Lyra Davidica/On the Approach of Death
On the Approach of Death.
Freu dich Sehr O meine Seele.
Rouse thy Self my Soul endeavor
to forget thy Agony
Christ thy Lord Shews now his favour
calls thee out of Misery
All thy Crosses now must cease
He will give thee rest & ease
Yea ye charms of heav'nly pleasure
without end & wthout measure.
2.
DAY and Night was I complaining
Of my trouble, Lord, to thee;
I long'd allways for th' obtaining
Of a safe Delivery.
Travellers would have their way
To their End without delay.
So have I been oft desiring
That my Lifetime were Expiring.
3.
For as Roses are inclosed
Round about with Thorns and Stings;
So are Christians here exposed
To a World of Sufferings.
As the Sea is us'd to rise,
In tumultuous Waves and Noise;
So are we by mischiefs hurry'd,
Up and down, till we are bury'd.
4.
World and Sin, yea Hell and Devil,
Joyn with our own Flesh and Blood,
To afflict the Soul with Evil,
And destroy all that is good.
Cares and Crosses every Day
Take our Pleasure here away.
Doleful is our Lif's Beginning;
Woful always, for our Sinning.
5.
The Sun rising every Morning,
Every Evening the Sun set,
Seems to Live us a new Warning
Of mischievous Snares and Net.
Thus we spend our Days and Nights,
Throng'd with sighs, and har'd with frights;
Work and Slave to be maintain'd,
Eat with Tears, what we have gain'd.
6.
Therefore come, O Lord, and hasten,
Christ, Eternal Morning-star,
Shew me, whereupon to fasten;
My Redemer be not far.
O assist me, that I may
Die with Peace and Joy this Day.
Thou art able to Enlighten
Darkness, wherewith Death would frighten.