Why Do We Mourn Departing Friends

Verse 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.

Verse 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.

Verse 3

Why should we tremble to convey
Their bodies to the tomb?
There the dear flesh of Jesus lay,
And left a long perfume.

Verse 4

The graves of all his saints he bless’d,
And soften’d every bed;
Where should the dying members rest,
But with the dying head?

Verse 5

Thence he arose, ascending high,
And shew’d our feet the way;
Up to the Lord our flesh shall fly
At the great rising day.

Verse 6

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