast as time can move?
Nor would we wish the hours more slow
To keep us from our Love.

3 Why should we tremble to convey
Their bodies to the tomb?
There the dear flesh of Jesus lay
And scattered all the gloom.

4 The graves of all His saints He blest
And softened ev'ry bed.
Where should the dying members rest
But with the dying Head?

5 Thence He arose, ascending high,
And showed our feet the way.
Up to the Lord, we, too, shall fly,
At the great rising-day.

6 Then let the last loud trumpet sound
And bid our kindred rise:
Awake, ye nations under ground!
Ye saints, ascend the skies!

Amen.

Source: The Lutheran Hymnal #593

• MIDI file from The Cyber Hymnal #7452
  
• MIDI file from The Southern Harmony, and Musical Companion (New ed. thoroughly rev. and much enl.) #76
  
• MIDI file from The Southern Harmony, and Musical Companion (New ed. thoroughly rev. and much enl.) #276b