FAREWELL, dear friends in Christ below.
I bid you all a short adieu,
My time is come, I long to go.
I trust I soon my Lord shall view.2. I thank you for your kindness shown,
My Jesus will reward you all.
I leave you with the Lord alone,
'Till he from earth your souls shall call.
3. Farewell dear neighbors, brethren, friends.
I hope we soon shall meet with joy;
My heav'nly Father for me sends,
I go where nothing can annoy.
4. Adieu, to you mine enemies,
You that have fought to do me harm
By slander, envy, rage and lies,
But God upheld me with his arms.
5. I wish you all eternal life,
I owe you not the least ill-will.
My soul is free from wrath and strife,
Tho' me you hate, I love you still.
6. Adieu, thou sun, ye stars, and moon.
No longer shall I need your light.
My God's my Sun, he makes my noon.
My day shall never change to night.
7. Adieu, to all things here below,
Vain world, I leave thy fleeting toys.
Adieu to sin, fear, pain and woe,
And welcome bright eternal joys.
8. Temptations, troubles, griefs, adieu.
Sorrows becloud my face no more.
I go to pleasures ever new,
Where toils and strifes and war are o'er.
9. Now I have done with earthly things,
And all to come in boundless bliss,
My eager spirit spreads her wings.
Jesus says, "Come", I answer "Yes".
10. Weep not dear friends: I tell you all
I go to dwell with Christ on high;
I hear my blessed Saviour's call,
And trusting in his promise die.
11. Father, I come to thee above,
All things below I leave behind:
The fountain of eternal love
Is open to my joyful mind.
12. Eternity! transporting sound.
While God exists my heav'n remains.
Fullness of joy that knows no bound.
Shall make my soul forget her pains. |